The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-12-15

iS examining the Comptrollers @arronts t.
see whether they were ge,uine or not
During the afternoon and evening ii was
disc overed that the iorgeries Of com mptrolers
warrants accounted to about 81, 100000
stock of the California Lumber Company, oI
which Henry Meiggs was president, had
been forged to the amount Of 100000, and
his debts incurred in regular transactions
amount to about 100000. 1t Is said that
coul ~ scril has ase been forged by Meiggs,
but the amount is not yet known.
The city warrants are made upon blanks
Of both old and new issue in sums Of $500
and 5000. The signatures of Mayor Gar
rison and Comptroller Harris are SO well
cOuuterfeiicd that those officers could not
distinguish the alsc from the truo warrant
by the signatures.
Take it in all, the forgery is one of the
most ensivc, bolc and successful on record.
/ twill long be great fact in the history of
San Francisco; and after the body of Henry
Meiggs shall have been worm eaten, the
memory Of his deeds will remain as another
confirmation of the Prsyerb that honesty is
/ the best olicy.
During the week, previous to his depsr-
ture, he had heen very busy in raising ready
poney for his stocks, and it is supposed that
he carried off about four hundred thousand
dollars cash. 1t is said that the porter car
red down to one of the wharves two heavy
carpet b ags, supposed to contain gold tc be
carried OF in boat by him Ho was accom-
panied by his wife and three children and by
his brother John G Meiggs. 1t is net known
whsther John G. Meiggs was concerned in
any of the forgeries, although Henry must
have had accomplices.
There is n good deal of speculation in re-
gard to the destination Of the America. 1t
| cannot possibly be any portion of this conti-
nent, nor to the Sandwich Islands, nor to-
any ol the large ports of Clinton or Au stra-
liza. There are too many Americans in ali
these places, for man 50 shrewd as Meiggs
to venture within their reach. He has prob
ably gone to some Of the South Sea Islands,
or to some of the smalle ports of Asia or
Europe. But he is not safe while he is on
earth, the news Of his crime will have reach.
ed all the large ports of the world before
h i'm. Every stranger will 6e a terror to him
wherever he goes the power of the United
States will appear TO him as his executioner
he will flee when no man pursueth, and will
bitterly curse the day when he began his
career of crime.
Meiggs was born in Catiskll, N. Y, and
lived for many years in Williamsburg, where
he was for many years member Of the city
council. 1t is stated that he became bank
| l., Al
applied to here by some Of his former credi-
tors, he paid his debts lie arrived in San
Francisco, IN July, 1919. In the fall of 49,
80 he was elected 10 the City Council from
the first ward, and again in the fall of 1851.
This was the Jenny Lind Council, and
Meiggs gained great deal Of spogulurity by
opposing the Jenny Lind purchase. In 49,
SO he was again elected, and again in 1853
He was very bold speculator-land, lum-
Der and music He was the principal per-
son in getting up the California Lumber
Company, which erected mill in 1852 at
Hondocino, and from the works Of which
more than 100000 feet of lumber are now
brought monthly to this city. lie built a
Musical Hall, and made groat efforts, and
many sacrifices to have good musical per-
formances.
Nearly every mopeyed Man, and many
men of small means have suffered severely
by these torgeries; and we set down the
whole amount Of spu rious warrants at not
far from nllioG of dallsrs on which Meiggs
has probably borrowed about fifty per cent.
of their face, receiving some 100000 in
cash. This loss falls principally on the
outsidsrs-to use the phrasng term of the
! street.-the bankers, as near as can be u.s.
certained, suffering TO the amount of about
one quarter Of the whole. Mr.. Meiggs was
evidently cautious in placing the warrants,
as far as practicable in the hands Of tho Sc
who would not be likely to use them for
their own loans, or to do otherwise than
lock them up; taking the loans Of him as in!
vestments.
There was no man here who bure fairer
reputation for integrity than Henry Melggs,
whose name has been closely connected
with most Of our local improvements. Yet
he has suddenly absconded after having COM
mittcd forgeriesj and contracted business
debts to the amount o. nearly two million of
dollars. The following may be tukca as "a
moderate approximation of his liabilities:
Amount Of future In his proper
business, $500 900
Comptrollers warrants forged, 100000
Forged or over-ssued stock of
the California Lumber Com
pany, of which concern he
was president, 100000
Forgorie. on different mercun.
tile firms, $4,000
Total, $l,GO0,oOO
American Worthless in England.