The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-16
TRIAL OF WILLIAM RlssAyB FOB FORGERY.
Court or General Sessions.
Before Recorder Smith.


Court OF General Sessions.
Before Recorder Smith.
ucosp pAy.-gvIpEcE FOR THE PROSECUTION
CONTINUED.
MAscB lb-Julian C. Very witness examined yester-
appeared and produced three checks to the order Of
Ashop; one dated August 9th, 1854 for $780, in Mr.
avvnn,s handwriting, marked No 3; another August
"a. 1854, for s276 in the witnesses handwriting,
marked No 4 and another Of July 9th, 1854 for $780,
i. Mr.. Gwynn's handwriting, marked No.b.
EYaminatop Of witness resumed by the District Attor
pey.-These checks given to person who repre-
sen.ed himself as James Bishop-the pointed out
10 court yesterday they given in exchange for
uncuent money those two checks with our initials
the back lNo'ss and were returned s in cash; de-
who broughtit; our check book had run out, and be-
supplied with a new one by Nathan Lane 4 Co ; /
% not remember when the check Of Au-
suently cannot tell the day On which it was de-
posted there various Sc0 checks deposited by
throughout the month; can give you the dates of
those; the check in question returned with the
others.
Cross. examined.-Q. By Mr.. Busteed. Whose hand.
writing is thatY Showing check A. That is mine.
O. What difference do you find between the signature
there and the one in the alleged forgery A. The anal
slossd; the.'sns5 in both are very nearly alike
To the District Attorney-The checks have produced
are all our chechs OF the month of August.
The District Attorney.-We select nineteen OF these
checks Is being all which have the teller certificate
them, and draw the Coort's attentian to them.
Robert II. Fales staoner, 80 Wall street. examined by
the District Attorney, deposed-I am member Of the
firm Of Nathan Lane CO.; firm has printed checks
Q. Do you know the prisoner by sightS A. ae resem
bhs very much the person who into store and
Q. When and where was thisS A This was at my
store on the 5th OF August stranger TO then came
INTO the store requesting to have check book made
Gwynn; answered .'Yes' he then desired to
Of the patterns; l showed him few specimens and
checks think be took few other p,tterns but cannot
remember which; he then asked me II would have any
objection to his taking of the patterns to show his
partner; told him had noae and I cut him of q few
specmens he afterwards left the store, stating he
would be back on Monday and order some.
Q, Whose specimens were those you cut Off A. They
were John Thompsons and Very wynns; that Is
on Monday following he came in arain saving he had
lost the pattern Of Very Gwypn that he had taken
away saturday and said he would like similar
IT, with the name of Scott Wilson asked him where
should send 1t; he said he would call for it; told
him 1t would be done in about ten days
book and it called for; he ordered six quire
book containing IA leaves, Of six checks each leaf
to my knowledge; he did not say anything about the
Thompson check when he stated he lost the Very Il
Gwynn check he said he liked these checks aud that
the reason he gave for selecting them; my book
keeper in the store at the time 1t check like
exhibit No. that gave him
Cross Examined by Mr.. Buseed-I have printed checks
sor Very Gwypn since they commeaced business, or
within year previous 10 last August they have had
two books Of checks in all, and printing
them another made the last check book for them in
The fall Of 1854 think occupy the basement of SO
Wall street. have done a large business in printing
check books for brokers and mercantile men
Q. From what place did You take the check TO give
took il from among some specimens.
Q Do you recollect whether you took il from q book
or from loose sheetp A. don't recollect.
Q Have you got the sheet from which you took this
check still in your possession A. can't say
@ Have you ever looked for itp A. No; Twas never
requested to look for IT. we had two clerks in
poy in the month of August, 1854, aud bookkeeper
exclusive Of the printers.
during the dayr A. Between twenty and fifty; cannot
give you the of any merchants for whom
and Gwynn; my memory is pretty COED the minority
Of the checks printed in black ink when the person
in question came into my Office, our bookkeeper and
Wilson, clerk, were preeent this a Saturday,
she 9TH Of August; don't recoect what patterns OF
checks showed him. besides those OF Thompson, and
Very and Gvynn; he said he liked John Thompson's
check he stayed in the store about fifteen mnutes he
came back on Monday morning about IL o'clock my
Saturday that told he had seen Very and Gwynns
check; before showed him John Thompson check,
Saturday, he did not ask TOR 1t; did no. ask him
Monday where he did bu,iness; the value OF the book
which was to print for him, was worth between nins
O. Have you such Wedge that you swear
positively that the prisoner is the person who came
INTO your store on the 9TH Of August A. He resembles
O. How was he dressed on Saturday. A. l cannot
describe his dress did not take particular notice he
on the lower part Of his face don't know whether his
coat or pantaloons were white or black.
g Can you tell what were the color OF his eyeSP A.
Q. Can you tell whether they we're blue or black
A. cannot never saw the man afterwards till
him in the cells Of the City Hail. talked to him there
asled him why he did not come for the check book he
had ordered he said he had been to Wall street
He did not say that he did not know
Q. Did you tell him your store was iu Wall street ?
O. Did the person who was with you tell him SO A.
No; officer Hogan with at the time and he said
that the man was Kissane he did not intimate to me
that Kissane the who had been in my store
went out to talk with the officer and returned again
to see IL could recognize Kissane more closely the
moro looked at him the more felt tain that he
the have talked to officers Hogan and Read anil TO
Mr. Parson the teller of the Chemical Bank about this
O Is your recollection OF persons dealing with you
@ If person trans,enty came into your store and
purchased 50 worth OF goods would you recognise HIM
after lapse OF some months9 A. might in
q. By the Judse-when you san KiSsane in the City
check Ok, did You the officer Tell him where you
lived before he said he had never been Wall street, A.
By Mr.. Busteed-o. Are you sure of that A. Think
might have mentioned Wall street.
sworn deposed~I have seen Hr THOMPSON write as hss
clerk, have frequently signed checks for him fol
tows-"John Thompson Charles MsGeary, Attorney
were the only tive Who signed checks for Mr. Thompson
he signed them "John Thompson, A. W. Greenieaf At
torneyp have never the signature Mr. Thomp.
son TO checks made by any other than himself
O. What is your opinion OF that signature Showing
exhibit No. 1)2 A. think II is forged signature;
have often seen Mr. Candy, teller OF the American EI-
change Bank write and sign his name; believe bis
written this check to be a forgery
Cross examined.-Mr. Busted presented q bundle Of
checks 70 witness, and asked him TO separate those
signed BY Mr. thompson, which was done accordingly.
Witness-l have been q clerk for Mr.. Thompson about
six years; Mr.. Thompson employed from sixteen 70
twenty clerks in August, 1854; signed check
With Mr. rhompson's name without the addition OF my
own; have signed several papers with Mr. Thompson's
nsme without the addition Of my own; don't know
whether Mr.. Greeneaf has done 80.
Patrick Heay, clerk at Bixby's Hotel deposed-I was
serk there in August last attend the Office 70
the registering OF names provide rooms and forth
O. Do you know the prisoner at the bar by sight or
otheHWiss7 A. know Mr.. Carbon.
O. Do you see Mr.. Carbon (Cole) In court p A. Yes