The New York herald., 1871-02-15
TIE PHILADELPHIA FORGERY.
Rcakirt Wanted 10 Restore The Ancient Pres
tIge OF His Fathers Business.
Negotiations for the Purchase Of. 0ns Million
Rock Island'-Ths Banks v;ctimized
and What They VIII DO.

"Rock Islandn--Ths Banks victimized
and What They VIII Do
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. IL, 1871.
From the most reliable sources l gather that
Reakirts reason for perperra.ing the immense for
geries already reported in the HERALD WIS a desire
To resroye tho house WITH which he connected 10
Its former leading position In the mercantile world.
appears that Reakrt's grandfather established the
drug house that still bears tho family name, and by
close attention TO business and enlarged business
capacities succeeded In establishing his house on
sound financial basis, and gvn2 1t position IN the
commercial world second to none In Philadelphia IN
course OF time the old gentleman went the way OF all
flesh, ana the business passed into his son's hands.
Business did not seem to flourish under his admins
trauon; their best customers left them yet they
were enabled to keep their lead above water, ana
got part Of the trade Tryon, the iorger, was
brought up in the business, and, In course OF
time, admitted to partnership. lie PAID
tho closest attention to business; never kept
late hours, manifested the least desire or inclna
ton to live fast He woali occasionally make call
OF Al evening, and no was In great demand among
his lrienGs account Of his superior tenor voice. OF
which, 1t Is said, he was very VAIN. IL Is not known
that he ever visited o house or III fame or faro
bank. On the contrary, he studlously avoided oil
contact with the class Of people to DO met aasuch
resorts.
The contracted business oi the house pressed upon
his mind. He had heard what great house 1t was
under his grandfathers administration, ana he re-
solved by bold stroke TO place II again In the post
ton II had fallen from. Accordingly, about three
months since he presented q note at ono CT the
banks Tor $4,000 purpoTtlng to have been signed by
Russell Il Landis, and payable to his order. Know
Ing both parries very well tho cashier OF the bank
aid not hesitate for momens. but directed tue pay.
inG teller 70 discount mo noe and nand Mr. Roairs
! the money, something over Iorty-eighL hundred
/ dollars, wnen the pycailuin was deducted.
With the proceeds Of his nrst forsery he Invested
! Ia Rock Island The Investment turned out iortu-
raely, and lie deposited bis gains In the bank
| taut he had yceillzed. lranyhlng were needed TO
OF policy did 1t. From THAT time forth he presene ed
notes as the bnnk, and they were promptly dis
Counted Sometimes he would WIN, sometimes lose.
La this manner lie proceeded with his note-Shayng
operations until he had honoIed no leas than fifteen
OF The leading banks OF the city With his business,
each time returning In few days with deposit to
the bank no had 80 cieyery yctiInized. Thus he
kept running account anu was enabled 70
gel stiu further into the confidence OF tho bank ol-
ciale. 40 operated la Reading. Lake Shore aud
Michigan Southern ana Rock Island HsocK. MIchi-
better than Reading; yet lie probably thought he
ought to encourage home institutions" anu Aeps
backing away at IT,. The last Two weeks he had be-
gan 70 gain decidedly on Rock Island stocK, and SO
confident was ne that nc was ct last at the long
wishec-:or goal that h, recently made arrangements
to 50 lor
oSE MILLrcN DOLLARS WORTH
OF these securities. Cfcours5 II VIII be understood
tiiac he "put upf' nothing more than margin. 10
be ready TO meet his brokers needs, Preparatory 10
the purchase of the stock, he found that he required
Sl,1vo more than his balance at ho different banks
II was but the work OF a moment TO make Out
note for tha amount, take II to the bank AID pre- el
IL Tor collection, SAYING be would be back for 1t in
moment. How the cash hler' suspicious were aroused
by The note being dated 1910 Instead OF 1871 and
ReaAirt's SUBSEQUENT detection have already been
published In Lhe HERALD.
IiNDISD HD WAS DETECTED
ne ''weakeneu" and Expressed his Intention Of COM
mitting suic.oe. II he mad not been detected he
Rock Island speculation 10 pay all the note3 ana
have sp endld fortune III addition. TO lad ail hi5
caates falling ground, hopes frustrated and
the woIk OF anxious, weary months 20 ng FOR nauaht
except 10 brand nim as a felon, well ngh unsettled
to undertake ana accomplish desperate schemes, he
does not possess the fortilude and requisite phoso
| and was led to believe that the bust
ness could be hushed up; taat pub.
hints tesan drop here and there snarp reporters
got an iilk'ing OF The af1alr. one Journal. IN It's
any names, /. day or two since, and yesterday the
HERALD and Philadelphia papet5 gave full accounts
oil the forgery. AwarrantWas issued Tor kea6irt,s
arrest bur LIE became alarmed ana 9o cut OF harm's
way for the present.
1t was thought yesterday. that the detectives had
a certain clue 10 Reakrt's Whereabouts; but the
most persistent piping" failed 10 establish the
truth OF the runor, and The detectives are tle
OF the trail. i wca known detective, ACCOMPANIED
BY two or three bank officers, went 10 New York
last night to take TO more eIectualy
the ground In that city.
A KoRsE AND BUGGY
appeared at the residence OF HeaSirs faher Thurs.
Gay night. The occupant aiEhted lit was not yOung
HeaAirt), went INTO the house. goi a small bundle
and then drove rapidly OF. The actectyc who was
posted in the vicinity was unable to follow The
buggy. This circumstance seems to warrant the
belief that Reakrt Is not lar or; IL Is believed that
he sent for soIue clothing.
TEE MOST UNTlRING WATCH
Is kept up on ali places where he has been In the
habt Of visiting, aud every one goln to or leaving
these places 5 most certainly watched In the closest
manner. IL Reakirt ls in Phlladeph he VIII be
unearthed In u short time. AS . proof of how
stats that when one Of the notes bearing Mr.
Landis' signature was shown to that gentleman he
could not credit the evidence OF his own Senses he
put his hand up to his head and audiby remarked,
been asleep, or nave lost my senses for period
within the past tnree months? The signature could
net lie nearer genuine II l wrote it," Mr. Russell
also expressed the greatest surprise OF the excel
lent manner in which his name had been forged.
The following banks were among tie LOSERS 1t Ia
with great dl,ficuIty that | have been abe to
learn their names as the officials striving
70 keep their losses from tho public:-Trades-
Eenk, Northern Liberties, Girard National,
Seventh National, Commonwealth, Commercial,
Bank OF Commerce, Bank OF the Republic, Bank OF
North America Mechanics National, Manufacturers
National and Unloa Ban King Company.
THE vICTIMlZED BANKS
have mad two or three meetings. Mr. Mrlssaman,
cashier Of the Union Banking Company, the pfesl-
dent does not feel at liberty TO give for publication
reliable sources that most or the banks VIII sesle
for the amount ost while TWO OF the number the
Peoples ana Northern Liberties, are positively de-
termined 10 prosecute Reakirt whenever caught
SaO0slYR WATER SUPPLY.