Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-19
rHs snA or EnnEzzLEnEST.

Another Astounding and Gigantic
Defaicafion-An Unparalleled Rob
bery-Two Million Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars Obtained on For
gea Checks-Fiight OF the Rsboer-
The SON OF Morris Ketchum the
Guiity Nan.
This morning affords another evidence OF the
financial insecurity OF the time.
The son Of gentleman, he husband OF lady,
q social favorits. a business responsibility. has
proved 10 be defaultsr II not forger. and the
oouptry will reel from W all stree, 10 the Golden
Gas at the addition Of The story OF bis deialcs
ton TO the list We have already Of people who
we're trusted and we're unworthy.
The deficit bslitsles the deed Of jenkins, who
has go5e 70 Jail. gladder Of his silent captivity
than Of logged and hunted freedom: and. until
the NEXT name turns No 10 The Wheel Of ruin, that
Of Ketchum will attract attention.
TaE eREAr DETAurTER.
Edwin b. kstehum. the dsfaulter in question.
Who has outrivaled Sir John Dean Paul. the
English banker. Sadlier. OF Parliamentary fame.
and even the historic John Law himself. in the
magnitude OF his swndling operations. Is quite
young man in years, if al old one in crime He
has not attained his. as yet. third decade, being
but few days advanced in bis twenty fifth year,
In personal appearance he was rather under the
medium size. gentlemanly in appearance. grace
ful in carriage, and like Booth possessing most
plausible aud winning address Three children,
unconscious Of -re stigma to be attached 20 their
good name. and young wife remain to him,
bitter memories OF bis youthful love and reckless
after crime.
HABITS AND MODE Or LIFE.
His crime is Of the Machivaellian stamp. cum
ming and sdroit ia all its miracles. Quiet
and concentrations in manner, a deep substratum
Of bad principle ard faithlessness lay below the
upper surface Of convent0nalIty and polish.
Younger and more vigorous in intellect than the
senile and feeble jenkins, it is in vain that We
look for any redeemng traits 10 this man. W hat
ever be did, be did IL secretly, and IN cool and
mysterious manner He did not boast bis dis
honesty in the kennels and saloons, aud in this
alone did be differ from his more ancient protO
type Among bis myriad Of friends and
quaiutances he was jovial fellow. with money
in abundance ready 20 Join IN all their sports and
pleasures. n capital shot, quick and firm hand
for . team, devoid Of the weaker characteristics
and foIlies Of his set Living at Westport, Con-
neotieut, and always regular and unfaing in
business hours. his character stood high in the
Estimation Of the outside world
CHANGE TAKKs PLACE.
As the crisis of his fate approached change
took place in the outward manner Of the default
ter. Nervousness succeeded 10 cool assumption
and bravAdo. and ketchum began TO lose conf
dsncs in his power OF endurance under the strain
Of dishonesty and speculation He became EN-
barrassed. and people shook their heads 40 if
they deemed him. like others OF his class, sub
jsst Who had passed the Rubicon of tustworthi
ness. few evenings before the exposure aud
flight. Ketchum was playing billiards in the bill
lizard room OF the Evening Exchange. and his IN
steadiness and nervous department were common
ted upon by those nearest his con 6deuce IL is
also und erstood that be had fallen mo the WI es
efsome uDprincipled Delilah. who had shorn him
Of his locks and "a we'll AS the IN .jor part
OF the proceeds OF the defilcaton. A present
his feminine copartner is undiscovered. but the
lips OF a woman are easily unsealed and il is
more than probable that the officers of the l.w
are already upon her track. 10 trace to the fOun-
tain head every sembance OF wrong Going and
guilt
DISCOVERY OF THE FORGERY.
The first symptoms Of something rotten in
Denmark" appeared Monday evening. when
rumors began to fly among the bankers that al
immense amount of forged gold drafts were in
circulation. This created, together with other
causes, q wish to sell gold, and about eight mil
lions changed hands during the latter part of the
afternoon and evening At the evening exchange,
also. quite panic in stocks was created. and the
Erm of ketchum, Son & Co. threw an immense
amount upon the market to realize as rapidly as
possible. liz was discovered that extensive for
geries had taken place. but 10 exactly what
amount 10 was impossible, for the time, to dis
cover.
now 1T WAS DONE.
Ii appears that the modus oyerand Of the
svindls was as follows: The Bank of New
York was adopted some ,ime ago a the deposi-
tory OF the gOld-br0Ssrs, who receive from il
certificates registered and signed in due form by
two of its officers In the business channels
81. al 49, oh
for five thousand dollars each. circulate from
hand TO hand IN lieu OF money, and may remain
out an indefinite time before the holder real
izes.'' or gets them cashed. on presenting for
that purpose. Many of the brokers who have
considerable business TO do, keep book of
blanks of gold checks by them. TO be filled out
as circumstances may require.
During two weeks past Mr Graham Of the
frm Of Graham & Co. has been absent through
sickness, and il being firm very Intimate with
that Of Ketchum. Son ( Co, Mr. Edward
Ketchun. of the latter firm, took charge of the
business in Mr. Graham's absence IL appears
that be filed out some Of these blanks with
forged signatures, and using them as collateral
security, would obtain loans of nearly the
amount Of the face OF each.
i'he forgery vas quite successful On its dis
eovery. Investigation showed that FIVE hundred
of the blanks were missing. II. as it is sup
posed. each Que was filled up for 1--WE thousand
dollars, il will make the total forgery Of csrIif
Gates foot up 10 two and half millions
The checks issued in the names Of several
leading firms. including Fermiye 4 Co, Brock
lemer Unger, EinsIein ROsenields and are
nearly all very bunglingly executed. 80 a. to be
evident on careful Inspection by those familiar
with the various firms. Eight OF these certif
Gates. representing five thousand dollars each,
were shown at the Bank of Yew York Yesterday
morning. and pronounced 10 be forgeries
Mr.. Morris ketchum has directed that all
drafts arriving BY mail from depositors in the
country be placed in bank to the credit Of the
senders. pending the examination into the affairs
Of the firm.
MADAME RUNOk RIGHT THIS rIHx
Although IL was reported in the street early ia
shs day that young Ketchum the guilty party
concerned in the fsrgeres. there we're many who
doubted the truth of this report. as ketchum va,
known to be very correct in his habits. and en-
joysd the reputation OF being most estimablc
young man. He was the last person 10 De sss
psesed of conceiviBg and carrying a s-nd
ling operation by which his father would be ruin
Cd and disgrace brought upon himself
Rumor. in this instance. pointed her finger IN
the right direction. Edward ketehum. although
favored With large share OF this world goods
and having the brghtests prospects before him
such prospects as but few. standing on the thres
hold Of manhood. are permitted TO enJoy-sold
himself TO the tenpter aud won the title OF