The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-24
VILLANY RAMPANT.

most IemhIkaUie case OF Ireuu upon tho ocoo
came up for ofncial investigation before Police JUS
uee Walsh, Of Brooklyn, yesterday afternoon. The
circumstances attending the crime are Of charac-
ter highly fraugh with the strongest evidence OF the
immortality OF the age, and the total lack Of oil
respect for the sanctty Of OATH and the absence
OF anything akin to honesty. The parties interested
are Germans, and for the greater part are residents
or East New York. In the early part OF the
month OF August last John Philip Born,
about ffty.Gve years OF age, died, after q
brief Illness at his residence, near cypress Hills Gem
etery. Deceased, who had only one child daugh-
ter, who Is married, died intestate, leaving real
estate variously estimated In value at from $4,000
to $4,000. Almost Immediately after the death OF
Mr.. Born a conspiracy was formed between, as
alleged. G. A. b. Bergerman. who keeps a lager
beer saloon near the late residence OF the deceased
Anton Hldebrand, John Hermann Ia law clerk) otto
ArnOus AMI s. Goldstein saloon employes. The
plot was to forge will and obtain possession OF the
property The parties met in saloon in the Bowery,
New York, when Bergerman drew forth photo
graph OF Mr.. Born and exclalmed:-"There gentle
men, Is the man whose last will and testament we
ara about 10 draw up. You see he is with US and
our proceedings are to be complete ana regular"
Heimann being the most expert at the Of the pen,
executed the VIII, ofwhich the following is copy:
F'.'. - ss-'a~ ~ THE WILL.
In the name Of God, amen. j, John Philip Born,
OF East New York, county Of Kings, state or New
YORK, being In sound mind ana memory and con-
sassn srua ns passs Is asrS
VIII and testament-That IS to say, that after all my
lawful debts are paid and discharged give and be-
queath TO my daughter, Catharine Robnlng Born, at
East New York, the sum OF one dollar. Second, to
Frederick Hlldebrand, wife OF Anton Hldeorand,
ofEast New York, county Of Kings and State OF New
York. as a compensation for her services rendered
TO me during the entire period OF my sick
and which now own. or may own at this or any
tune hereafter, IN consideration OF which the said
Frederka HildebraDd shall pay and delray my fune-
raj expenses and also have a monument, at cost
or 500. erected over my grave. Likewise make,
Natter and Joseph KAISER, OF East New YORK, De
executors To this my last will and testament hereby
revOking all other wills.
To this precious document Arnous signed the
name OF John Philip Born" in most skilful man
ner the forgery beng made from genuine sigma
ture OF the deceased. Hermann ana Goldstein then
signed the paper as subscribing witnesses, ana were
paid for their services. The viii was presented for
THE sURROGATE's COURT
about the 20th OF August. The daughter of MIR.
Born was shocked on hearing that her father had
cruelty neglected his duty toward her. While he left
his property one who was no relative OF his at all
She subsequently became convinced that 1t was q
forgery, and secured the services OF Judge Thomp
lore Surrogate veeder and lied allegations against
the WILL This circumstance alarmed the conspira-
tors, and Arnous fearful Of being called upon TO
pay the penalty for his disreputaDle part in the
transaction, 'squeaied." lie called upon Assistant
District Attorney Pearsall and stated the whole CIR
cumstance. The services OF detectives Vldeto and
Folk, oil the brooklyn central ONCE, were called
into requsltion and, after considerable difficulty,
they effected the arrest OF Bergcrman The others
are still at large.
