The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-03
ANOTHER NEW YORK FINANCIAL
FRAUD.

WeIl-knOwn BrOker-His Mysterious
Disappearance ANA Probable Escape
Foil Details OF the Affair, Etc.
At a late hour yesterday afternoon the visitors
OF the Gold Exchange, the haDitues of the Board
~ Brokers, .he ComT onent parts OF the NINA.
ture mObs tnat congregate in the vicinity of
prominent financial institutions, and the fdneurs
and business men on Wall street generally, we're
Afforded a toQc of conversation that will inte.
rest the mOneNed community tor some time to
come, and be productive of certain lack of
confidence among 6nanCier, who may have oc.
casion to have dealings with strangers. The
run or that yesterday found crcue ace speedily
proved TO be something more thaa an idle iancS
and although the names ol the parties and in
sUtuuons interested were not then made publ c.
enough OF their status " as know vn TO pIye uosi
tive assurance that theN had been vIclmize1 to
no incCnsiderable eAtCnt. The facts of the case
~ subsequently plc lnCd from those who were
dHJ0d OF portion OF the transactions, showed
that Certan individual had been commit inc
forgcries for sums that already amount to nearly
tbl ee hunGred thousand dollars.
The central figure in the drama that mas lust
been enacted IS alleged 10 be a MIR. John Ross, a
man who has been known "on the street" tor
six or eight months past, but whose financial
dealings have only been noticed within a lew
days. Mr. Ross occupied small office at NO.
- Exchange place, where doubtless his plans
were matured and cntetCd INTO by The accom-
pHces who must nave ASS cd in the preparation
OF the gigantic baud OF which he now stands
accused. Ifc precise date at which the iorger
COihuitlt'u OUCId'lluS cannot AT present be
ascCItaiLcd, but the TACT OF many of the docu-
mCnts beng autographed aud pIInted would 20
20 show that thc preparations Tor The crime had
been extensive and haG required time for thcr
CCnDle1Or.
The operations executed by Ro.s. HAVING Ian,
many months III embryo, we're forced 20 u sue
Cesstul issue within SenGy-l -four hours after the
Criminal ad actually taken the field. Thus far
lhe Continental, Union, and Common wealth
Banks, the films OF Cronlse & Co., Black q
Spaulding, and GIoesbeCk Il Co., appear to have
been victimTzed by the torger; some of these
business men, however, not being likely to lose
ultimately by the realization OF his schemes.
The probability is that other prominent parties
have also suffered, and that Jhese NAY only dis
cover their loss by the publication OF the already
discovered lacls. BE this as 1t may, however,
the aOOye-named parties and institutions are
among the privileged" and an explanation of
Ross GlC0MS OpCraRdj in their respective cases
"lli be read with interest.
The forged checks Aere as is supposed first
used with GOOD effect in ROs~' DEALINGS with j.
). Cronisc Co., brokers, doing business at No
n wall street. come Gays since it would ap-
pear, ARRANGEMENTS were made by the torger to
purchase fifty thousand dollars in goli from the
nrm, and on Wednesday afternoon Ross called
III peTs on to receive the lIunos. While the money
was being counted The purchaser produced a
check Tor siXty-'our thousand and odd dollars
drawn on the Continental Bank-With which
Ross was known TO have an account-to the
order Of the drawer, and by HIM duly indorsed.
As this check bore the certifcation stamp of the
teller OF the bank. prudent member of the
firm sent a lad TO the Continental Bank to
assure himself oil the genuineness of the GER
tlhcation. The first teller OF the financial i'm.
sttuti ion at which the document was presented.
examined the paper, ana at once pronounced
the same duly certified. With this information
the lad LETT the place and reported che result of
his mission to the firm, who in the meantime
had supplied Ross with the gold, and allowed
him TO quit the premises. Nothing more was
thought OF the transaction, and the check was
deposited in the Bank OF the Commonwealth,
where the firm kept an account. Yesterday
afternoon the check, which had been presented
to the officials OF the Continental Bank, and
pronounced forgery wa, retIIrned to the Bank
OF the commonwealth, anu thence was trans
ierred to the firm OF Cronise d. Co. These
gentlemen, no doubt, will not be the losers by
the transaction the officials of the Continental
Bank having first pronounced the certltication
mark genuine. 1t is rumOred thai the teller OF
the Institution being subsequently called upon
70 TO produce MS certncaiion book, to ascertain
II the number OF the check was TO be found
theIeupon as an evidence of its genuinness,
declined 10 do so, and many incline to the
belief that the paper passed upon Messrs.
Cronlse Co. is genuine. At present, however
the question is still undecided.
A similar game was played to the detriment
OF the hrm OF Black Spaulding, of No. 10
Broad street, who were waited upon on Tues
day afternoon by Ross The visitor represented
that he wished TO purchase fifty thousand dol
lars IN gold; and on being handed the coin pro-
duced IN payment therefor q check purporting
to be good for the sum OF sixty-four Thousand
dollars. This check was precisely similar to
that presented to MessrS Cronse X Co.. being |
also drawn on the Continental Bank. Black & |
Spauldlno quietly deposited the document in a |
drawer and sent II before evening to the Leather
Manufacturers Bank. On the morrow the
check was transferred to the Continental Bank
and early yesterday afternoon the supposed !
valuable paper was returned to the firm with
the pleasing announcement that the certicaton |
stamp was forgery.
BOGUS Michigan Central Railroad bonds were |
brought INTO use TO Vctimlze the firm of David !
Groesbeck d Co., established and doing business |
at No 80 Broad street. Some weeks since Ross !
waited upon the firm, and requested them to |
purchase tor him Michigan Central Railroad |
bonds to q considerable amount. Alter compli- |
ance Ross called for his bonds, and was lost |
sight OF for time. He reappeared, however, |
a few days ago, and demanded the loan of some |
money Offering as security sundry documents |
that purported to be the original valuables pur |
chased Tor him by Groesbeck d Co. Without |
Submitting the papers to close examination |
the funds were advanced and, fortY;eight hours |
later, the bonds were discovered to be forgeries
and utterly valueless. The loss Of the irm is |
heavy. The figures, for reasons unknown, are |
withheld from publication.
The firm of Howes Macy Yesterday after |
noon received the visit OF some officials who |
handed to them two checks, purporting to be |
good, Tor 500, COO each, which, at first glance, '
appeared to have been torn from their own |
check-book. The documents were |
drawn on the Leather Manufacturers Bank, TO |
the order OF John Ross, and bore a counterfeit |
signature OF the firm Of Howes d Macy, as also |
the imprint OF the cancellation stamp of the |
irm. The papers in question had been deposited |
by the supposed forger in the Union and Com
Banks, these institutions, IL is stated, |
having received them as genuine. On presenta-
lion OF the same to the Leather Manufacturers
bank they were at once pronounced forgeries a
1ppIaiOn nv nf