The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-09-01
FORGERY IN WALL STREET


Extensive SWIndIe Attempted b.
Means OF Forged Railroad BOndi
..SI ,OOO, 900 OF the Forged Bond
In ExlsIenCe-ssS25 so 900 Already
Placed.
New YoKK, August 30.-A bold aDd
nearly successful attempt at swtndliDg by
forged bonds was made on Wall street
this afternoon. Mr.. F. w. Halbrook, o.
the firm OF J. W. Eddy & Co., bankers
was in his office when he was accosted by
an old gentleman named Brown, who
does business in Cedar street, and with
whom Halbrook- IA Wall acquainted
Brown introduced one Williamson, who
is described as fine looking mau, saying
he wiahed to borrow $4,000 for 90 days
at 2 per cent and commission. He offered
as security thirty $1,000 New York Cen
tral Railrosd7 per cent bonds OF 1876
Holbrook took one Ol the bonds and
went out 10 place the loan elsewhere.
He succeeded and soon returned for the
other bonds, and to his astonishment VIII
Hanson had gone. lie then examined the
bonds, which purported to have been
signed by Erastus Corning, Presidents
Gilbert l.. Wilson, Treasurer; and Jacob
Steinberg, register Of coupons, and found
that the signatures were forgeries. Hol.
brook Immediately stopped the loan, and
informed the detectives. HalbroOk says he
has every belief in his integrity, and is
convinced that he was entirely deceived.
Brown says he became acquainted with
Williamson in March last, when he
claimed to be interested in patent, then
lately introduced. OF his autecedents
he knows nothing, and can not give any
information regarding his place Of resi-
dence. On Thursday, while passing
through Broad street, he was hailed by
Williamson, who said he wished to raise
some money upon New York Central 70
of 1876, and asked him to negotiate a
loan. Brown replied that he would upon
suitable commission, and made an en-
gagement with Williamson, when the
latter was to bring the bonds TO the Office
OF Eddy " Co. Small lots, ranging
from $4,000 to $4,000 are reported TO
be held in Wall street as collaterals.
Many exaggerated accounts were Circu.
lated as to tho extent OF the fOrgeries.
The original issue Of these bonds
amounted TO three millions Of dollars,
with convertible claims. Most Of them
have been converted into stock and
tho amount outstanding reduced to $780,
600, so that tho forgers are likely to be
traced and the perpetrators detected.
Some time ago the police were informed
that an effort would soon be made to
place on the market forged certificates OF
New York Central stock, aud they were
on the alert. To-day the detectives had
hardly got the particulars ot the William.
son attempt to secure on some OF the
forged certificates, when word was
brought them that one Leonard Brown,
Of No. ll3 Broadway, was endeSvoriug
to place sixteen OF the bonds with Olcott
& Co., to which firm he had previously
disposed Of genuine bonds. The firm on
examination found that one Of the six
teen bonds offered bore number CORES.
pouding with that Of genuine bond al.
ready in their possession, and a close
scrutiny showed the entire sixteen 10
be Eorgerles. The detectives then ascer-
tained that Warden Sherman, Of No. o
Nassau street, was endeavoring to nego-
tiate loan Of $95, 600 on $4,000 worth Of
New York Central stock consolidated,
issued with Thomas Denny B Co., Of No.
0, Jauncy court. The detective called OF
sheFman's Office, and Baw Brown, who
appeared impatient, and was walking up
and down the office. Sherman entered
directly after and handed Brown bond
and told him he could do no business to-
dAy. Brown left and was arrested on the
stairs by the detective, who found on him
eight forged bonds Of $1,000 OF n Y,
Central consolidated issue. Brown was
taken 10 the central office and locked up
And the detective further succeeded In re-
covering G2 forged bonds similar to those
lound on Brown, from two firms, the
names oI which are not given. The po'
lice say there are 100000 OF forged
bonds ready to flOod Wall street, aud thai
$95O,OOO worth are already placed. Th'
public are cautioned to critically examine
the following: New York Central skies o
1888, 1887, 1876, and Buffalo, New YorE