Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-11-24
Forgery of Austrian Bank Bills.

w thin 3 rev days past an extensive 10Y
gerry of Austrian Bank notes has been dis
covered in this city, the particulars of which
are as follows as nearly as our reporter could
ascertain It appears that about six months
or more ago Gustavus Speyer q banker,
doing business at No. ~ Broadway, was
called upod by man, apparently a foreigner,
who desired to sell him some Austrian bank !
notes or bills The stranger produced the !
bills, and Mr. Speyer considering them gen
uine purchased about 81 500 worth of the
money, which was in one hundred gullders
notes on the National Bank of Austria.
Subsequently, Mr.. Speyer sent the notes to
Europe for redemption, bat mis- astonishnlent
can be better imagined than described when,
few days since. upon the arrival OF the
steamer Vanderbilt, he received information
of the fraud at police headquarters, where
the matter was placed in the hands of Capt.
Leonard and Detective Officers MDougal
and Wildey, who forthwith proceeded to
worl, I'D the case. After making several
Inquiries, the police ascertained that some
IS. 1000 or S10,0 of the spurious money
5 had been sold to brokers in Wall street and
the vicinity Mr.. SpeYer gave information
: 70 the police that led to the arrest Of one
John Keagie, a native Of Hungary, at his
place of business, No 22 West Broadway,
where he professed to be engaged in a sort of
4 brokerage and forwarding business, keagle
f being taken into custody on suspicion of COM
=, plicity in the affair. Thence the officers
. proceeded to No. 20 City Hall place, and
. there apprehended Swiss, who gave his
II name es john Sturzenegger. The prisoners,
by being questioned concerning the matter.
O. stated that they received the Austrian money
o. from q German named Henry Robner, who
resided in the same building with keagie. II
West Broadway. After the lapse of so1n'
little time Robner was taken into custody
y and upon being questioned by Capt. Leon
X ard. stated that he had received the bill
IN from felloH-coautryman named sllber
ny Neschmesser, recently arrived in this country
by and whom he accidentally met one svenin
,ur at house in Forty fourth STREET, while VIZ
ro- ting there. Robrer gave a minute dc:
the cription of Nesehnesser's appearance and h
. place Of residence. Minute inquiries wei
o,o instituted aud diligent search made, but
such person as Neschmesser was to be foun'
''s' and the police came to the conclusion tn
eir Robner had fabricated the story. Robn
not was informed of the suspicious of the ofhcer
be- but he insisted that he had got the mon
lsa- from Neschmesser, and further stated th
nts he (Neschmesser) had offered one of the bi
orn- for sale at the office of Mr.. Bernhelmt
broker in Greenwich street, when Mr.. Ber
,o,, heimer offered him $40 for it, which amor
.r -.." he refused. Subsequently, he sold the n
Ivy at a much higher price to Mr.. Belmo
'heu Robner was still further questioned, but
orial answers were very unsatisfactory and e.
ale's sive. Keakie also underwent private
animation in the hope that some facts Wo
re be elected, tsnding to show who were
-,h- originators and getters up of the fraud,
u ~ ~ his answers to all questions propounded W
> alike unsatisfactory.
~ OF Assistant District Attorney Sedgew
N OF closely examined the prisoner Sturzenese
it is but the accused did not seem inclined to
eave pose any knowledge he might have of
hem fraud The prisoners are all still very cl
rate mouthed, and pretend to know nothing n
of the affair than above stated. The evlde
thus far obtained by the police is pr
strong against them, and they win no dc
be imprisoned some time to come, pentt
r the further Investigation 7. Tribune,
secu- inst.