New Orleans Republican., 1873-07-13

tue whole truth was never 1uily ooe'A0U ~
investigation: From the facts o.scover5u
NV the police. after months Of patient work
ln up. the affair was found to De the most
artistic and refined case OF bank forging
ever performed. and is without parallel even
in the Bank of England job.
1t should be promised that the CONNER
cial Bank of New Orleans was heavy con.1c
cern, doing large business in exchangV
To guard against forgeries, it had pape-
snecia!,v made for its drafts and corre'
spondence, special plate engraved, and
special writing ink; and these private
Guards to protect its drafts were known to
the various parties with whom the bank
conduct exchanges. -,
The sum of information cleaned by the
police amounted to this: One man did the
whole work II was first believed that two
we're in it: but the probability was that the
artist who planned and executed the AFFAIR
exhibited that lofty genius Of his mind
taking no confederate to cOmpIlcate Sr
biunder in the execution. -
The cashier Of the Commercial Bank
one Hall. With Mr.. Hall. one Ma
opened q correspondence from 'M'
Mackey would discuss topics Of tinaI'
exchanges, ETC., and as he wrote as ans
telligent gentleman, the unsuspicious II
responded with aIacrity. Being congeni
topic. and in Mr.. Halls line, it may be sup
posed that his "basiO" style of treating thet
various points toward which Mackey leo
the discussion would be an exact reflex OF
the system pursued by the Commercial
Bank And thus Mackey was getting full
plans from an officer in command OF the
fertilization he intended to attack.
Il was made sufficiently clear that the
rogue-Mackey, probably bly-cOmhlenced the
siege by forging keys to the several locks
set between the world without and the
money-bags within the bank. As there
e%J,o antz
sarily involved much time. patience. and
ingenuity. Reaching the sancs,s'A sdnc'o.
rum of the bank at last, he proceeded to
make thorough investigation OF the busl-
ness condition and routine OF that iustitu-
ton; and this with a keen sincerity OF
purpose, which could be confidently
commended to bank examiners and
these guardians Of our banks took
half the interest in the matter that that
peering and prying rascal did, In the dead
Of night, in the condition OF the CONNER
cial Bank Of New Orleans. we would hear
much less than we now do OF the critical |
condition and sudden collapse Of these very
useful but uncertain organizations. And
80, for some four months, night after night,
while president and directors. and Cashier
Hall and the bank watch and the city
watch slept sweetly at their various placaA
of rest, the man of villanous genius STEALTH.
~ glided tiguratively) into the bank,
opened the great ledgers, studied his les.
sons, and stole home in season. leaving no
trace behind tina. danger was lurking among
the untouched gold and silver and notes Of
the bank. Still, one can but reflect how
valuable single gat.terriey would have
been in that bank.
During the progress of this important
work Mackey Tor the thief, whoever he was)
did little check altering in the usual man
ner, and made some poke: money in that
way. And he diligently initiated the hand.
writing of Cashier Hall. whose financial
correspondence furnished ample copy FOX
the purpose. In this way, and by these
consumma.ely skillful arts. the rogue
learned all about the system OF drafts; the
average deposits at various points: where
the balances were largest. and maintained:
what banks and bankers We're accustomed
to the heaviest drafts. and unusua! modes
OF facilitating the payment OF large sums.
which sometimes occurred. In short. he
became possessed OF thorough know ledge
OF Vie exchange business OF che bank. and
was able to counterfeit the handwriting of ]
Cashier Hall, and had all other ueedtui in i
formation for his purpose. h
Spring was at hand. Large balances were y
placed at the leading points: tor tvader.'
We're now in motion tor distant markets,
and bought exchanges in those watchfully
now put the fine finishing touches {" his
masterpiece. From the rear of the book Of
blank drafts he skillfuliv cut a supply Of
that stock. From Halls drawers he selected
the genuine paper OF official correspondence,
and some OF the genuine ink. Securely
seated in his own quarters, with a list OF
the bank and bankers he proposed to vic.
t.mze. and the SUM it would be safe to take
froia each. he proceeded to iEdite various
notes in Cashier Halls style OF ch;rOgraphy.
and with the sacred ink. in words something
like these:
NEW ORLEANS. March l, 1871.
To-
SIR-Mr. -- desires me 20 inform you
that he has thls day purchased of us
draft on your house for $4,000. and hopes
he will experience no delay ia its presen,S.
ton. Yours, etc.
HALL. Cashier.
Next he wrote, on other paper and with
common ink. in a bold meacantile .crawl,
several missives. say about thus:
New ORLEANS. March l, 1871.
DEAR S1H-Have bought draf. on Com. \
mercial Bank OF your house. $4,000. !.
Slial: be in your city fourth instant. In: b
closed is half OF draft. Please be ready fox
Yours.
These being finished and carefully di.
recteC-~ith one-half of each draft in.
c!csed-they wer. mailed in lump. and
started on their fatal routes. OF course the
operator followed. reaching each place at
the exact time appointed.
1t mus, have been refreshing to have wit.
messed the courteous spryness with which
the various sums were paid into that s,perb
rascaFs hands. All was sunny and sweet.
No: cloud Of suspicion sat upon single
paying teller's lace. Jacob Little g. SON.
o. New York. paid the last lick Of $23,OOO
with an unruffied serenity.
Bringing his spoils of som. say $4,000
into ;ransportable shape, it was supposed
that the torger paused no longer iu his
Journey than was necessary to get upon the
Eirst steamer for England: and he was safe
on Its shores long before the first howl came
up from the wounded, as we have men.
toned. The first idea was that the checks
had been "raised," but investigation re-
Vealed about what We have stated. History
cannot honor the author of this fine piece
OF work. for he kept himself shady: but
the style was said to be that of one Reed, a
famous and wealthy English burglar. who 3
now sleeps under q costly monument. :,
erected to his memory by his rich and attec.
t!0nate daughter.
The Bremen Mur,mies.
The cathedral, erected in the twelfth cen.
tury,. Is the only interesting church OF