Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-12-01
Heavy FOrgeries In New York.
From the y. Y. Sun, Nov. %.

EIOm luc ~. =. Iouu, -NUE. ~.
The mercantile and banking community Or
that small part, at least, which has been let in-
to the secret-were startled about week ago
by rumor that the market had been flooded
with an enormous quantity Of forged paper
bearing the endorsement Of Saroni e. Linde-
mann, shirt manufacturers, of So Leonard street.
well-kno and highly respected firm. About
the same time Adolrh S. Saroni one of the
partners, suddenly disappeared, absconding, as
has since been ascertained, to Cuba. The facts
have been kept very quiet, but strict invc>ti-
CATION has beeu going on, aud from the evidence
thus collected is the following remarkable story:
About eighteen months ago. Saroni began to
forge the names Of prominent houses to notes
for various amounts, and after endorsing them
with his own firms name, to put them on the
market at Il discount His position as book
keeper aud tnancier uf tic firm protected linn
in his nefarious business. Ills plan was to irl-
itate the signatures TT Southern and Western
houses whose notes or checks his firm might re-
ceive in the regular course OF trade, and whose
paper would bring Il fair price IN the market,
aud then either to sell the spurious paper
through Wall street brokers, or have it dis
counted by the Ninth National or Importers and
Traders Banks, with Which hc dealt. The ON.
" three exceptions which are known are the
firm of Isaac Phillips, his brother in lazy. the
rich house of j. Alexander 4 Co., Of San Fran.
cisco, and the house Of j. Baum & Co, also OF
San Francisco, both Of which have Offices in
this city, and upon both of which Saroni cou
United some of his heaviest forgerieS.
In every case the paper was received without
hesitation, and strange to say, during all this
time his crime was never suspected even BY his
wife or his partners, upon whom the discovery
of his wickedncss now falls with all the force OF
a sudden blow Somehow he always contrivcd
to take up each note just before it maturcd +;
and, although their forged paper was selling on
the street on every side OF iheu, the victlml2-
ed firms never seemed to be aware Of it. BE
ginning with small amounts his wonderful *,t:
cess gradually em5oldeaed him to extend hts
operations in the most reckless manner. There
is no telling where be might have stopped had
not the gentleman attention been drawn to 4
simple innovation Of merchantlle custom. TIL:
circumstances are these
Among the brokers whom Saroni employed
to sell the forged paper were Springer Il Co..
Of Al Pine street. These gentlemen were
among his heaviest victims. They have al
ready taken up over S20, 900 worth of the stuff
which passed through their hands and for
which they we're responsible 1t is also known
that several other brokers have been similarly
yictimized but their names and the amounts
could not be ascertained. One of the notes,
on J. Alexander & Co., negotiated by Spring
er l. Co., was discounted by Mr.. Aalrr. 4 pr!-
vate banker. Saroni learned Of it. and fearing
detection. took up the note three days before
maturity. This unusual proceeding led Adler
to speak of it to Mr.. Ash, Of. Alexander 4
Co. Mr. Ash was astonlshed. He knew OF
the existence OF no such note madc by his tlrin.
An investigation followed, and it was ascer-
tanned to a certainty that j. Alexander Il Go.
had no such note on the market. Springer 4
came to them from Bostcn, but they would re-
uuire two or three days time to trace it to It's
maker. They traced it to Saroni, who, learn
ing that they were after him, fled to Cuoa.
A sailor crossing the North River shortly
before the discovery OF the forgerles saw what
proved to be bundle Of cheeks floating on the
water. Thinking the prize to be a valuable
one be jumped in and secured it. He then
carried the checks to the bank upon which
they were drawn and claimed large reward ;
but as they we're useless to the bauk he took
them to the firms office They prove an un-
numbered series Of torgeries by Saroni.. As
far as known over 100000 worth of forged
paper has found its way to the market from
his hands. The Ninth National Bank holds
$4,000 worth of j. Alexander 4 Co. 8 and
$4,000 worth of j. Baum 4 Co.'s alone 1t
holds in all $50, 900 worth of paper endorsed by
Saroni & Lindemann ; but how much OF this
il forged the honest members of the firm do
not vet know, some of it being undoubtedly
genuine The firm owe about $2O,O00 for
merchandise. This they arc we'll able to pay,
but the whole s35, 900 will break them. The
Importers and Traders Bank also hold Il large
amount, but they refuse any information on
the subject Then there are Springer u Go. $
$4,000 and the amounts held by the other
brokers.
Il is also known that the forged paper has
been NEGOTIATED in Boston, but how much it is
impossible to tell The great difficulty in ar
irving at correct estimate Is that the majority
of these notes were drawn IL the name, OF
Western and Southern firms at four months,
and it is necessary to wait until they mature
before they can be distinguished from the gen
nine notes. This publication will without doubt
promnt many holders to send OH all such paper
IN their possession *or Identification, but the
greater number of holders arc still in blisstui
ignorance of its worthless character.
The discovery of this vast series OF crimes
hus created even more aStonlshment than cha
grin. Saroni was the last man whom hls friends
would suspect of such Il thing. There was no
apparent motive which could have tempted
him. His firm was known to be perfectly sol
vent, and was paying MIN L handsome prctt;;
He was in comfortable circumstances, and lived
in good style, but without show or extrava-
gance.
His wife was one of the Misses Davis, bellies
who rcigued for long time 10 upper tendom. dS'
A sister is married to u brother OF ,. N. Flke,
the millionaire opera house builder. Saroni is
also brotherin-law Of Louis J. Phillips, OF
L. J. Phillips & Co., one Of the greatest fur
rier firms in the country. Personally, he wa:
much esteemed as genial, SOBER uprig 10! man
and his business standing was very high IN the
community.
1t was not until, during an examination o.
the effects of his firm, over 100000 worth o
lottery ticket coupons were found in his private
drawer in the safe, that his motive and hi:
madness were both revealed. 1t also Leaked
,,t tbot .:ytoo a, vs,rs ,ro he had been tlScov