The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-01
ANOTHER sTUPENDoUS FRAUD
Remarkable Case Of Theft and
Forgery. ..E
The Forger Draws S0O4sO 0O I'm, RAN.
road Bonds from . Hotel Safe ON
q Forged Recent.

It appeared from the facts, as far as they
have transpired, that some ten days age q
man thirty-two years Of age, q carpenter
By trade, who had been q soldier in the
army, and giving bis name as George
Giadwin, called at the post-ofice in New
Haven, Conn, and asked the clerk for the
lstters of Mr.. Nowbridge, a gentleman
doing business at No. 16 long wharf, in
that city. The clerk, believing that the
applicant was duly empowered to receive
theletters, delivered them to him. Among
this mail matter was draft drawn on the
Manhattan Company of this city by Messrs.
Burdick, Frisbee & Co., brokers, 90 Wall
street, for So, 966.76, payable to the order
of Ar. 1rowbridge, and bearing date Au-
gust ~ 1866. That night or the follow
ing morning. Gladwin started for this city,
bringing with him q woman whom he is
blessed to call HEmma, " and took rooms
at the St. Nicholas Hotel. Gladwin de-
posted the draft he had taken from the
letter Of Mr.. Erowbridge in the hotsl safe
for safs keeping, but withdrew 1t the next
day, ald proceeded to the jewelry estab-
lishmnt Of Mr.. Thomas Kirkpatrick, cor
ner of Broadway and Duane street, and
asked to look at some i5ewelry. Hei1ally
selected two beautiful gold watches and
chains, costly pearl set diamond breast
pin, ring, &c., valued in all at 81, 200, in
payment for which he offered the draft in
question, or, if Mr.. Kirkpatrick preferred,
he could take his pay from some railroad
bonds which Gladwin exhibited. Kirk
patrick made inquiry concerning the draft,
and, becoming satisfied that it was genu-
inc, accepted it, and gave Gladwin the
difference between the amount of the par
chase and the face of the draft. Mr.. Kirk
patrick deposited the draft in his bank for
collection. The bank of the Manhattan
Company subsequently pronounced the en-
dorsement of al. Trowbridge" on the
back of the draft to be forgery.
One of the bank officers Immediately
called on Capt. Jourdan, of the sixth pre-
einct, and impaired to him such informa-
ton concerning the matter as was in his
possession. The Captain soon obtained
minute description Of Gladwin, and hear
ing that he had returned to New Haven
last Thursday with his travelling compan-
ion, Emma, dispatched officer Woodbridge
after him. On reaching New Haven de-.
tective Woodbridge carefully proceeded
with the business be had in hand, and
learned that Gladwin had offered for sale q
watch to man named Bradley, with
whom he was on intimate terms. A strict
watch was kept on Glsdwins boarding
house, and on Monday evening officer
Woodbridge succeeded in arresting him,
and finding in his possession all the Jew
elry he had obtained from Mr.. Kirkpatrick.
The prisoner was placed on board the first
train for New York Yesterday morning,
and arrived here in the afternoon. In q
conversation with Capt. Jourdan the pris-
oner stated that he had found the draft,
with seven 81, 900 bonds Of the Tif6n and
Fort Wayne railroad company and other
papers, in Broadway, and had left the
bonds at the store of Messrs. Kohlsaat
Brothers, corner Of Broadway and Reade
street, till be should call for them. The
prisoner confessed to forging the name of
Mr.. Trowbridge on the back ef1the draft.
Of course the Captain did not believe that
part OF the prisoners story where he stated
that be had found the draft and bonds in
the street, and intimated in an unmistak-
able manner that it was useless to attempt
to deceive him, as he knew the WHO'S
truth of the matter. This brought the &C.
cused to terms, and he frankly confessed
that he had obtained $204, 900 worth of
the Tffn and Fort Wayne Railroad Com
panys bonds from the safe in the Saint
Nicholas hotel, without the knowledge of
the hotel proprietors or any of the clerks.
The plan adopted by Gladwin to possess
himself of the bonds, and that, too, with
out exciting the suspicious of the persons
having charge of the safe, shows him to
be an expert in that line of business. As
the draft which Gladwin had deposited in
the safe was returned to him he saw a
largo package in the iron receptacle adj
dressed to Aaron Smith, and carefully
noted the handwriting on the package. In
giving receipt for the draft Giadwin AGAIN
saw the signature of Mr.. Smith on the re-
csipt book
1Ais operation of depostting and with
dzaWing the draft from the safe was re-
psatsa several times By 0ladwin, and If
t. havi1g bsos0e familiar with Smiths
style Of writing, the accused took some