New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-25
GREAT FINANCIAL STPINDLE AT
TEMPTED.
OPERATIONS EXTENDED
FROM PORTLAND TO PHILADELPHIA, NEW

YORK, AND BALTIMORE.
! On tho 18th inst. Mr.. Postmaster WALDORF re
ceived information from Mr.. Cram, q welknowr
merchant of Portland, Me-, concerning sstupendour
forging fraud which was being carried on IN foreign
bills Of exchange, aud which he had reason 10 be
/ li.ve was about to be consummated by parties il
| Philadelphia. Mr.. Cram requested that the Post
master should call upon the local authorities here o
as1isiance in detecting the criminal. Mr. WALDORF
lost no time in placing the matter in the hands q
Mr. Detective Benjamin Franklin, who called tC
his assist Detectives Joshua Tsggart and Georg,
Ii. Smith.
Off er Franklin proceeded 10 the Post Office, and
daring the day attended 10 the window delivery 81
letters A man applied for letter from Portland
Maine, few minutes after the Detective entered
the office. The design OF the man was 70 get MIR.
Cram 10 accept bis forged bills OF exchange, and
thereby pave the way for their negotiation for the
osfensible purpose OF Transporting sh and lumber 10
the West Indies and in return To receive sugar and
molasses for them, suggesting at the time that he had
an excellent market for the sale Of these articles In
Nova Scotia, the Eastern States, and Canada and
he thought he could do business OF some $500 600
Tie orver stated in his letter that he expected TO
be In Portland in u few days, and he would hen see
Mr. Cram, when be would talk the matter over, and
make arrangements for Carrying on the business
In the mean time, he was anxious to purchase some
lob eco on a contrsc held by HE bouse in the Yves,
Indies, Tor the Danish Government, and he there
/
bills iuclosed for 81 O00 and asked that third bin
of exchange might be negotiated, which he would
| send on coon. He wished nm exchange III the usual
way for certificate Of deposit upon some bank III
this city.
variest froui the fact that they written on fine
/ banking paper and placed in envelopes super
s,ribed "John Hart, Portland, Me- Ship -"
fac sime Of q foreign letter, and Showing thar the
indorsenent on the bills II exchange were identical
with tho manuscript OF the letter.
Having by the delivery Of the letter referred 70,
received Nm idea Of the mans personnel, officer
Franklin proceeded to hunt up evidence against him.
lie traced tho forger in of bis operations TO the
well.known tanking house of August Belmont &
Co. of NewYork, with whom hs tried TO negotiate
bill TO the sung sum OF E3,9OO, a,king that firm 10
exchange their drafts for his under an assumed
name. Mr.. Franklin promptly teiegraphed TO Bel
mont s. Co. the facta in his possession and that q
| forgery was about 70 be perpetraed upon them IN
| the shape Of fraud, ana thus aVeTteo gI9shuc
! swindling operation
The next transaction of this practical presiidigi
,ateur was with Messrs Bowen & Co., commercial
exchange brokers OF this city, By opening corre-
spopdenco with them from Wilmington, Delaware,
incl, sinR 10 them bill Of exchange for II 200,
ola, ing the same trick under sn assumed name.
But this transaction exposed 10 its proper coors
\ by Detective Franklin, and payment wac not made.
! fourth attempt was made upon Mossrs. Corner
& Son, of Baltimore, Md, under another assumed
name; but he was unsuccessful IN his endeayors to
Obtain money frauduleDtly.
| Detective Fnhklin having obtained sufficient
evidence OF his guilt on Saturday last, made an ain
daylt before Mayor Henry OF the celd.uee Ia BIS
uossesrion, and obtained warrant for the ian &
arrest, chargitg him with the forging OF exchange
bills, purporting to DO drawn by lhomas Daniel OF
~. Iliomas, Barbados, TO the order Of Samuel Z.
/ hlusson. Son s. Co. # England for the purpose Of
deiraudpg Bowen e. Fox, and o,aer persona
i The forSer was traced 10 private boarding house
In Third street, above Lombard, and last evening
about 5 o'clock, tue gentleman sought for came
10 the houee for supper, aud upon leaving toe ror
drnce proceeded 10 Dock street and Exchange place
where he was arrested by Detective Franklin.
When confronted by the officer he seemed surprised
and when asked his name, be replied quickly, II
! il Cromer, Sirl' He was then taken ito custody
aud locked up for hearing, which win be had in
few days, n. foon as the parties inter s.ed can b'
! brought 20 dis city.
4 The officers subsequently entered the boarding
house OF the forger, anu proceeded to examine The
room occupied by him. They discovered Lum. rou
! bills OF exchange, some OF which were fllcd am
olbers we're blalk aud of the same Character aud de
sign OF th1re presented at ths banhiDghouse allnde'
TO above. The aggregate Of tie sums Tor which III
b 81 ut'eGli 'ed foiye irs amounted 10 "e'' s.,
=.