was commenced before Justice Wash yesterday
afternoon when Otto Arnous, being sworn, tesIi-
hed:-I live at the Summit Hotel, Of Bowery
and Canal street, New York; know I. A. Berger
man; conversed with HIM first at IS Bowery, IN
wine saloon III the latter part OF August this year:
stranger came In and spoke to DIR. Hoop; 1t was
Mr.. Hndebrand; learned his name since; didn't
his hand, which l heard was deed; he then threw
II on the table over to ldebrand and said he would
have nothing TO do with the case Hidebrand called
him some names; he "backmaiied" him and
afterwards called him several names; /
walked or and went away; after that ]
ana he told me could make about 800; this was
on the corner OF Canal street and the Bowery; he
said only had to sign another mans name to a will
tine man was dead. and asked me If could do 1t;
| SAID believed | could: afterwards received the
deed tnow prOduced) with deceaseds signature on
John Phiiip Born he said that IS the name that Is
be written; said 1t easily DONE it was very
TO make out last WIN; Mr.. Bergerman ana met al
jacob Mlllers. in William street; lie said 'in that
case there are $500 that man Is willing To pay-you
VIII get about $780, meant to make another and the
other 500 Is for the witness; he then gave
me the name OF Anthony Hildebrand, his wife
and the daughter Of the deceased John Pnnp Bornl
Mrs. Rohnlng; she would only get one dollar had
no idea how TO make out last VIII and went TO
otto ScheiDe, notary public; he keeps lager beer
saloon on Hester street, between Forsyth and Ell
bridge streets, New York; saw Mr.. Bergerman next
day in the Bowery or In William street, had made
out sort OF Will from the Instructions got from
| the notary public and signed two Witnesses names
and gave Bergerman the WILL he compared the sig
natures OF deceased the deed With the one on tue
Will had drawn he SAID 1t was made WELL towards
evening Bergerman and went to see Hildebrand to
East New York; then got acquainted first with him;
we walked up stairs, and Bergerman showed the
deed and the viii TO Hlldebrand, and he examined
them through his spectacie5 and SAID IL was done
first rate told Bergerman would like to have
some money and Hlldebrand gave Us twenty dollars,
which got soon after we leit and gave Bergerman
both papers and took them home; we met Hide
brand IN New York couple OF days after at No. 8
Centre street. and spoke about the matter, and he
said 1t was time TO make out the testament and get
some witnesses to sign 1t; we met IN Chatham
street ana made GUS the testament Mr.. Bergerm an
ana got blank WIN In law paper store between
Chamber and Pearl streets; Bergerman paid for 1t;
had made out Will at home aud gave 1t to Berger
man; Hermann came in and Goldsten shortly after
wards MIR. hermann and Mr.. Bergerman read the
VIII over. and Helnann said it was not made out
rightly, and sat down and made another Will
and signed It, as did Goldsteln; heard Ber
german say to Heimann that he could make
in the case; Heimaun and Goldsteln then got Ave
dollars and the promise OF more on the 9th, when
the examination was past; Hermann and Goldstein
then went away and Bergerman and | stayed;
then signed the name OF John PblliD Born, but
spoiled 1t in b.otting; got blank and spoiled the
signature two or three tlmes; finally signed one
which, on comparing, was satisfactory; then went
over for Mr.. Hermann and Mr.. Goldstein and told
them the party who signed the Will had spoiled It,
ana we mad to draw new one; | went 10 the
saloon and they came soon afterwards be-
fore Hermann and Goldstein signed all looked
at the signatures; asked II 1t was done well
and tney SAID yes and Goldstein asked me II mad
signed It, ] laughed and gave no reply; then Mr..
Hermann wrote out the testament which was
blank. and he and Goldstein signed as witnesses:
then some one remarked that clause should be
put IN that tombstone ought TO be erected over
the grave OF deceased TO the amount of hundred
dollars; the paper was foldea and gwen to Mr.
Bergefnan; 1t was said bv Bergerman that ali
the real and personal property or deceased should
be given to MIS- Ilildebrand IN return for her kind
ness, and one dollar lawful mouey, TO Mrs. Rohuing
daughter OF deceased; they said they gave her only
dollar because they said she had O bad reputation
and deceased did not like her; IL written in the
wills Mr.. Bergerman showed picture saving il
was John Phlip Born; we then all had refresh
me Mr Hplmann