Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-06


Charles Oliver Brockway alias Vanderpool,
otherwise known us Charles Oliver, whose ar
rest was mentioned recently, aud who is, it ap-
pears, one of the most notorious criminals IN
his line in the country. He came to New York
city when a mere boy, and soon found opportu-
nifty for the exercise Of the base principles that
seemed thus early to govern him, by acting in
the capacity OF kid or small thief for Charley
Adams, now serving term of imprisonment in
Maine for robbing the Lin Rock bank. Adams
was then in the zenith of his life of crime, and
was associated with the notorious Madam Rus-
sell, keeper of an designation house in Mercer
street Although nearly thirty years Brock
ways senior, Madam Russell conceived passion
for him as he advanced in years, and finally cut
Adams and was married TO Brockway Pre-
vious TO the marriage, which occurred some
six years ago, Broadway had abandoned
his little populations and sought higher game,
embracing forgery, as speedy pathway to
wealth and luxury. His first venture in this
line resulted disastrously. He was arrested,
tried, convicted, and sent to Clinton New
York; state prison for two wears and three
months, under the name of Charles Oliver
Having done this time he was released, but
as there were several other criminal charges
pending against him be concluded not to re-
turn to New York, and accordingly departed
for Worcester, Mass There he entered into
series Of fraudulent practices of confidence"
character, that resulted in his being sent to the
Worcester county Jail for Il period of twelve
months. Once more out of the penitentiary he
returned to New York quietly, and took up his
residence at the Mercer street den with Madam
Russell. His nature was too restless for him
to remain long in idleness, but as his only occu-
patton was crime of some character, he cast
about for the most etfectual mode of committing
il under cover. In pursuance of this idea he
gave his attention to the altering of and dealing
in stolen bonds. In this direction he had great
er success than had ever before attended him,
and he was enabled to wear costly diamond pins
and rings, 800 watch, and drive three
minute pair of horses. He was, at this time,
one of the nobbieSt dressed men to be met with
on Broadway. The house in Mercer street be-
came a resort for low women OF the town and
thieves and craftsmen. 1t was the depository
Ofstolen goods as well, and was the point from
which answers were sent to numerous advertise
ments offering rewards for the return of stolen
goods-"no questions asked" His proclivities
for the gaming table, however, kept him re-
duced in funds to such an extent as TO compel
him to seek new paths of crime TO re-
plenish his Golfers. He lost thousands
upon thousands at the game Of faro, and
made the acquaintance in gamOlin g-saloOns
of such men as Bill Quincy, Tom Hale, and
most OF other counterieiters who have recently
been sent to state prison, and who were en-
ployed with him, under William P. Wood when
the latter chief of the secret service division.
Through his intimacy with these men Brockway
thought he saw an easy road to wealth, and
SOlhllShSSu MS CdiSCI uo Il ludHuldCtuI6I VI
counterfeit money, not directly in the beginning,
but by first supplying cOunterfeters 18th capi-
tai to enable them to make the bogus money, he
sharing literally in the profits. This plan he
pursued for some time, but, conceivng that
still iarger results could be obta ned he made a
bold step, and plunged at once into the bust
ness, employing engravers and printers to cut
the plates and print the money. The combined
earnings of Brockway and his wife from the
proceeds of NUMEROUS crimes had enabled him
TO purchase very" handsome place at Mount
Vernon, Westchester county. 1t was here til It
Brockway determined to concoct and carry out
his scheme for manufacturing a fifty cent
counterfeit stamp. In perfecting his designs
ne actually set up counterfeit press
in his own house, and commenced the
manufacture of the stamps.
The whole affair was conducted with such Sc
crecy and dispatch that no one in the neighbor-
hood had the remotest idea that the elegant lit
tie villa of Brockway's was the harboring place
for one of the worst set OF scoundrels that ever
disgraced the country. Everything was nearly
completed before trouble arose. Thirty thou
sand dollars in counterfeit money had been pre-
pared, ready TO De put on the market; the press
was being run night and day, and the prospects
of large fortune hourly grew brighter. On the
14th day of November, 1886, Deputy Sheriff |
John R. Savage, of New York having obtained |
a hint as to what was going on, made descent |
on the house, capturing the money and all the |
pIa es and machinery for making the same. |
Two prisoners, Atkinson and Cllrkson, were
arrested, but Brockwly escaped by jumping |
through window some sixteen feet from the
ground. He was severely injured, but was sill |
able to 2tfecullly secretc himself until the de-
parture of the officers. Having made good his |
escape he opened negotiations with VIM P
W God, anl made arrangements to return to New
York and remain unmoestcd. Not only this,
but he was re Eularly employed at a monthly sal
airy under Wood, the same rs Cranky" Tom
Hale, Virgil S. Barlow, and other notorious
countereitels had been.
Brockway's conduct while thus employed was
far from pleasing D the then United States |
marshal of the district and he one day directed |
Mount Vernon matter. Wood sprang to the |
rescue, but with no possible effect. The mar |
shal was iueXorable, and Brock way was brought |
to trial. The case attracted general notice, and
me court room was crowded to repletion during |
the proceedings. Wood although government |
officer, sat with BIockway counsel and assisted |
MIN in the cross examination OF the government |
witnesses, wi view to throwing discredit on
their testimony. Ii was a most unusual specta- |
Gle for both the court and the Jury. Brockway |
was found guilty and sentenced to fifteen years |
Imprisonment in the Albany penitentiary. |
VIII taken to Albany by the officers he eX- |
pressed great confidence in the influence of |
Wood to have him pardoned, and had such hopes |
OF finding the pardon awaiting him at the peni- |
Tertiary door that he had dressed himself for his
his watch and diamonds. On arriving ut the
prison he assured Warden Plllsbury that his
pardon would be there in fortv-eight hours and
begged him not to shear his head, which was
Just then covered with a mass of black curling
hair. The appeal was in vain. He was shear
ed, shaved and lodged in a cell within an hour,
and the next morning took up his line ofmarch
with his fellow convicts Wood was as good as
his word, aud worked increasingly and with such
success that Brockway was pardoned by Presi
hn1 xfnEl alar,rk
eighteen months of his time, and
was once more turned loose on the commu-
nifty. Reappearing in New York, he again
sought the Mercer street mansion, and after a
tune bought an interest in place called the
"Arbor," at No. so West Houston street, which
had long been noted as a resort of thieves and
counterfelters. Here he contracted all fhe debts
he could, and finding it necessary to leave very
soon, took another bold step, defrauded his own
wife out OF large sum Of money, perpetrated a
forgery on the Bank of North America for
81 900, and departed. The public are already
familiar with his rearrest and his present incar
ceratlon Oh the above charge. In addition to
his many other crimes is that of the one perpe-
trated upon Mr.. j. p. Boughton, an old and
highly respectable citizen Of Paterson, Nj,
whom Brockway enticed into carriage on the
Bowery, and there gaTToted and robbed him of
S2100 in cash. The above is but a brief sketch
of this noted criminal, probably one of the most
dangerous that ever cursed the face of society.
Brockway's personnel is that of genteel young
man of good address, about five feet eight inches
in height, black, curly hair, rather pleasing
expression of cOuntenance when he desires to
assume it, mos. vivaciOus and smooth taller,
and capable Of making himself agreeable with
every one. He is about thirty years Of age, one
fourth of which he has already passed in jails
and pententiaries.
HALF-TARDY."- The Boston Advertiser
says:
Strange to say, an effort has been seriously