The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-01-13

When Col Hudson, the present State
AGENT. came into office, early i'll Febru-
ary, 1861, he found in the Office in New
York three bound volumes of the forms,
which he Immediately cancelled, by
punching hole through the signature of
each form.
SLOWER FRAUD.
In this connection invite your atten-
ton to the gigantic forgeries of Indiana
five per cent stocks which have been
committed in New York.
The Hon James A. Cravens was elect
ed State Agent in February, 1859. He
held the office about nine months, during
which time D. c. Slower acted as his
clerk. He then resigned, and Mr.. Sto-
yer was appointed by Gov Willard, to fill
the vacancy. He continued in office I'M
der this appointment until February,
1861, when he was succeeded by Colonel
Hudson, the present Incumbent, who had
been duly elected by the Legislature.
The forged certificates of stock were ex-
ecuted upon the blank forms left in the
Office of the Agent of State, which had
been signed by W. r. Norsinger as State
Treasurer and H. E. Talbot as State
Auditor. These gentlemen came into
office early in 1855, and went out early
in 1857, having served two years. The
forgery consisted in falsely filling up the
blanks as to dates, names of payees and
amounts, and signing the name of James
A. Cravens as Agent of State. The
forged certificates, so far as am advised,
! boar date in March, April and June,
1859, thus purporting to be executed
during the period in which Mr. Cravens
was State Agent, though 1 believe they
we're executed and issued at later date.
am informed by Col. Hudson that the
7 forged certificates were all made paya-
/ BILE to Samuel Hallett except about $780,
900 PAYABLE to a person by the name of
| Deschaux lie further informs me that
the whole amount issued, so far as he
has been able to discover, is 1888, 900,
of which amount 81 ,295, 900 has been
retired and destroyed. Colonel Hudson
states. that he discovered the existence
of this spurious stock in few weeks af-
ter he came into office, and Immediately
charged the matter upon Mr.. Slower, who
confessed it all, but said there was only
about 100000 out, and that if the mat
ter were kept secret, he, and those ope-
rating with him, would take up and de-
stroy them, so that nobody should lose
anything by them. Col. Hudson further
says, not knowing what might be the La
bility of the State upon these certificates,
he deemed it highly important for her
interest that they should be gotten of
the market and destroyed, and, for that
purpose, agreed with them, for the time
to communicate the matter to nobody
without however, giving them any as
surance that they should not be ultimate
ly exposed and prosecuted.
The knowledge of this forgery wa:
first communicated to me about the lat
ter part of January last, by Messrs. Jas
NJ. Ray and Jesse j. Brown, two of the
Loan Commissioners, appointed by the
State to negotiate her War Loan.
They had learned it from Mr.. Lanier
of the firm of Winslow, Lanier & Co.
who had discovered it in some way abou
the first of December previous. l i'm
mediately repaired to New York, and IL
company with the Hon. John ?. Usher
then the Attorney General of Indiana
and Esq. Jesse j. Brown, endeavored tt
investigate the affair. In the opinion
and confidence entertained by Col Hud
DCEH CUnSufJOu, JnaU OrUTUr JEEot urfOo'
acting with him would retire the fraudu
lent stocks, l did not share, and was no
for that or any other reason in favor o
delaying their exposure and prosecution
a single hour
Accordingly, proceeded at once t.
| III oil he % NH oh I ha1
knowledge in the possession of Mr.. Hall
the District Attorney prosecuting tn,
pleas of the State, for the city of New
York
The crime had been committed il
New York, and to the laws and authori
ties of that State its punishment be
longed.
Mr. Hall, after deliberation, and sucl
Investigation as he could make, deter
mined that an exposure and prosecution
of the parties at that time would bt
highly inexpedient, and informed mt
that he took the responsibility of defer
? ring any public disclosure and prosecu
ton until such time as in his judgmen
it was proper to make them.
Matters thus stood from February til
about the 9th day of May, when, learn
ing that the affair had become public il
New York, and believing that 10 reason
could exist for further delay in the prose
cution, | caused the arrest of Mr.. Slower
who was then in this State, and sent hin
to New York. On his arrest he freel,
consented to go, and waived all process
! or formal authority. The Hon. John L
Kibbey, then acting Attorney General
by my direction proceeded to New York
and, under the instructions of Mr.. Hall
filed a complaint before the grand jury
> in the name of the State of Indiana, anC
demanded an investigation.
The grand. jury returned bills of in
dictment against Slower and Hallett
At the September Term of the Court il
which the bills were pending, the Cour
quashed the indictments against Hallett
on the ground that it was no crime
certificates or obligations purporting or
their face to be executed by the State o
Indiana. From this decision Mr.. Hal
hos prosecuted q writ of error to the
Court of Appeals; but no decision there
on has been had.
The indictments against Slower are
still pending. When this forgery wa:
first made public, Indiana securitie.
were suddenly depressed in the market
from ten to twenty per cent, but soor
after rallied to nearly or quite their for