The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-21
THE WABASH FORGERIES,
Arrest of the Principal in the
Wall Street Swindles.
What They Knew at the District Attorneys
Ofice-Austin Also Indicted and Soon To Be
Captured-How the Case Now Stands.

The readers of the HERALD will remember the
fOrgeries OF Wabash and Fort Wayne certificates
which came to light few days since; how a num-
Der OF certificates of these stocks were placed in
the Continental Bank by one Austin, the partner
OF John Oddie broker, doing business at No. o
Broad street, as collateral security against GER
LITIGATION OF check of $25, 900, and how after the
deposit OF these securities they were found to have
been forged. For some time 1t was not known
whom to accuse OF the forgeries but, after a
while, suspicion fell upon Austin, the partner of
Mr.. Oddie, and all the circumstances oil the case
warranted the assumption that he was the guilty
party, as he had disappeared Immediately after
being appraised of the discovery Of the
forgeries. The manner Of doing the thing
was sufficient evidence OF itself that
there was more than one person concerned
In 1t, and the whole detective spirit of Wall street
was put upon the track OF the case. At first it was
supposed that the criminals had in their employ
some one in the ONCE OF the Wabash Railroad Com.
pany In this city, who tore the certificates out OF
the books OF the company and transferred them to
THE PARTIES IMPLICATED.
But this line OF belief seems TO have been aban-
doned and it seems pretty evident that the certi1-
Gates themselves were forged-that is, the designs
and lithography-and that the affair was whole
sale conspiracy to food the street with these Ger.
discovered This whole design, if 1t existed-and
there Is every evidence that it dd-was nipped in
the bud by the action Of Austin in send
ing the certificates to the Continental Bank
on saturday afternoon last. The very stupid
bunder, also, OF signing the name of firm which
did not exist was the principal reason why the
AFFAIR was discovered. Whoever endorsed tue GER
tifcates put upon them Kuhn Loeb g. Co., instead
OF Kuhn Loeb and the bank Immediately sent
down TO the frm, which pronounced the endorse
On Monday evening Mr.. John eddie returned TO
the city, having been recalled by a series OF tele-
grams. He Immediately made statement showing
his own implication In the AFFAIR and on the. VERY
next day went before the Grand Jury and gave cv-
dence which led to the Grand Jury finding
A BILL OF INDICTMENT
against Austin and man named Wright who was
SAID TO nave been implicated IN the affair." Mr.
John Oddle Is said to have given his evidence from
at times with Austin he had ofte noticed there
the man Wright. and had observed him to be very
ts WIN Austin ne had never alluded to
he had mad his suspicious aroused since by the fact
that since the departure OF Austin Wright had not
been seen, and seemed also to have disappeared.
Yesterday afternoon Detective Sampson mys-
teriously went to the District Attorneys Office in
company with a small built, well dressed man
They Grove up to the Chambers street entrance and
went in very quickly and unobtrusively. They re-
NAMED some time there and then went out IN the
same way, re-entered the coach ana drove up
tOwnwards.
shortly after HERALD reporter called at the
was asked about the case.
~ VIII not deny,n said Mr. Phelps, "that Wright
has been arrested, but my lips are necessarily
closed about the case, because understand that
some
OTHER PERSONS ARE TO BE LOOKED AFTER,
and It might spoil the arrest or the others to tell
you how TINS one has been accomplished
''iiave you any objection to let me know In what
manner Wright is culpable in the matter ~
II don't know myself Detective Sampson has
charge OF the case and alone knows how the thing
really, really stands: Wright however, was arrested Oh a
Some time alter the HERALD reporter saw Mr..
Allen, the Assistant District Attorney. MIR. Allen
SAID that he knew very little OF the case; that an
indictment had been granted against Wright in
conjunction with Others. lie added that Wright
was the real man IN the case, and that Austin was
merely go-between for Wright and the bank.
THAT from Wright 1t was hoped to get all the par
ticnars Of the affair and VINO were his fellow con-
The HERALD reporter asked whether Wright was
supposed to be the man v no forged the names.
a., MI; Alien SAID that as be understood 1t not only
ala ne Jorge the names, but the certificates them
selyes-.hat Is, he had the plates counterleited
and then signed them.
Az Police Headquarters, where Wright was taken,
he was locked up az secret. They refused to give
any information about the matter
MR. oDDIEs STATEMENT
A reporter called on Mr.. eddie last evening, at
ms residence to learn, If possible. some iurther
Oddie,s statement that ne is not the one who
lodged the Information against Wright, nor has
d ne snOw own uniii within the last two or three
iorgeries has been. The name Of the man
IN iull Is D. d: Wright, and he sometimes goes
Dy tne allas OF Stanley. IL appears that years ago.
wright was very expert bank note enPraver in
Albany, and was employed more or less in all the
Dig note companies. He In this manner became
very wealthy, and was accounted man who
wanted Tor nothing The TACT that Wright s an
engraver OF this merit bears out the story that he
counterleited the entire certificates and not sim
ply the signatures. He is not known in wall
street, though by this AFFAIR he will prob
ably De pretty well known hereafter. I'm
answer 10 question az to where Austin had pos
sibly ned, MIR. OddIc said he had the slightest
IDEA but he sincerely hoped lie would ne caught
with the money In ms possession. IL begins to be
Thought that Austin has gone to Canada, though
the detectives have probably a clew as Wright
ana Austin undoubtedly knew each others where
ap0uts and the one captured may possibly now
pIow' upon the one WHO Is al large. IL is stu
cerely TO be hoped that the whole rang will be
caught and the mysterious practices OF the plot
teTs brought 10 Light