The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-06
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
iFor Additional Looa, Items see Fita Page.

4
| THE GREAT FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR
| FRAUD-FURrHER INVESTIGATION BEFORE u. y.
| COMMISSIONER SERGEANT.-William Ringgold
Cooper, the young man who recently obtained
$4,000 from the First National Bank on a
genuine government draft with forged en-
dorsement, had a hearing before United States
| commissioner Sergeant on Saturday. Before
| the examination of witnesses was proceeded
| with, David Paul Brown, Esq, who represented
| the defendant, took occasion 10 complain of his
| chent having been denied the benefit OF counsel
| at q nearing which had taken place on the day
| oil his arrest, and said that he understood it TO
| be the practice OF the Assistant District Attor-
ney, Mr.. Valentine, to deny to prisoners heard
before United States Commissioners the right
| which they enjoyed under the Constitution OF
being represented by counsel.
Nil. Valentine said in reply that he was not
| aware Mr.. Brown had been engaged to repre-
| sent the defendant, Cooper, or he would have
delay ed the hearing until he arrived. The gen.
| tleman had been entirely misinformed as to the
| practice of himself in such cases, as he was
always careful to guard the interests OF persons
| under accusation, and ever ready TO accord TO
| them all their rights. The hearing in the case
| OF Cooper was merely to give the Commissioner
an idea as to the amount OF bail 10 ask. He
| thought the Government had right to have
| prisoner committed without hearing at ali, ii
| It's interests demanded 1t.
MIR. Brown denied this. aud said that if he
| were present when such wrong was attempted,
| he would take care that it was not done.
The Commissioner remarked that II he had
| known OF the prisoner desiring counsel on the
day OF the first hearing the case should not
| have gone on until he arrived.
| The hearing was then proceeded with.
Morton McMlchael, Jr., testified that he is
! Cashier OF the First National Bank anG that on
the oath Of July the defendant came to HIM in
bank, and stated that he was Robert w. Allen,
Assistant Paymaster United States Navy, and
desired 10 open an account with the bank.
After some conversation, being satisfied with
his representations, it was agreed to receive
IN i'm in hIc inhi mol Zee
| and he was handed over to the receiving teller.
On the cross-examination OF Mr.. McMichael,
he said that The draft Tor $50, 600 which defend.
ant deposited in the bank was genuine paper:
he could not tell how it came into his hands.
Is. W, Miller, receiving teller, testified that
defendant was introduced on tne 24th of July
by Mr.. McMichael, who SAID that the gentleman
wished to open an account, and please 20 take
it: be took the account, and defendant handed
in a package OF $4,000 in notes and United
States Treasury draft on the Assistant Trea.
surer at Philadelphia for $50,0OO. (The draft
was here shown, and witness said II was the one
he received.) The account was opened, check.
book was handed 10 defendant and he left. The
next seen OF the accused was on the 26th; he
was at the bank, and the money was paid to
him, saw it paid out, but could not say the
amount.
H. NJ. Lutz, paying teller at the bank, testified
to the defendant coming to the bank on the 26th,
and presenting u check tor S52, 600; remarked to
him that the check was not endorsed and he
witness recognized hun as the man who had
opened the account, and after satisfying himself
that it was all right, proceeded to pay the check
witness remarked TO him tDat he was drawing
the whole deposit out, and he replied, ne was
not allowed to use the banks as repositories, and
that he was going TO place the funds in the
Assistant Treasurer's hands.
Paymaster r. W. Allen testified that he is
Acting Assistant Paymaster, U. S. N, stationed
on the receiving ship NelC Hampshire, at Nor
iolk (dratt shown); the endorsement is not mine;
l have seen a forged requsiton upon which the
draft was issued, dated July II, 1866
B. Browne Assistant Treasurer, testified
TIL the draft was presented on the Goth OF July;
| had no doubt OF its genulneness; had been adj
vised OF ITS being issued, as Is customary.
This closed the case. 4 second charge was
then preferred against defendant, that OF forging
the name OF j. W. Fairfield, Paymaster United
| States Navy, as endorser OF draft for $4,000.
| This draft had been presented at Adams Express
Office, i'll Ballno ore, to be for warded to the
| Assistant Treasurer's office in Philadelphia tor
| collection, and had been received upon the pro
duction OF papers by defendant to show that he
| was the person he represented himself to be. Mr.
Scott the clerk in the express office, fully iden
titled the defendant as the personator of j. w
Fairfield. He was committed to answer the
charge preferred against him.
The accused rs quite small man, and appa
rently not more than twenty-five or three
years old. He was dressed in a coat and pants
| o summer material, and had on white vest de
corated with navy buttons. During the hearing
| and was most OF the time In conversation witt
a gentleman in the dress OF naval officer, We
learn that Cooper was formerly employed as
clerk in Mr.. Horstmann's military trimmings
establishment. He afterwards obtained
situation as Purser in the navy, in which hC
acquired q kno wledCe of the manner of obtaining
money on requisidons, to be used in the Pursert
or Paymaster's department, The boldnesS
with which he operated, his depositng 5000
with draft traudulenty obtained and havins
upon it a forged endorsement, and his visi
TO the bank two days afterwards to draw
out the whole amount of the deposit il
cash, shows that ne is bold enOegh for any
thing. He seems to have gone to Baltimort
soon after he got possession OF the funds, where
in the month OF June $4,000 had been obtained
in manner somewhat similar and TO hav,
made arrangements for his marriage to a yount
lady with whom he had been acquainted severa
months. The marriage had taken place in Bal
| tinore, and the wedding party was on its way L
| New York city, from which the happy coupl
we're to take passage to Europe. A state-roon
had been engaged in one OF the steamers, ant
the husband no doubt iancied he should spen
q very delightful honeymoon abroad. His SUI
prise and CONSERVATION may be imagined whe
| he was beck oned aside, at the Baltimore depot
and quietly informed that he was wanted at tn
| Mayors othce, on a charge which he woul
: learn all about in due time. The term of tn
court at which Cooper Is to be tried commence
on the third Monday Of this month.
MATTERs CONCERNING THE FIRE De
! PARTMEsT-The ambulance belonging to th
Philadelphia Engine Company has been sent I
| New York Tor the purpose OF shipping TO Paris
for the great exhibition.
The United States Hose Company are PEI
fecting their arrangements tor "trip to Lar
caster.