The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-02
Extensive Series Of Forgeries.
Arrest Of Some OF the Perpetrator,

Arrest of Some OF the Perpetrators.
From the New York World, Nov II.
The detective police of this city have
just succeeded in ferreting out the authors
OF one OF the most extensive series of for
geries ever perpetrated III this country.
They were taken yesterday before Judge
Bowling at the TOmbs police court, and
one of them, turning State evidence, dis
closed an organized plan of forgery, which
showed that some Of the banks of this
city aud in various parts of the State, as
well as in the cities of Boston, Phiadel-
phia, Baltimore and Washington, had been
heavy sufferers. Some six weeks since.
superintendent Kennedy was notified Ct
the existence of extensive forgeries that
had been committed on certain banks.
some of them to the amount of twenty
six thousand dollars, and detailed Detect
ives Eustace, Farley and Tieman to work
up the case. The operations of these were
SO successful that the following named par
ties were suspected of being concerned in
the business Walter Patterson, Michael
O'Brien, Ira Garyadier alias Garvadie,
George f. Conklipg, Hugh McNellis, John
ST. Clair and Spencer Pettus. The first
four were promptly arrested, but the re-
mainler are still at large The complaint
upon which they were brought before
Judge Bowling is one involving the sign
ing of check for $25, 1880, in the name
of Richard D. Lathrop, well-known mer-
chant of New York. 1t is supposed that
numerous other complaints will be made
before the present case is disposed of. A
lengthy examination Of the witness was
made yesterday, and the case was ad-
!ourned until to-day, the prisoners being
remanded to the Tombs meantime.
The detectives have obtained some of
the antecedents of the parties, which will
be found of interest. They state that
Patterson, vino is man about forty years
of age, is a native of Philadelphia and
that he has been known for TWENTY-FIVE
years past as torger of the most danger
Gus description, being bold and skillful
operator, a most excellent initiative pen
man, and a sharp business man. He has
served several terms in the Pennsylvania
and New York state prisons, and is now
under Indictment in this city for forging
the name of Simeon Draper, present col
lector of the port, to a check for 81 900.
For this he was yesterday arraigned in the
court of General Sessions, and pleaded not
guilty
O'Br:en has oeen known to the police
for s0iSle Years past as suspicious charao-
TER operating about hotels and banks He
is asaqacous individual, quiet and reserved
III manner, but has often been arrested by
the police. He is brother to Honora Shep
ard, the most successful and skilltul female
counterfeiter that ever operated in this
country, and who has served two terms in
the state prison.
Cavalier has been previously arrested in
Washington, but no case was MAJ o-J
against him.
Conklipg was former y a clerk in Z large
firm in this city. This gave him knowl-
edge Of the banking business and brought
him into contact with prominent business
men, and it was for this purpose that he
was admitted to the circle of the forgers
Spencer Pettus has been known to the
police for years past as pckpocket, hotel
thief, and bank-robber. He was arrest
ed, tried and convicted, and served term
in England, for picking pockets a1 the
Crystal Palace, in London.
McNellis and st. Clair have teen known
as fOrgers for some time past.
The evidence accommodating against the
suspected parties shows that most ex-
tensive seijes of forgeries has been com
mitted in ALBANY, Troy, Scranton, Wash
ington, Jersey City, Newark, Baltimore
and other cities.
In addition to the forged check for s25,-
600 as above stated, one has been discoy-
cred for $3,14O en- the Mechanics bank
of this city, the check being signed by L.
N. McCready & Co., and dated December
%, 1868. A second forged check on the
same bank for $4,000, dated September
Is, 1864, and signed William NJ Weeks,
is in the hands of the detectives. A third
forged check on the same bank for So, 600
signed by E. FL. Ludlow, dated July 90
1864, was deposited in the Sixth nationa
in this city, and drawn against by the for.
gers.
Another clerk on the Merchants banl
for the sum Of $40, 365 AZ, dated June 4
1864, and signed J. S. Gilbert, was made
by the forgers, and deposited at the Nintl
national bank in this city, and draw
against. Another forgery was perpetra.
ted on the Pacific bank to the extent O
$4,000, the name of q. Grinnell Il Co
being signed to the check.
These checks all appeared to be dul,
stamped and certified to, and had every
appearance of genuineness. 1t is supposed
the aggregate amounts of moneys thus OBJ
tanned will not fall short of from $3.50, OOC
to 100000. George F. Conkling turned
state evidence.