New-York tribune., 1874-09-10
FORGED TITLE DEEDS.
EVIDENCES OF A CONSPIRACY.

feen committed alleged, through the insrumenahy
OF Charles sacia William II. Walker alias Gerken ana
Julius Cuumbani now under arrest for forging real
estate title Deeds especially one purportng TO have
been issued by the atsJsaac Young TO Gerken mas leu
many TO inquire shs validity OF the titles OF rea
estate held by them zA the value OF mortgages based
upon title deeds reporter OF The TRIBUNE called
Yesterday at she Registers Oce and saw the Deputy
Register David Lennox, who said 1t would be I'M
nossibe for the clerks In the Registers Once, as gen.
era thing detect such cases OF fraud while making
entries as there were only seven working hours IN
the day. and during that time an immense amount OF
business has 20 be transacted The entries are not
made under any head describing the property, but un-
der the Of those engaged in the transaction con-
seauently the entry OF second third transfer would
not be shown the same page with the hrst, ana IL
would only be found by searching the records WORK
that would require moro time than could be gwen 70
every paper when offered for record The forging OF
deeds was very often done, but generally on unlm-
xroved property where the chance Of detection was
Improbabe for some time least Sometimes forgeres
have been detected when the papers have been onered
and the Deputy Register had his possession adetected
document Of that character which had been onered 10
1873
reporter also called on several of the real estate
brokers In the city, and ascertaned that the
discovery conspiracy would have little effect on
their business perhaps In weakening confidence
among those who had money 10 lend In the event OF
money beng loaned forged title deeds the real estate
4
ascertain the value of titles. The plan of the brokers'
operations In this: client wishes TO borrow money on
bond and mortgage. and applies to broker who In
forms q client who has money to lend If agreeable
latter directs the broker TO forward the title deeds
90 his lawyer, whose duty it is TO ascertain
whether or not the security is good and sur
zacent. If the deeds are found fraudulent
after money hasspassed to the borrower the lender
looks TO his lawyer for payment OF the loss; and many
have been known whereawyers have had to make
good the loans granted defective titles 1t would
perhaps be matter OF law whether or not the lawyer
could be held liable. when the false deeds had been
properly recorded unless he had neglected to search
back beyond the last recorded transfer or other ransac
tion In the event Of the lawyer not being held LIABLE
the person lending the money would have 10 lose It,
One broker said he had doubt that there were as
many fraudulent real estate bonds and mortgages ahoa
as there we're counterfeit Government bonds, and 1t
would be difficult detect them when such precautions
had been taken as in the present case.
reporter also made inquiry at the Office Of the Reg
sster in Brooklyn and found additional in which
W H. Walker had taken part. The Hayscaes Farm,
mentioned in the records, is old estate, which has
been in litigation for number OF years. Register
Barre stated that although deed may be suspected to
De forged Register has power to refuse to record
itwhen presented properly and perfectly acknowledged
and certified He did not know OF any case where
resident OF Brooklyn had been vctimzed by Walker and
his friends although such may have been the case and
the discovery not yet made. The following are the
records OF Walkers transactions in BROOKLYN in addition
80 those published in yesterdays TRIBUNE:
william IL walker Warranty deed Recorded A9g Ing s. 1915
smss walker SCOnsderatiOn, sl1O0O
william Il. Walker WARRANTY deed Recorie Aug 10, 1874
TAom.. L. Jennings coSSsidsfstioa, $1,000
Thomas L. Jsuniug mortgsge ReeoFdei d. Ang H. 1874
William H. Walker. consideration $500.
The Palisades Fire Insurance Company having been
mentioned as being concerned in the matter in
of having heen chosen
President reporter visited jersey City yesterday in
order to ascertain condition Of the Comp lny After
some difficulty the office found Westinghouse,
near Montgomery. 1t consisted Of Two small rooms.
The back evidently destined for the Presi-
dents private office. On the door the name OF the
Company, with Charles Saca President and L. e.
french as Secretary. little card stated that the occu
pant would be back five minutes" The reporter, on
second VISIT found this card still in its place, but upon
sryDg the door the lock yielded ana young man was
found In the back room who acknowledged that he
the Secretary OF the Company, and gave his name as
i. +. French. .
Mr. French in the reporters questions said
abe capital OF the Company was SS6O not 100000 as
stated Gerken Walker the capital being invested
in bonds and mortgages. NewY0rk gas STOCK and cash
eoans secured by cOllaterals. He had Walker In
MIR. Saca's Office but knew nothing OF him Ihe Com
pany had no deeds at ALL and no MORTGAGES IN the name
Eainly the President Of the Company, and was under
stood to be man of means. Mr. French knew nothing
papers. The Company had not yet done any
business, aud might be considered as IN en-
Eapers the officers Of the Cym had resolved to
search the titles of all the secur their possession,
and lawyer was engaged in the business. II some of
The securities should be found 10 be fraudulent, he
ihOught that the stockholders would have TO lose the
supposed value All the securities held by the Company
could not be Oroees, AID those bought Dy Mr. Saela
should prove to be so. even then the Company would
have certainly enough 10 comply with the laws or the
State. When Mr. Sacia into the Company he paid
so about 5000 in greeDbaeks part OF his subscription
with the exception OF two upon property 10 Jersey
City) was given Dy saca; nor were they ever under
lis control in way. Mr. French also knew Marcus
u. Sacia, aud had seen him IN hs fathers office.
Henry j. Gallo, general agent OF the state FIRE I3sur-
eaid he OF the Palisades Insurance Company, and
che Secretary LOUIS E. French The latter Is the son OF
person who had Office with G.. f. Rollins OF Pbila
dephla, who Is known among INSURANCE men as an un
derground underwater" The Palisades Insurance
agO, and the had Office up stairs IN Montgom-
erv-st. Arrangements were making for downstairs
office opposite side of the street, but before the
transfer OF premises completed the furniture OF the
Office sold by the Sheriff. The Company was then
lost sight Of time, but suddenly turned up In Cam
den, N ]. About three months ago 1t reappeared In
jersey City and had been attempting TO DO business;
but all policies that had been issued by the Com
pany we're, he believed, subsequently, Withdrawn and
transferred 10 other cOmpanies-the insurers having as
certaned that the Company a bad with the
mercantile agencies. Louis L. French the secretary
at one time agent for several Philadelphia com
paDes, during his former residence In Jersey CITY
Bmong others the Manufacturers Mutual Fire Insurance
Company OF Philadelphia, whose secretary brought an
action against him about year ago before Justice
George s. Gee. the Justices Court OF Jersey City,
Justice Gee, baying been applied to BY reporter.
said he reeoected the against Louis T. French an
insurance agent, very wel the plantn 10 the case
hdfaed 10 the fees Of the court aud the charge
no higher court for trial. Upon turning 70 MS DOCKS
DE found that on sept ~ 1873 charge Oh aeialeauon OF
fary of Manufacturers Mutual Fire Insurance Com
was that in several French had received
money policies 10 the amount OF $500 had appropria
Ted the same TO his own USE and had never
ounted for the receipts The prisoner French
snitted trial Sept 30 1873 but Win the consent OF
the plaDt.h admitted 70 bail, Charles 5acia OF
Iera