Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-28

NEW YORK, April 27.-An extensive and Or
gained system OF frauds on the government,
by means of forged soldiers bounty and back
ply claims, has lately been discovered by the
treasury officials in this city, and proceedings
have been instituted and are progressing rapidly
to bring the guilty parties to justice. Several
weeks since, it was ascertained that Frederick
Smith, formerly captain in the 104th New York
volunteers, had forwarded 10 Washington a
fraudulent claim to obtain pay and bounty
money alleged to be due the father of Emile Ling,
q deceased UniOu soldier; investigation showing
that Ling had no father living and the proper
claim had been filed by his mother, Smith was
arrested and brought before Commissioner DAY.
export, and gave $4,000 bale for his examina-
ton. He failed to appear for examination, was
re-arrested and his bail increased to $4,000.
He then made full confession, duplicating
some twenty persons, who, he said, composed a
ring to cheat the government by preparing and
presenting forged claims, purportng to emanate
from relatives of dead soldiers for bounty and
back pay due heirs. Henry NJ. Karples, for
merly lieutenant-colonel of the SD New York
volunteers, was arrested on charge of being one
of the principal operators in these frauds. The
specific charge against Karples was that he
signed the name of Jacob Schrieber to
a claim for bounty money, alleged to
be due to Paul Schrieber, formerly
second lieutenant of company A, SD New York
volunteers. In this claim, Jacob is described as
the father of Paul and the rightful heir of his
claims, when, as a mater of fact it does not
appear that Karples ever saw such a person as
Jacob or knew OF his existence. Karplas was
committed to-day for examination, in default of
$40 900 bail.
Investigation at Washington showed that
similar fraudulent claims have been presented
by about twenty persons in this city, and, if all
be allowed the government would have
been defrauded out of about 100000.
Shortly after Karples' arrest no.
torv Ouhlip palnp himself Rev
Dr. Charles Nanz, was arrested for completely
in the frauds, it being charged that the claims
were sworn to before him, he being well aware
of their fraudulent character. This so-called
doctor of divinity and H. Martin, another alleged
accomplice, were brought before Commissioner
Davenport and committed, in default of S10,-
900 bail, each, for examination. About twelve
persons, in all, thus far have been arrested.
Karples' case having come on for examination
before Commissioner Davenport to-day, Smith
swore he saw Karples sign the name of Jacob
Schneider to the claim in question, and it was
understood between the witness and Karples
that this claim, like numbers of Others that the
witness and Karpes had prepared, were fraudu-
lent.
Judge Blatchford to-day issued an order re-
quiring Jay Gould 10 show cause why he should
not produce the books of the company called
for by Commissioner White, and, if satisfactory
return be not made, motion will be argued to
punish Gould for contempt of court
Lie COuNcuIOH VI dSeUtS, III
this city, adjourned to-day, having adopted tariff
rates varying hut little from the present The
matter of an express freight train over the New
York Central railroad was referred to a commit
tee, to report at the next meeting.
The match of the Boston base ball club with
the Athletics of Brooklyn was postponed till to-
morrow, on account of the rain which has been
very heavy this afternoon.
The council Of the Fenian brotherhood last
night elected: John Savage, chairman; finance
committee, Col. Patrick Leonard of the execu-
tive committee and Anthony A. Griffin of the
! judiciary committee, who, by provisions of the
constitution recently adopted, became the cen.
trail committee and executive head of the broth
| erhood.
Henry Austin, an English confidence man,
lately doing extensive business on the New
Haven boats, was sentenced to-day to five
months Imprisonment and one hundred dollars
fine for passing counterfeit gold coins to fell
low passenger.
Rev. DR.. Henry NJ. scudder was installed pas