, 1860-01-31
An ALLEGED F0RCER CAPTURED.
4 Rival to Huntington Monroe Ed
wards and John 8addler.


HIS LIFE AND DADVErTGREs.
From the Philadelphia Pres. J.n. ISL
Some si1 months ago, n number Of during and
extraordinary turger1es we're perpetr7ted upon
the Bank Of Commerce. the Nanutacturers und
Mechanic, Bank, aud the Consolidation Bank,
of this city Tie amount Of money obtained
was *l0,VOV, and the circumstances excited u
great deal Of comment in police, newspaper and
mercantile circles. The facts Of the case were
communicated to the detective department OF
our police, aud officers Edward SchlemH, Geo.
Il. Smith md Charles II. Wood were detailed
for the purpose Of tracing up the author Of the
man named Ross, who had been figuring in the
police records OF some Of the Eastern cities as
participa.or iu forxerics that had been commit
ted in Boston aud New York.
For six months, quietly but calmly, the Off
GERS pursued the Investigation without success.
The object Of their search was too shrewd, and
too well versed in the WAYS and moans of police
business t1 leave any traces Of his progress Tor
the benefit Of anxious and enquiring detectives,
and he was, therefore, permitted to sport in the
cities Of tue Middle Suites on the proceeds OF
his operations. Two or three weeks since, how.
Police, who was also interested in the success
of tie Investigation, despatched q package Of
bank noti5 on the 0rauge County Bank, If New
York, through Adams Express, accompanying
the same by i letter to Ross through tue Post
Office. The package arrived, and detectives
Wood and Smith kept watch on The office for
twa weeks, but uo one appeared to claim the
bundle. and it WIS ut last returned 10 the New
York detective, and the ruse abandoned.
Last Saturday evening, however, young man
called ut the Express Office and clai,nel the
puckage which had been returned. Ills de-
scriptiun WAS obtained, aud, on the strength Of
i, this young man was arrested, on Third street,
f1S%1J
ttrs uud documents which proved, to the satis
faction Of tl'+ officers, thar Ross vas in Pitts
burg. Officers Wood and Schletnm immediate
" left for P.ttAburg in the next train, and ar
r1reci there On Sunday morning. They at once
procecded to search The hotels, but without the
the st. Clair Hotel, and were abuut to give up
adesp1i7, when, in conversation with the bar
keeper, they learned TINT man aud bis lady
nane6 Crawford, in company with q person
who was supposed to be either Spauiard or IN
Italian, weie there and had been there ior q
week or two. The description Of Crawford sat
ishcd the officers that he was none other than
Ross, nad they proceed to make the arrest.
This "spnpiard CT Italian WIS hone other
than negro slnve who had been purchased by
koss, bnt who WAS more Of companion than
servant to him. lie was perfectly white, and
no otIe would have supposed him 10 be the pos
SCISSOR Of negro blood. Being stranger sln Pitts
A0A5A1 AuA Wisely 8upppsl4ts7 tqAl AH AltGuspA ~
-jeErrst the negro would he construed iuto III cf-
tort to convey q fugitive slave into slavery, au
officer Of the Pittsburgh force was sent for aud
tue party proceeded up stairs into the room oc-
cupied by Crawford.
Ohicer Sch.emm entered and introduced him.
s"!f. Ross YVES engaged III conyersin. with his
wlc and the negro, liz rose Ind shook hands
win hun cordially, SAYING TINT Sch!enm really
bad tue advantage him, and wished to know to
What purpose be owed the honor If the visit.
Otlicer SchteMm produced the warrant, and,
with US much atfabity Is Was possible under
the circumstances, informed Ross he was his
prisoner. Ross smiled very calmly, and with
u: air of dignity most refreshing to behold, re-
piled:
''5lr, this is strange; YOU must be laborins
under mistake. ! assure you, my dear sir, on
my honor as a gentleman, that know nothin:,
OF these charges. However, l recognize Your
authority, aud hold my self ready to accompany
you when you will, aud where you will"
31r. Schiemm replied thnt the business was a
Mr.. Koss-" Certainly, sir, certainly. ap-
pEehend your position perfectly. ! arl q gem
tlcmau, and only ask 10 be treated Is suc1,."
Tie next train ies; ii tbrc. O'clock. and on
that train Crawford" his wife, and tl.ir =. for
eisn friend" cams to Philadelphia. How
strange aud tickle is life! how uncertain the
whiuls Of fortune: 10 twenty-four hours the
allatle, gay, aud handsome guest Of ST. Clair
uotc]. repose1 his weary unl luxurious limbs
within the lomely walls Of Aoyameusiug.
Exters'alfy, Ross is . gentleman rather stout
in person, dressing with exquisite taste, wear
iuS handsome pair Of whiskers, OIL u very
handsome face, and possessing all those accom-
plishments SO necessary in The gentleman. lie
is highly educated, has travelled over Europe,
served in the allied army before Seblstupol,
where fIc was wounded, aud converse, Hucnty
III English, French. Spanish aud Italian. Ills
wife is u young lady Of rare aad extraordinary
beauty and possessed Of tiuc mind. She IL in
tenscly d4ro,cd to her husband, uad came with
him to this city.
Til. negro, named Robert Smith, aii7s Jsur-
neil was purchased by Ross in New Orleans,
some five yca1s ago, aud has been his companion
since, travelling with him over Europe, and oc-
cupying tile relation of friend. lie is very nc
conip!ished and highly intelligent. When lloss
was arrested he offered to 70 South and sell
himself ipto slavery to obtain nlpney to assist
k;s naas'c7. R1e nEer was .cfuscd, aud Saith
re,,'ains iu tile city a'sating future events.
1t il said that Ross was The author Of tle
forged pardon which came very nearly releas-
ing Iluntinston, the celebrated New York fory-
er, from Sing Sing prison. lie has been en-
gagged, it is supposed, in torgerics amount1ny to
nearly *lo0,ooJ, anu althoug gh several times on
the prison threshold, has always managed to
escape. There are three bills Of indictment
against him here, whic1, he is busi;y engaged in
. preparing to meet lie understands the law OF
forgery Thoroughly, having stHdiedit with care.
Esq and in conjunction with Lim will conduct
his case whcu it comes to lie tried.
We cannot closs this singular, extraordinary
md romantic story, without thanking officers
Schlemn, Wood, ind Smith, OIL behalf Of the
community, for their energy in working t1,is
case to i successful! result. They have done
skn
only initiate their example and attain tia same
Share Of success, il will he most fortunate
thing for the community Of this Commonwealth,
,,,,, - -, -.-''.l. nf the nation,