The New York herald., 1870-10-29
THE RICHMOND FORGERY CASE,
it-a' ana conviction Of Ex-Mayor and United
States Commissioner Chahoon-
History Of the Case.

0n VI Gx-mayor and United
Sts'es commissioner Chahoon-
History Of the Case.
RICHMOND. Va, Oct. 81, 1870.
The Trial OF ex-Mayor George Canoon for foroerv
and uttering forged note OF $1,000, which has
occupied the past week In tine Hastings Court bsr.
was concluded last night aud the case was given tn
the Jury, which this morning returned into eourt
with verde. OF guilty OF u.terng q forgery ana
assessing the punishment at four years In Stats
Prison. Though an outline OF thus remarkable case
which has developed an amount Of the most unblush.
Ing swindling ana infamy on record. has already
been published In the HERALD, IL is again necessary
to give brief
HISTORY or THE swINDLE.
Some eight or ten years prior TO the late war Q
foreigner named Solomon Haunstien came 10 this
city aad worked at his trade, which
was that OF q cordwainer and shoemaker.
In the year lSas he was stricken with
tho gold fever, which then ragged and,
like thousands Of Others went to California where
he succeeded In accommodating an amount Of money,
with which lie returned 10 this city. Part Of his
small fortune he invested in real estate and with
the remainder he opened q barroom aud restau-
rant, doing thriving business until
HIS DEATH BY sUICIDs,
which occurred in July, 1851. While IN state Of
delrium tremens the unfortunate, though quiet
and successful Swiss flor he native OF Switzor.
land, shot himself through The head with pistol
IN the house OF q mulatto woman with whom he
cohabted. At his demise hs was found TO 10
without heirs I'd being intestate his property &C
crued to the State by Its established laws and
statutr being valued at about eight or nine thou.
sanddollsrs Those who knew Haunstlen speak Of
MIN as an orderly citizen, q man OF intelligence
q md m ur,g gan0 hppinn IIio
was then taken possession OF by well known citl
zen here. named Richard D. Sanxay, as curator OF
the estate, In whose hands 1t remained during the
entire period OF the war, no adjudication OF it being
had. Thus the matter rested; years rolled by and.
In the heat, excitement and comparative chaos In
which the country was then involved, Haunsti en-,
the suicide, ana his property entirely escaped the
memory OF even those cit,zons wno were familiar
with the case.
GEORGE CAHoON,
the accused, who Is related by marriage TO a we1
known New York editor, IL o native OF that state,
bat his parents removed to Virginia and settled In
Botetourt county while he was a child, and lie was
raise1 and educated there At the breaking ont OF
hostlitcs, following The example OF great many
others whose syiDpanles were with the
North, he lett the State and remained ab
sent until the conclusion OF hostiii ties
When peace had been resorted Cahoon again came
to Virginia, aud was for considerable period Com
monwesths Attorney t2r Elizabeth city county.
From that place he migrated to Florida III the spring
OF 1s6j, " here he became acquainted with William
II. Gieeson, late Lieutenant Governor OF that State
20 eS a Se II e ~ as s as
regarded aa carpctbagger, and engaged In tho
dubious practice or law. In May, 1865, he was ap-
na now holds the ofllce Of Commissioner In Cnan-
Gerry Tor the United States District Court whica ap-
pointment he received from that notorious legal
empyric Judge Underwood. As the facts In the
forgery case, In which Cahoon Is the principal cha
racter have been developed by the evidence for the
came here In 1885, man came 10 his law Office and
gave him for collection
a BOND FOR $1,000,
payable on demand to John W. thompson, executed
BY Soomon Hannstieii, and this bond was endorsed
Gieeson, his assignee. IL was attempted to be
proved by the defence that the man VINO gave Ca.
noon this bond WAS named J. o. Jones' and witnesses
testified that such man had endeayorcd to borrow
money on the same bond from two curbstOue
o pne sana ~ s ~ T oaoGn gave
General OF tue State by military appointment and
requested HIN 10 SEQ MI. Sanxay, the curator OF
Hansacns estate, and ask him to settle IL. Bowden
TOOK the bond, Which lie regarded with evident sus
plclon, to Sanxay, as asked, vino. pronounced the
claim damned swind.e aud said he would not pay
It, BoWden notified Canoon OF what Sanxay said,
snd told linn he would lave nothing more to
brought suit on the bond against Sanxay cnrator..
Strange to SAY the latter person for reason had
CHANGED his mind as to the spurioasness OF the
lnent for the whoie amount or $1,000. Sanxay put
" no Plea ana allowed the case 10 NO by deiault,
though lie had employed Mr. Johnson Ii. SANDS, d
prominent lawyer mere, as his attorney II. the case
thus making third consplrator In the acknow-
edgsu M swindle: Ihis suit was brought in the name
vs. r. y. SanXay, curator. Hauastien having left
no personal property it became necessary in order
10 subject ms real estate to the payment OF this
Judgment TO OBTAIN decree OF the Chancery Court
lSr Tor mat % purpose: % 10 that end bin was hled 10
tho circuit Court OF this city In April,
1867, asking for such decree. This Dill was In the
handwriting Of Mr.. Johnson II. Sands, Sankey's
lawyer, and was filed by him. as counsel. with the
knowledge and cooperation OF Caloon. The de.
cree was obtained ana The proceeds OF the SAFE were
ordered to be paa to George Cahoon. attorney OF
tnis claDcery SUIT Richard :. Sanxay, tne son OF
the Curator was appointed special commissioner
ana that sum lie pad over 80 Cahoon, whose re.
celpt as counsel for WiaiWGiees0n, ls Il ed among
tie documents ia the case IN the CircuiG Court. In
addition TO tQs record evidence there was also flied
9 power OF attorney from William Giee-
son. authorizing Cahoon 70 receive and receipt
tor the money. Thus, the documents alone bling
together these conspirators 10 cheat and deraud the
State out OF $7G0O--C8loon, Sands ana the two
be forget, supported BY other forged documents ia
the names OF parties WHO had no existence, and by
An most laa9Vs M @ ad sysemaS ods NO o. sMntny tma
three are charged with forging ana ut6erlns forged
bond, and win q conspiracy to CHEAT and defraua
who merits some description as the
PRINCIPAL WITNESS
in the case is one samuel M. Page. lie !s a Vir-
ginian who came to reside IN this city In 1866. where
ne commenced business as q baker; but, being pos
sessed OF low cunning. unscrupulous, and
thoroughly unprinctplei, he began the prac-
tce OF Jaw among the negroes In the Mayors
Court, where he became noScd after the fashion
OF q Tombs SINISTER. AS soon as military
District No. was established this precious speci-
men Of the legal fraternity was appointed prosecut-
ing attorney for 10 less than seven unfortunate
countlcs which were destitute of lawyer who could
take the irOn-clad oatn. In November Of the same
year, 1867, he was also appointed escheator and he
IN, ira
details He was first made acquainted with the
facts by Mr. HowdeD, the Attorney General, vino
tod him the note was forgery and that the whole
yersation with Page Bowden communicated TO
CahOon, when tho latter sought Page and told him
he wanted to have talk witi him about the matter,
but under 3
PLEDGE or MASONIC SECRECY,
both OF them beng Masons. Page very readily
nIile a4aHl nl.s N,na q