The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-06

Other Local matters ON First Page.

FORGERY AND FALSE PRETENCEs-AR-
REST OF THE SwINDLER.-On Thursday
morning last man representing himself
as G.. ". Sawyer arrived in Richmond by
the morning train from the North and re-
pistered at the Spotswood Hotel. He stated
that he was tobscco-dealer, and came to
make purchases. During Thursday and
Friday he purchased tobacco from Messrs.
Harderove, R. J. Christian, and P. n.
Mayo & Co., giving them certificates Of de-
post of a national bank in Bloomington,
H., in payment, and receiving the differ
ences in their checks. The suspicious of
these gentlemen being ut length aroused,
they managed to recover their checks on
the return of the certificates of deposit,
holding the tobacco until Mr.. Sawyer
should receive currency, for which he said
he had telegraphed.
On Thursday evening he also purchased
about sixty dollars werth of silverware
from Messrs. John Fl. Tyler g. Co., on Main
street, saying that it was for bridal pre-
sent. He offered here, too, certificate,
which the jewellers refused to take, it being
after bank hours. On Friday evening he
returned and made the same offer, which
was again declined, but in the mean time
the silver had been marked according to
sawyer's directions.
On the same day certificate was offered
at the National Bank of Virginia, which
the cashier offered to take at one-half per
cent. discount, but Sawyer thought it too
much, and proceeded to the First National
Bank. Here, being introduced to Mr.. A.
Vance Brown, the president, as tobacco
merchant from the West, and being known
to the tobacco trade here, he succeeded in
negotiating certificate of deposit of $4,000
purporting to be issued by the National
Bank of Bloomington, III. He stated that
he was going to Lynchburg, and on his re-
turn would use the money in the purchase
| of tobacco in this city. After bank hours
he returned to the bank and got the teller
to certify check for $4,000.
On Saturday morning Messrs. Tyler &
Co. received a note through the post-ofice
from Sawyer asking them to express the
silver he had purchased to Petersburg G.
O. D. Messrs. Nowlan, from whom he
had also purchased, received similar
order. Tyler & Co., becoming suspicious,
dispatched Mr.. James Tyler to watch the
movements of Mr.. Sawyer. He went to
Petersburg, and found him bargaining with
Mr.. Reuben Ragland, Of that city, for to-
bacco, and advised him of the silver transac-
ton, which at once convinced Mr.. Ragland
he was dealing with swindler. He adroitly
managed to get possession of the First
National Bank certified check, and told Saw
yer that he would return in few minutes
with the money for him. Mr.. Ragland then
| proceeded at once to advise Cashier Smith,
of Richmond, of his suspicious, and on his
return found Sawyer had left. Proceeding
to his hotel, he found his bill paid and he
not to be found. 1t was at length ascer-
tanned from o livery-stable keeper that he
| had hired o conveyance to 60 to City Point
to make connection with the Baltimore boat
Mr.. Ragland Immediately telegraphed for
| his detention. Mr.. Tyler then went to City
Point with a police officer, and found Saw
yer on the steamer about to depart for Bal
timore. He was placed under arrest and
carried to the Petersburg Jail to await the
arrival of Cashier Smith with warrant in
the hands of Special Constable O'Dwyer
He was then brought over to Richmond and
| lodged in a cell at the lower police-station
This was at IL o'clock Sunday night.
Yesterday morning the accused was
brought before the Mayor, who remanded
him for hearing this morning. Last eve
ming the cashier of the First National Bank
received telegram from the Bloomington
Bank in these words: "The certificate o.
deposit is a forgery" None of the partie:
in Richmond or Petersburg sustained any
serious loss.