The New York herald., 1873-10-24
AN OFFICIALS CRIME.
An Ex-Mayor of Rochester Charged with
Uttcrfng Forged Papers-He Lies at.
tho Point of Death. tt s

tho Point of Death. , ,..N M
From the Union and Advertiser, Oct. 22.]
For two or three days past rumor has been rife
with the report that large amounts OF forged
paper, uttered by ex-Mayor Charles H. Clark had
been discovered, and our reporter was despatched
this forenoon to interview the victims. 1t was
first discovered that the banking house Of Erick-
son, jennings 4 Mumford lew days since re.
ceived note ior $500, purporting to be made BY
Platt @. viele, and endorsed by Charles II. Clark,
Addison Gardiner and q third person, o Gus
toner Of the bank, whose name was not
learned. When the note became due 1t was
protested and Judge Gardiner served with
q notice OF protest. He ut once pronounced
his signature forgery, and made the
general statement that he had not made or
endorsed any paper Tor the past twenty years, and
all promissory notes bearing his name In any form
were spurious. Mr.. Platt Q. viele was consulted,
and he stated that his name was forged to the
note. This paper we did not nave'a chance to sec
this morning, 1t having been taken up yesterday
by the third endorser above mentioned.
This disclosure put our reporter on the trail, and
he saw gentleman well acquainted With oil the
Iacts that Judge Gardiner was cognizant Of 1t ap-
pears for some years past Mr.. Clark has done col
discovered that he had appropriated moneys to his
own use. The amount was ascertalned-sOm6
~ Gark nGe se 70 ne
sell IN settlement. When the note became due It
was protested and the discovery made that the
name Of Mr.. Vtele was forged. Then, to hx the
matter In part, Clark gave the Judge chattel
mortgage on his law library subsequently it
was discovered tnat there was an execution on
the library OF three months prior date to the
mortgage.
be made by Nehemiah Osburn and endorsed by
Clark, and that Mr.. 0sburn had declared his sigma
ture forgery. r. j. Amsdena discounted one OF
these notes for small amount. lawyer OF ibis
city has several clients who have been vctmized
by Clark and report has IL that the lawyer Is per-
sonaIly holding some OF the paper. he was inter-
viewed, but would not admit nor deny the charge.
In drawer IN Mr. cagks once tnS emo mSs
payable to Charles Ii. Clark, and bearing the slg-
nature OF n. Osburn but not endorsed, were iouno.
The signatures OF Mr.. Osburn are forgeries.
How much Of this forged paper is aioat cannot
now be stated but 1t will amount to several thou.
diferent BANKERS that for the past three years at
least paper made by Clark and oearlng tne en-
dorsement OF Addison Gardner mas been negoti--
ated. and when maturcd and protested was taken
up BY Clark and paid. An instance was related
when ,Ss o. Sse
name bat IL was another Addison Gardner, re.
siding In this city, who made made the =, p, paper There
With these facts gathered our reporter thought
to interview Mr.. Clark, but found that he was
that his death was daily expected. His mind
has wandered for several days, and his financial
affairs seem to trouble him, he declaring
that he has paid $500 on forged 0sburn note for
500 and that the balance VIII be taken care OF.
His relatives although recognizing his crimes state
that for TWO years past they have not believed hlm
70 be or sound mind and he certainly has not acted
ike sane man. 4
The alleged retaining OF moneys belonging to the
Truant House, donated by the state. has been
iuny Ventilated, and no one could nave douptcu
that he was guilty Of the charge, or that, at least
becoming pecunarily invoved,he appropriated INC
money to his own use, with the expectation Ok
paying II back al some iuture time and eeore an
expose was made. But he iailed a. hundreds Pc
fore him have failed, and the consequences o. nis
folly were spread before the public 70 DC stigma
upon his name. -
Feeling In duty bound 20 publish these disclo.
surcs we have rcirained rom being harsh and per-
haps have drawn she facts mildly, but MT CLARK
being pronounced by his physicians almost In the
presence OF his Maker. We preier 70 pe merciiul
than otherwise, r