The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-11-16
Local A. al r s.

10 u o. ~ IL Oh 81
SU1C1DE.-In our Sundays issue we gave
such particulars of the death of William @.
Gray, and of the cause, as come to our
knowledge on theday Of its occurrence. Sub.
sequent revelations have been made which
show larger amount of forgeries of County
Bonds than any one suspected, and many
suppose that forged bonds to considerable
amount have been disposed of to parties
outside of this city. 1t will be some time
before the amount will be accurately deter
mined. Mr.. Edgerton informs us that his
first suspicious that all was not right in re-
lation to these bonds were raised by Mr..
Gray's sealing up the envelope containing
the bonds after he had transferred them into
his, (Mr. Edgertons) possession, and Grey's
appearance at the time. Nothing was said
however, as the transaction had been COM
pleted, but after Mr.. Grey left, Mr.. Edger-
ton opened the envelope, and remarked that
he feared that there was something wrong
about the bonds. 1t was this that induced
Mr.. Montfort, the cashier, to hint to Mr..
McAllister, the necessity Of caution in re-
ceivipg the bonds as collateral security.
There need be no alarm, among those who
hold the genuine bonds, as the counterfeit
ones can be readily detected. 1t is the opin-
ion of those competent to Judge, that Mr..
Gray must have had an accomplish in the
forgeries. 1t is said that the signature of
Ross Wilkinson, is undoubtedly in Gray's
writing, but those of R. A. Smith and Alex.
Buchanan, in the handwriting Of another
person or persons. This is confirmed by
Mr.. McAllister, who informs us that after
Mr.. Gray had agreed to give him five $500
bonds as collateral for loan of 81 900, up
on calling upon him on Saturday morning,
Gray informed him that he wished him
(McAllister) to take four bonds instead of
five. Mr.. McAllister said that he would
not consent to do this, and Mr.. Gray left
the Office for few moments, and when he
returned he had in his hand another bond.
the signatures looking as if hardly dry,
If he had an accomplice in these forgeries.
there are no suspicious as yet upon any par
ticnlar person.
FORGING STATE WARRANTS.
1t is ascertained beyond doubt that
Gray forged State Warrants. A warrant
for $S4 to Senator Cowan, dated February
II, and endorsed by Mr.. Cowan, was put off
by Mr.. Gray on Mr.. Kennedy. The form
was not printed until June, 1860. Parties
who have received warrants from Mr.. Gray
of the new issue, within few weeks, would
do we'll to ascertain whether they are genu-
inc or not. How Gray obtained the blank
form is not known with certainty:
OTHER FoRGER1Es.
We have information of other forgeries
of notes, endorsements, &c. Having gained
the confidence of the community as an active
street broker, parties placed in bis hands for
sale all sorts of securities, and until recently,
he made prompt returns. During yesterday,
many persons presented receipts given by
Gray for street certificates, certificates of
stock, land warrants, and all the various
scrips, and it is ascertained that in some
cases he has forged the endorsements of
those who left them in his hands for sale,
while in other cases, it has been ascertained
that he has realized the money, and persist
emily refused to pay it over to the proper
owner, constantly asserting that he had not
made the sales. 1t will probably be long
time before all these transactions are
thoroughly investigated, and we do not give
the names of the parties interested at
present. Many of the sufferers are laboring
men, who can i'll afford the losses which
they have sustained. The case of Mr..
Kennedy is certainly hard. he has been
swindled out of all the proceeds of his labors
since he became citizen of st. Paul. He
sold Railroad Bond to Gray some time
ago, and leaving it in an envelope with
another bond at Gray's Office, he told Gray
to take one and he would call for the other.
He received, what he supposed to be
Railroad Bond, sealed up in an envelope,
and laid it by. After Grays forgery and
death became known, he opened his envelope,
and found in place of his bond, Gray's
commission as Notary Public! Mr.. Ken
nedy also held forged State Scrip, which be
received from Gray.
THEFT AND SALE OF COUPONS.
On the 5th of October, Charles Merriam
of Boston, mailed to Thompson, Paine &
Co., about $1,000 of coupons of St. Paul
city bonds, which were not received at the
proper time, and the sender subsequently
wrote that the reception of these coupons
had not been acknowledged. Mr.. Thomp-
son casually mentioned the loss of these
coupons to Mr.. Bidwell, who, upon ascer-
tanning the numbers, Immediately reccol-
lected that be had purchased them Of Mr..
Gray. He found Gray, who said he got
them of another party, and took them back.