The New York herald., 1873-08-31
CONFESSION OF HIS GUILT.
How lie Escaped for a Time and Was
Afterwards Captured.
Charged with Forging $4,000 Pennsyl-
vania and Reading Railroad Bonds,
or Two Hundred Shares.
Other Charges Of $4,000.

Yesterday one of those stupendous forgeries
which betimes attract the attention OF the public
mind came to light, as a man named Horton was
being conveyed TO the railroad depot being
charged with forging on the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad Company bonds amounting to
So, 900. The alleged iorger has been also charged
by the detective force with other defalcations
amounting to upward Of $5o,ooo
The following Is story OF Horizons career, the
history OF his crime guilt, confession and arrest as
procured from the authentic sources named below,
yesterday evening, when HERALD representative
called for
THE DETAILS
on the Superintendent of the Pinkerton National
Detective Agency, No. 66 Exchange place.
On May 20 OF the present year J. II. Horton OF
Lancaster Pa, sold to Reid, McGrann h Co., bank
ers, of Lancaster, what was supposed or repre-
sented to be 200 shares OF Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad stock. He received, as is alleged, 200
shares in exchange OF Pennsylvania stock Some
ten weeks later he sold to Reid 4 Henderson,
bankers, OF Lancaster, Pa, what was also repre-
sented to be 200 shares of Philadelphia and Read
ing stock. week after this last transaction, in
handling the stocks one OF the firm discovered
AN IRREGULARTrY IN THE FIGURES
giving the number OF shares, and spoke to Horton
about It. Horton said that he would 90 to Phila-
delpha and see II any discrepancy had occurred
He went to Philadelphia, taking with him all the
Pennsylvania Railroad shares that he obtained
from the bankers of Lancaster in exchange for the
Reading certificates. On his arrival in Philadelphia
he sold the Pennsylvania shares to Peterson & Co.,
bankers, In Third street, Philadelphia who gave
him q letter of credit on George Osgood q Co.,
bankers, In Broad street, New York, for
$4,000. Horton Immediately afterwards, and
oir nf tacf
city, and on his arrival proceeded on his route to
the office OF Osgood Co. and daringly presented
his letter OF credit to Mr.. Oseood in person.
Mr.. Osgood. who Is O very careful and efficient
man. as far as his business is concerned, said -
''Mr. Horton, will require an Identification of
this person to whom am to pay much money
as you are aware am not at all acquainted with
yOu." Mr.. Osg0od IN the meantime telegraphed
to Peterson Il Co., and placed to his credit with
Drexel Co., bankers, Philadelphia, the amount
of their letter Of credit given to Horton.
Horton. somewhat disappointed, yet full Of con-
HIS PERSONAL ASSURANCE
EXPRESSED himself willing to give satisfactory
Identification, and accompanied Mr.. Prince, OF Os-
goods frm TO the Ofice OF SCOTS, Strong Co.,
where he met Mr.. Francis, the party who at that
time conducted the out-oftown business for the
firm. Mr.. Horton became acquainted with Mr.
Francis through business transactions he had with
him in Lancaster, Horton having been appointed
admlnistrator Tor, o. & the estate Of banker named
Strong 90. had done business.
Framcis Mdey, an acguaintance ,S an Of Hortons
Office Of Mr.. oseood, where they met NJ osSood Sde
and where Horton was identified by Mr.. Prince. Mr..
declared himself ready then and there to pay the
money, he In the meantime having received reply
to hts from Tom
Co. and placed TO his credit the amount OF their
letter of credit given to Horton.
Horton then requested Mr.. Osgood to let him
TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GOLD CERTIFICATES
ana & the e balance @ ID &c currency which amounted to
for Mr.. 0sgo0d TO send out and get the gold cer-
tifcates required. In the meantime the delicious
Horton and himself conversed In regard to the
When the clerk Of Mr.. Osgood's establishment
returned 1.-The the money was paid into Mr.; Horizons
afternoon, and few minutes later Horton left
Mr.. Osgood's Office. At ten minutes to
Superintendent OF Pinkerton's Detective Agency,
in Philadelphia. addressed to their superintendent
IN 5Gs ihe he q and
Osgood 4 Co. for $27,oOo, and ordering pay.
ment to be stopped intimating thereby that it had
Railroad Company, on which Horton had obtained
the money from the bankers in Lancaster, had in
eScn M aSe nse m from one snare to 200
toms representative produced the forged certif.
cate or share note which was found In Horizons
possession at the moment of his arrest)
PinkertOns superintendent Immediately went to
Osgoods Office and there learned that Horton had
only few moments previously left the office, or as
one OF the firm Willingly remarked, ''that the
steps had not grown cold from the time of the dis
appearance OF Horton until the appearance Of the
detective upon the premises" thorough ex-
animation OF the neighbOrhOOd was Immediately
made, but Horizons whereabouts remained mys-
secured c9 by detectives. Ali the principal and
private hotels were vgilantly looked af-
ter, and all the steamers leaving the Bay
were most carefully watched. kilograms were
sent to the various police departments Of the diff
ferent cities, and every precaution was taken to
prevent the escape Of the notorious Horton For
O considerable time nothing was heard Of him, and
II seemed as II the
sBABcHIsGs AND DOINGs OF THE DETECTIVE FORCE
were all in vain. and that Horton would be eventu-
ally successful. Among the parties comm municated
with by the Pinkertoh detective force was, for
This was the keystone Of success toward the
o telegram was received from the CHIEF OF Police
In Providence, stating that party, described iu
one OF the circulars issued from Pinkertons once
New York, and supposed to be Horton, was under
detective OF that force was requested to identity
the party.
tendent lett for Providence, r. L. and on arriving
there saw Horton and conversed with him for q
considerable time while confined in the prison. Al
first sight the detective recognized HIS man and,
although he chatted with him in an Indifferent
DETERMINED TO HOLD HIM FAST.
On asking Horton his name the latter denied him |
self with the view OF banning the detective expert.
Some time elapsed In conversation In the prison.
Horton was earnest In his denial of both his name
and character, but the superintendent was steady
in the investigation OF his person and character
istica At length the detective suggested his re-
moval TO New York, and 1t was only then that Hor-
ton acknowledged his personal identity.
While travelling from Providence to New York
Horton said that 1t seemed useless for him to deny
his character, name or guilt to any further extent
and herewith made an entire
CONFESSION OF ALL
He said that after he lett the city OF New York he
euded the vigilance OF Pinkerton's detective force
who were solely concerned Ia his arrest by walk
ing out Of the city to a.Tay station on the New
Haven road, where he took the train. Since his