Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-03-23
Forgery or Bonds.

Last Thursday, the following dispatch was
received by Hon. u. M Kitchen, of Vest Vir-
ginia {:
"MAnrINsBuRc, Va, March ID, 1867
Send me by nigh, train the best detective in
Washington. See McDevitt or McKevitt.
Answer. ~. Nelson WIsNER."
Mr.. Wisner is the district attorney of Berke-
ley county.
Mr.. Kitchen had an interview at once with
de tcctiyes CIarvoe and McDevitt, and 1t was
arranged that ore Of the firm should proceed al
once to investigate the case.
At night detective Nc Devitt, by direction OF
Maj Richards, started, and arrived IN Mar
tinsburg Friday morning, when he ascertaned
that the business for which he was wanted was
10 discover who it was that had forged the name
Of the president, David Candy, and Secretary,
Joseph 7. IIoke. of the Board OF Supervisors OF
Berkeley county, TO bonds Of the county, issued
in payment of volunteers during the late rebel
lion. The bonds were each for $500, with in
teres,, payable annually.
The supposilion is that large number have
been counterfeited and disposed of to unsuspect-
ing parties throughout the State but as yet three
only have come 10 light. which were paid be-
fore the fraud was discovered.
McDev.t inquired into the process Of sign
ing and issuing the bonds and his suspicious res
ted upon Aaron Burr Steinmetz, clerk TO the
Board Of Supervisors, who has charge OF the
books and bonds OF the Board McDevitt went
first and engaged room to sell goods as an auc-
tioneer and then applied to StenmetZ for a IL
cense under the name of James Magraw.
Steinmetz wac cry polits,and cheerfully prof
iered his aid to the newly arrived auciloneer
McDevit took the license. Steinmetz gave
him letter of introduction TO printer 10 have
posters struck of, and they were ordered. McDe-
viii proceeded 10 compare the handwriting OF
the license and the forged bonds, and the exac,
milafi,y of certain letters and figures satisfied
him that he was night 10 his suspicious as to
S,einmeiz. The remainder of Friday afternoon
he was employed in ierreting out the int ntons
Of Steinmetz for his future operations, and upon
going TO house and pretending to want furn.
ishtd rooms fol himself and wife. was told by the
proprietor thai he could not have them lmmedi-
aely, but in day or two Mr.. Stelnmez. The
present occupant, would leave and sell his Turn.
iture. and then Msgiaw could he accommodated d.
McDevuI also asCeraned tina, the manager OF
the hotel where Sieinmetz boarded, who was
one q his bondsn an, also his creditor to the
amount Of Sl02 He had also drawn three
months pay in advance, and had expressed his
intention Ia leave for New York. After con.
sultatIon with the SAFES Attorney and The coun-
ly Sheriff lhey were Oa,stie. that McDe'ii was
right, aud al O'Clock Saturday morning McDe
vii; " ent 10 Sleinlnrtz room. awoke him and ar.
rested hIHI, a;,i lun4 him before lilo Salts ~.
tcrney, when The prisoner wro confession OF
his guilt. 'npcaiin! man named Hill. no, yet
arrested SIeinmetz was COMPUTED Tor further
examination by Justice Bernard Doll, as it is
not knc WE u,"t the operation does not cover
above 5000. McDc,nt ,cturnrd 70 ihs cry
yesterday AFTERNOON. The circum'tances causes
much sensation in Ma'tinsburg, where the p"lS-
onPr had been acting as IL magistrate. lie was
originally from Chicago, III where his family
resides, but has been living in Msrtinsburg for
three wears naat - Waskington Star.