The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-21
THE LONDON FORGERIES.
Arrest Of the Alleged Principal in the
Bank of England Frauds.
ACTION OF THE AUTHORITIES.

George Mcdonald, alias Mcdonnell was arrested
at an early hour yesterday morning on board the
steamship Thuringia, from Havre, by Captain
Irving and Detective Farley charged with forging
and putting in circulation two acceptances OF
the Bank OF England OF the amount OF 81, 900 each
and with being concerned with Frederick Albert
Warren, George Bidwell, now fugitives from JUS
tice, and Edward Noyes at present in custody.
with defrauding the Governor and Company OF the
Bank OF England OF certain sums amounting in the
aggregate TO 81 900 600. For time past Captain
Irving has kept up a steady surveillance
OF all the foreign vessels coming into this port,
with the expectation Of finding some well known
or suspicious chraacter on board OF them. This
unusual watchfulness was caused by the knowledge
OF the frauds committed upon the Bank of England.
Nothing, however, occurred to lead the detectives
to suppose that any OF the forgers had tried to
cape to this country until the 18th instant, when
Captain Irving received a telegram from Inspector
Bailey, OF the city OF London police, stating that
Mcdonald had sailed from Havre, France, in the
steamship Thurnga for New York.
THE LONDON POLICE
had followed Mcdonald to Crewe and Liverpool,
where he suspected or heard of their movements,
but were unable to catch him, as he suddenly
changed his mind about starting for Liverpool. He
doubled on the police ran to Chester, from there
crossed the country by way Of Taunton to South
ampton, from which place he crossed to Havre and
managed to get on board the Thuringia unmolested.
Inspector Bailey, finding his men were bafled, sent
the facts OF the case to Captain Irving, with In
structions to arrest Mcdonald on his arrival, and
informing MIN at the same time that a re-
ward or $500 would be paid to him
and Detective Farley for their services. Az
Tho fhot fha 7
municating with the New York detectives the
solicitors and officers of the Bank OF England at
London were teegraphlng facts and instructions
to Mr. Archibald, British Consul at this port, and
to the American solicitors OF the Bank Of England.
These gentlemen, working on their own RESPONSE
bility for the authorities on the other side en-
pioyed some private detectives to work up the
case. A revenue cutter was secured and the pri-
vate officers started down the bay They had not
gone many rope lengths however, before Captain
Irving and Detective Farley were after them, and
the private individuals seeing the
UsELEssNEsS OF TRYING
to compete with the regular force, put back to
town and returned to the secusion from which
they had incautiously emerged. Upon re ceipt Of
Inspector Bailey's despatch Captain Irving laid
the matter before Mr. Henry Smith, President of
the Board OF Police, who detailed Detective Farley
to accompany him, and placed the police boat
Seneca at the disposal OF the officers.
The detectives went at once to the office of the
United States Marshal and were sworn in as
deputy marshas. Then, In company with Mr.
Judson Jarvis, they started for the Seneca Having
arrived on board the vessel, they handed to Cap
tain Speight Commander Of the craft, Pres-
dent Smiths Instructions and shortly after
the We ssel steamed down the bay. The officers re-
NAMED out cruising about dufing Tuesday and
wednesday a
Yesterday morning, however, Sergeant Walsh, OF
the Seneca, announced that the Thuringia was
coming into the harbOr. The Seneca Immediately
moved in the direction OF the big steamer and
the officers at the same time with the Quarantine
authorities Mcdonald was found without much
trouble. Detective Farley continued searching for
him, while Captain Irving and Judson Jarvis kept
detective arrested Mcdonald just as he We dress.
ing to 60 ashore and Mr.. Judson Jarvis attached
all the property found upon him. On his person
trunks
A QUANTITY OF DIAMONDS
valued at $4,000 and a large supply of watches
jewelry, gloves and other articles OF Dress The
prisoner was then put ON board the Seneca and
brought to Police Headquarters, where he was
The plan Of operations pursued by this gang of
forgers, OF which Mcdonald is supposed to be the
principal, wasa most ingenious one, and was car
ried out with patience and perseverance worthy
ola better enterprise. They began by opening an
the Bank OF England and assuming an
air OF serious commerce. To obtain discount ac-
COMMUNICATION with the Bank Of England itself is
very dinicut matter involving the necessity OF an
Introduction by q director. or course 1t would be
next to impossible for the principal of a gang OF
forgers to get such an introduction as very careful
inquiries are made as to character and solvency
The branch of the bank, however, at Burlington
Gardens is place OF much more easy access than
the parent institution. The forgers-or, as they
should be more properly called, "check raisers'-
must have been thoroughly posted on the internal
arrangements OF the banks, for their operations
were conducted with most astonishing nicely
and regularity.
After establishing the Office and putting on as
much as possible OF business ar the next step
taken by the conspirators was to open a deposit
account OF the ordinary character with the branch
OF the Bank OF England. To do this an introduce
ton by some customer was only needed, and
the only evidence OF sOvency the bank would re-
quire would be the deposit OF a sufficient cash
balance That was at once forthcoming for the
men comprising the firm of brokers were plenti-
y supplied wah I'm, %oney They evidently in
was man OF cool disposition, who could afford to
take his time and wait the elimination OF his plans
He took care to
SECURE GOOD REPUTATION
before venturing on his ultimate enterprise The
on for some time just like that OF an ordinary
house in good standing. He drew upon his bal
ance and renewed II, but has always Kept it at
smoothly, some bills were deposited; they were
good bills and passed on their way securely. Still
To %sssI sS the he sarsc
ter, OF the market he was dealing in
and he continued his transactions at the bank
gagged In legitimate business and entirely trust
worthy All the machinery being in working order
the moment was supposed to have arrived for
sprlngng the mine. Bad bills were sent in and
accepted without hesitation, and this went on until
the conspirators had obtained nearly a million OF
dollars. some OF the money was invested In
United States bonds to avoid the appearance Of
dong anything unusual, as the parties concerned
In tue affair were known to be Americans. An opin-
ION prevails I'm London that the bills presented and
on which the funds were obtained were forgeries.
Such, however, is not the case. 1t would be next
to impossible to Jorge the bills of many OF the
leading houses In London for the reason that
the paper used by them is peculiarly tinted
marked in water and printed upon in q manner
to completely defy imitation. 1t would also re-
quire penman OF most
EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
to reproduce with sufficient accuracy to betray a
Londen bank official the numerous signatures
there must have been on many of these bills.
That they passed unquestoned Is proof or their
seeming commences, and goes also to show that
they could not possibly be made by fOrpers. These