Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-03-21
Forgery of Bonds.

Last Thursday, the following dispatch was
received by Hon. B. NJ. Kitchen, OF West VIZ
ginia:
"MARrrSsBuRe, Va, March IA, 1867
Send me by night train the best detective IN
Washington. See McDevitt or Mckevitt.-
Answer. ~. NELSON WIsSER.
Mr.. Wisncr is the district attorney Of Berke-
ley county.
Mr.. Kitchen had an interview at once with
detectives Carvoe and McDevitt, and it was
arranged that one of the firm should proceed
NJ once TO investigate the case.
AT night detective McDevitt, By direction
Of Major Richards, started, and arrived in
Martinsburg Friday morning, when he ascer-
tanned that the business for which be was want.
ed was to discover who it was that had forged
the name of the president, David Candy, ana
Secretary, Joseph T. Hoke, of the Board OF
Supervisors of Berkeley county, to bonds OF
the county, issued in payment Of volunteers
during the late rebellion. The bonds were
each for $500. with interest, payable annually
The supposition is that large number have
been counterfeited and disposed Of tounsus-
Meeting parties throughout the State, but yet
three only have come to light, which were pad
before the fraud was discovered. MclDeyitt IN
ouired into the process Of signing and issuing
the bonds and his suspicious rested upon Aaron
Burr Steinmetz. clerk to the Board OF super
visors. who has charge Of the books and bonds
Of the Board. McDevitt went first and en-
gagged room to sell goods as an auctioneer'
and then applied to Steinmetz for license I'M
der the name of James Magraw. Steinmez
was very polite. and cheerfuHy proifered his
aid 10 the newly-arrived auctioneer. McDe-
witt took the license. Steinmetz gave HIM
letter of introduction TO printer TO have pos
tiers struck off, and they were ordered. Mci'e-
witt proceeded to compare the handwriting Oh
the license and the forged bonds. and u C eNac,
similarity of certain letters and figures satisnei
him that he was right in his suspicion rs u
Stcnmetz. The remainder Of Friday after
noon he was employed in ferreting out the IN
tentions of Steinmetz for his future operations
and upon going to house and pretending 70
want furnished rooms for himself and wiie,
was told by the proprietor that he could not
have them Immediately, but in day or two
Mr.. Steinmetz. the present occupant. would
leave and sell his furniture. and then Magraw
could be Accommodated. McDevitt also ascer-
tanned that the manager Of the hotel where
Steinmetz boarded who was one Of his bonds
men. was also his creditor 10 the amount Of
SlO2. He had also drawn three months pay
in advance and had expressed his intention 10
leave for New York. After consultation with
the States Attorney and the County Sheriff
they were satisfied that McDevitt was right,
and Mt . o'clock Saturday morning McDevitt
went to Steinmetz room, awoke him and ar
rested him, and took him before the States
Attorney. when the prisoner wrote comics,
sion Of his guilt. duplicating man named
Hill not vet arrested. Steinmetz was commit,
ted for further examination by Justice Bernard
Doll, as it is not known that the operation
does not cover above $4,000. McDevitt re-
turned to this city yesterday afternoon. The
circumstance causes much sensation in Mar
tinsburg. where the prisoner had been acting
as magistrate. He was originally from Chica-
CO. m. where his family resides, but has
been living in Martinsburg for three years
past Washington Star.