The New York herald., 1867-02-28
A GRAND GOLD sWINDlE.

F0rgcG Geld Ccrtincatcs-The Perpetraa0r-
How He Effected His Escape-The Victims
Law Suits and Cross Suits Growing Out OF
the Anair-The Matter Soon be Brought
Before the Courts, dc.
On the I'd Of May, 1866, man by the name Of John
Ross who had been engaged In business broker, in
Wall street. for about six eight months. succeeded in
faudulenty obtaining half million dollars in gold
from various bankers and brokers in this city.
meagre report of the affair was published shortly
after the occurrence, but the victims Of the swindls
assiduously kept the real facts from the public in the
hope of securing the perpetraor or getting back spor
tion Of the immense stolen The following state
ment Is the only yet published Of the AFFAIR
now MONEY WAS PROCURED
The money was chiefly procured on . number Of
forged gold certificates apparently signed by the CONT
rental Bank but portion Of the total secured
by means OF some forged Michigan Central bonds.
Gigantic the amount involved. the whole
gathered in by Ross between the hours Of twelve and two
O'CLOCK and he at decamped with his booty. Al
though these frauds almost Immediately discovered
and the detectives were put his track the same day
that the swindle perperated, the criminal sue
arrested The whole transaction bore traces OF careful
preparation and further Investigation has but strength.
ened the opinion generally entertained NJ the time that
the affair had been in all its details, Planned with un-
usual skill a...e
The manner In which Ross successfully mado his
escape, however mysterious and perplexng may have
appeared AZ been thoroughly 0rougnt
To light On the very day that the fraud was consum.
mated, and only an hour after the money had
been drained, he embarked on board vessel named
the Dakota which had been waiting it has since
been presumed, especially for the purpose enabling
him to evade the pursuit Of justice already coaed
manned and provs!oned for a long voyage in the
harbor.
until within o few days OF her leaving New York, had
been owned by Warren Leland, Of the Metropolitan
Hotel Just before departure she had been purchased
by man named Lawrence c. Woodruff, who is reported
fo he hank In RuQa he mo IF fhp Ia tba
vessel fully prepared for sea- and was perfectly
ready to start at any moment upon long voyage She
was commanded by man who had been appointed to
his post by Mr. Leland at the recommendation OF Mr. j.
C. Ewell and who played unimportant role in the
subsequent history Of this case OF the anecedens OF
nothing certain Is known is supposed that he is
identical with man who was removed for misconduct
from the command of the ship White Squall at Rio ia
neo in 1885, another sailing master being sent out from
New York TO akc his place. II is alleged that subse
quently he in the employ Of Messrs Pcndegrass 4
Co. and that again discharged Tor improper
duct Ii is further stated thai tho parties who planned
the frauds selected him specially account OF his
VIGOROUSLY bad reputation III person TO undertake
the upo,an, task Of bearing Ross beyond the reach Of
bis victims. TO avoid suspicion, and by tho most skill.
ful engineering, they contT.ved that lie should be np
pointed captain. while the vessel yet remained IN the
hands of Mr.. Leland and by SOM means Or other in
duced Mr. Ellwe to recommend him.
s.IARlyc spcns.
On leaving New York The Dakota sailed FOR South
anchored outside Maranham, where the most amusing
scene in the whole transaction was enacted II stated
thai The caprain instead OF faithfully fulfilling his share
OF he contract, and landing Ross upon payment OF
$40 900 gold, the originally stipulated for his pas
sage kept tho ship lying outside The harbor for iour
days. and would not consent to put him on shore until
he had extored $4,000 Of the stolen money. Ross
was only persuaded 10 accede 10 the rapacity
Of quondam friend by the necessities OF his poation
anu Doubtless repentcd bitterly having been compelled
20 place himself SO completely in bis power As soon as
be had complied with the demands II the captain and
had safely reached terra rna, 1t is said he lost time
In laying plans OF revenge, bat a once by lavish ont
lay Of the money be had acquired at much rsk 20
peradoes and iDslrncted them nssassiuate him. The
captain, however, by some means became acquainted
proceeded win the Dsosa 20 Rio jsnero. where she
had been consigned Here the vessel was transferred 10
the possession Of Axwel, Wright Co., the consgnses,
and cold The captain, about two months ago.
