Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-08-25

INT GREAT kETcHuN FoRGERrEs When
gold became d leading article Of traffic, the
Wall -. brokers resolved 10 give 10 the New
lork bank Tue manipulation Of this golj coin.
the brokers 10 MAKE their transfers Of il bv
7 checks. For the privilege Of depositing MS
gold in the New York Bank each broker PAID s
thousand dOIlar= Der annum. and was presented
Z with a book Of blank checks. Zach book COB
tainei Eve hundred checks, but the subscriber
could obtain a new book whenever be chose, no
further charge being male thAn the original
thousand dollars And each blank ch-ck was
most carefully guarded by every subscriber
IL WAS upon this form Of CHECK that Edsard
hetchum resolved to commit forgery
4 broker, II order to procure n gold check
book, must enjoy an Lntsrnished business repU-
tarion, and, furthermore. be introduced 70 the
cashier Of the Bank Of New York by veil
known and responsible party Hundreds Of
appiIcsiiOhs for these hooks hsve been made All
! deulta, the parties applying not coming up is
Z the standard Of reputation and responsibility
required. Il was in June las; that Young
I Kstchum was introduced t. Mr. Lever7ch, the
cashier Of the bank, his object in obtaining TINS
introduction beng to procure check-book for
/ Charles GrahHm Co, brokers doing business
=; No. 80 Exchange place he applied II writ
pad one thousand dollars, the ufusl price Ii
! contained i've hundred checks. numbered from
5a-5ol to 09.O0l inclusive To make the checks
good u IL REQUIRED tnat the signature OF the de-
positur. register, teller, and iudorse- should be
s;tacoed 10 them.
I Mr. Graham Was one Of hetchum's brokers,
ana II TIM capacity was II the ma DIT OF ece7yInc
Ketchum's certificates and raising money on
/. them from the banks IN which he DID business
( fcr two months Immediately PRIOR to the lis
! covery Of the forgeries, ne was absen, from ms
} ONCE on account OF illness. During this absence
heIchum would frequently come into M GrE-
hams Once as late as ten OF fifteen inmates TO
three o'clock, present certificate and SLY = the
oierk IL cAargg, Come, nov hurry u an
get Mt ne money or then You nave not
much time To spare, and if you don't hurry "
the bank vii be closet -
hr beng the last person toward whom sue
pclon Noui1 point. The checks were placei N
the safe, and the clerk. or messenger, proceeded
without decay 70 draw she money from the bank
Ia Ih;s way A-te1Gm .'rul' his f1rrsrses INTO
tne safe O. Mr. Gralam. whose loss will not E.l
short Of ; l.VJD.uJJ, aud wHo mas already hand
e. 0Ser 10 the injured parties = sum II gold
amounting 10 S2o5. OUo
IL Is a mooIet point as TO whether Ketchums
crime CAT technically be called forgery he
dual or irm N whose name be drew the checks
A-or example. the name Of certain firm II E1-
C; lAnge place b. ''hamlah- Sauer s Co Mr.
a. cnnm forged check would be signed Kan
Z. r. eaner * 90. TINS was doubiless done 10
a., " the penalty Of the high crime
II. nrm o. hetchum Son & CO. nsi II their
.af. ways many bonds and certificates. which
I migha moi OF required TO deliver 10 their own
~ 81 = 4derz Tor weeks, perhaps months to
.fH+. u ere were other papers OF TINS nature
,,,t thev - 'ght be called for At anv time. TDese
attsr kisx d ketchum permitted to remain.
mn stos. n, Other. A large portion Of the stoi-
q -eeurit,es 'slungei TO firms who mad deaiin Is
xith the houss while many Of them belonged to
mr. mouse iuN IL On the ahsrrAcied papers
-z.tciiurn rais ~ enormous sums OF money
Air ketcaui Z. the senior member Of the frr',
lbipks that the securities abstracted by his soIl
vii when TIE matter n fully understood
.rnauut IL about S2,5OU.000, This the nrm
VIII II possible, ma &c good so that no one shall
he 4 loser through the culpaDiiiTy Of one Of its
rn~rnbers Il T. not uOEn for nos long = time
EDWARD Ketchum carr ned on the rOoDerie. but
il Is prssumed Tor at le Nst three or four months
Beng Z member OF the INN ne mad access 10 the
SAFE AZ Al fines and was well acquainted with
the nature of the securities Deposited therein.
Brokers and OF ner persoDs snare In the losses
in sums from $40, 600 or s $1,000. 10 Sl50.000
IN one instance.
Tse distracted Sc curities we're not entirely the
rruverTv Of deaiers with the bsnk I'M house, but
teisnged in part, il Is understood to the house
lhe account however Is not complete and can
ne. ~ within day or TWO. The name Of the
firrs was used only once by Edward ketcnun,
ana thar was Cd the dsy Of ms fight, when be
obtained upca 8 eheck the sum of three hundred
thousand dssis-s-