The Goodhue volunteer., 1862-06-25
RARE BIT OF CRIMINAL HISTORY.
COLONEL Cross SECURES HIS own
PARDON BIZ FORGED PApERs-UN-
PARALLELED SKILL IN CH1RoGRApHY

PARALLELED SKILL IN CH1RoGRApHY
The fnesse and strategy of Monroe
Edwards and other noted criminals
are matters of police history. The
Eastern Penitentiary holds an occupant
in the person Of Colonel Cross, who
has proved himself the Napoleon of
his protession-=the brightest star in
the constellation Of torgers and bogus
who have figured in the his
tory of crime. ".s-s ..-
OF Colonel Cross exploits the tenth
part has not been told. 1t was h. who
forged pardon for the forger, Hunt
ingdon, by which that distinguished
culprit almost escaped from Sing Sing
prison, and but for the hesitancJ of the
warden, would have been let again
Loose upon the community. Captured
himself at last, and immured in Au-
burn IN. Y. State,) Colonel Cross for
ged documents by which a genuine
pardon was obtained, and his liberia
ton secured before the fraud was de-
tected and his person detained in Gus
tody.
The history of this illustrious culprit
IS too well known to be here repeated
as tar as his career in this city is con-
eerned. Suffice it to say that on
Wednesday Marshal Millward receiv-
ed an envelope from the War Depart.
ment. The envelope bore the frank
of Secretary Stanton, and was post
marked Washington: the enclosure
was letter from Mr.. Watson, Assis-
tant Secretary of War, directing the
Marshal personally to draw up peti-
ton to the Governor asking for the
pardon Of Colonel Cross. He was to
take the petition to the various United
States officials for signature, and hav-
ing obtained the pardon, to bring Col.
Cross to Washington, where his SER
vices were required by the Govern
ment.
The document was to the eyes of
the Marshal unmistakably genuine
The sheriff would have hung anv rris.
oner in his charge upon similar war.
rant, and the warden of the Peniten
tiary, upon taking authority, would
have opened the doors Of boarders'
house,'' and turned all hands loose.
The Marshal, of course, obeyed in.
structions. He drew up the petition.
and District Attorney Coffey, the Col.
lector of the Port, and all the United
Stated officials, except the Postmaster
who was not in the city, affixed their
signatures to it without the least hes;.
tation, after first reading the lette,
from the War Department.
Marshal Millward took the docu.
ments to Harrisburg, and returned by
next train with a full pardon. lie took
a carriage direct for the penitentiary
and presented the pardon to the war.
den. The genuineness of this docu-
ment being beyond peradventure, Col.
Cross was delivered up. The tidings
were conveyed to him in his cell, much
to his apparent astenishment, and with
a bag over his head he was brought
out to the Warden's office. Here he
was dressed in the clothes in which he
entered the prison, his striped livery
was taken off, and in company witt,
the Marshal and a deputy, he was
driven to the Baltimore depot. The
Marshal still t'froze" to him, the in.
structlons being to bring him 10 Secre.
tary Stanton.
The trip to Washington was made
without mishap, and the Marshal, his
assistant, and Colonel Cross drove up
to the Secretary's Office. They alight.
ed and entered. The Marshal asked
for Mr.. Stanton, and was shewn into
his room. Hand-shaking all around
until Col. Cross was reached.
"Mr. Secretary" said the Marshal,
"this is Colonel Cross, whom you have
sent for.''
"Glad to see Colonel Cross-ho "
do you do, sir % said the affable Sec.
retary, shaking Colonel Cross hand
"but l can't remember sending fol
you, SIR"
This" said the Marshal, ''is Col.
Cross, whom I brought down by your
orders from the Eastern Penitentiary
at Philadelphia
"Sir % exclaimed the Secretary, in
utter surprise.
Colonel Cross, sir, said, pardon
ed by Governor Curtin from the East
cry Penitentiary, at your desire, and
brought here by me at your request. .
Secretary Stanton looked puzzled
and rubbed his temples.
"The authority by which have &C