RETURxED NEW YORK,
bearing with MIN his share OF the spo,A II 10 reported
valued ss 600 III gold which be had purchased in RIO
ana presented nem to his wife. Hc stayed In New York
six days and notwths'anding ,hs threats which had
anst him at the FIRST opportunity, and although they
acquainted with the fact Of his return effort
made 10 PUNISH him as accompiice OF Ross, and he
permitted IN return unniolcsted 10 his home in
MaiDe, where ne has since been living n the most uxu
nous and cxtravagant manner But he has not been
allowed evade entirely the appropriate reward OF hs
part of the sw,nde rho facs connected with ,ba de.
ledge Of the Boar Of Underwriters and tie cap.an has
been notified that unless he can make an adequate and
satisfactory explanation his certificate as sailing master
wilt be revoked He has replied, expressing surprise at
the note and asserting confidently his ability 10 clear
the matter Tar as u Affects him personally but excus
ue himself for the present from coming 10 New York on
the ground that his wife is seriously III.
rxTrysIyE LITIGATION.
Meanwhile there have been almost endless lawsuits
arising out Of tls enormous swndle Tho parties vic
tmizcd have naturally endeavored, II possible, 70 mud
some legal means OF rctnevne the terrible losses which
they have sustained The signature OF The bank teller
Of the Continental Bank appended to the certificates
executed with remarkable skill and tho most expert
enccd experts in this city have faed to discover Any
difference between the genuine signature and those a
legged 70 have been forged. Mcssrs. Black Spauding
therefore, opened proceedings against the Continental
Bank, the ground that the signatures were genuine
thus in effect denying that any forgery Al all was com
and Continental banks. which is founded apparently
yet stronger grounds
1t is alleged that when Ross presented the gold certif
Gates Nessrs. Cronise Co., the latter at for
warded them to the Continental Bank. 10 IL
they were genuine the messenger returned stating
that the cashier after closely scrutinzing them, had
pronounced them to be good The cashier subsequently
denied having ever made such statement, or having
had the cerncates submitted to him by the messenger
Cronise Co sent the certificates 10 the Commonwealth
and they passed by the Clearing House in the usual
manner, and the money paid TO the Commonwealth
the certificates were forgcres. aud have commenced
action for the Of the money As soon a. the
Commonwealth Bank were informed that the certificates
they held to the credit OF Cronise Co., until the
was finally settled There balance Of about $4,000
remaining their hands, and Cronise Co. have opened
action to compel the bank 70 pay up this amount
TIE CAfrAN AGAIN.
Another and constantly increasing crop Of lawsuits
has arisen in connection with the Dakota. Mr. Wood
ruff originally bought the ship with the view OF sending
her out 20 Brazil and selling her there vessel
when she left New York, she valued At 900 in
eod and considering the pricc at which she had been
purchased the speculation appeared an extremely
sng The captain however, not satisned with the
compensation he was receive from Ross has, II is
said, perpetrated further swndie in connection with
the ship II Is stated that he called several ports be-
sides Maranham and Rio and number OF debts
each place. AZ Pernambuco he procured about So 600
or $1,000 In gold on bill which Was endorsed by the
United states Consul for that city, Before the vessel
reached RIO the machinery by some other had
greatly deprecated Ia value and the ship only realized
$2 900 The debts which had been incurred at various
places together with the previous lien Of $40 held by
Wright Co., exceeded this sum by several thousand do
lars and the consgnccs have written TO Mr. Woodruff
aucsting the payment OF this balance Mr. Woodruff has
been informed that the ship. Ave days after the sale
$230 000 again sold $4,000, aud Is naturally
ricous that he has not been quite fairly treated In
addition this, ~ Is asserted that the sale between
Woodruff and Leland not perfect and there are now