The New York herald., 1874-12-27
4 Man Who Says if PardOned He Can
Make a Revelation.
THE BOLLES FORGERY CASE.
Story OF Complicated Trials
and Convictions.
Exposure Of the New York
Detectives.


Both in this city and in New York there Is at
present considerable excitement among capitalists
In regard TO the pardon OF Spencer Pettls, con-
Wet IN the Massachusetts State Prison. as 1t Is al
legged he Is needed to testify against Gleason ana
Roberts. who, II is said are Implicated IN issuing
forged railroad bonds to a large amount. Ihere Is
considerable inquiry as to what Pettis knows con-
cerning this case and as 1t Is an important matter
a HERALD representative has been enabled to OBJ
tain not only statement IN relation to the New
York case but in relation to the Boles forgery
case and other matters which cannot fail to be OF
interest setting forth, they do, such alleged
facts as tend TO show corruption in police
circles Pettls is employed in the spring bed fac
tory OF the Massachusetts, prison. he appears 10
feel keenly mis- Imprisonment, and wears sorrow
ful look although at times smile will brighten
up his countenance and snow that he Is not heart
broken. Pettis has spent most OF mis- time in New
York, and may come, perhaps, under the appella-
ton OF a s.curbstone broker" and an operator in
the negotiation Stolen and forged bonds. Accord
ing to his story little difculty led him few
years ago to seek business in Europe, and during
an absence OF two years he patented breech-
LOADING rlne IN Paris. but the gun has as yet
yielded him nothing pecuniarily. On his return to
this country he opened brokers' office
IN New York city, and for while,
slO0 per week. He continued in this
business for a time. when an oficer notified
the parties with whom Pettis was doing
business to look out for him, and his patrons
deserted him. He then returned TO
HIS OLD BUSINESS.
Pettis was educated with the intention OF ter
ing the naval service, but upon leaving school ne
committed some misdemeanor which caused his
imprisonment and led to his changing his future
mode Of life.
THE BoLLEs FORGERY CASE.
The cause OF Petts' incarceration in the State
Prison is on account OF being implicated in the
Boles forgery. Pettis is indignant at the manner
in which the was worked up and tried
and says II was only through fraud and
chicaDery that he is now an inmate OF penal in
stitution. By his request version OF the case as
he tells it, is herewith given:-
PErTIs' VERSION OF THE CASE
In the month or March, 1871, Matthew Bolles 4
Co., OF Boston, received letter from Taunton,
Mass stating that their certificate for $40, 900
deposited in tnat city. The letter was signed
Henry J. Woodiord. Subsequently the ofice OF Mr..
Boiles was visited by man giving the name OF
Holden who represented that he was a clerk for
Noodiord. On Saturday, March Is, Holden pre-
sented to Mr.. Bolles certificate OF the Machnists
National Bank OF Taunton that $4,000 was
deposited with them to Bolles' credit by Messrs.
woodford. Boes upon this paid Holden $4,000 in
Northern Pacific Railroad bonds and gave him an
order tor $5.ooo to be paid on the following Mon
day Mr.. BoIes meanwhile discovering that a
forgery had been committed, refused on Monday to
pay the remaining IS, 900. On Information
ceived Officer Farley OF New YORK city, procured
q warrant for the arrest OF Henry J. Woodford, and
arrested Pettis as that individual. Pettis was
then taken to the Office OF superintendent Police
Kelso, and was there confronted by Mr. Shepard
SAID that ne tPettis) was not the man. and ne as
thereupon discharged After this Pettls saw
Roberts, and told him concerning his arrest by
Fariey, and was in. ormed by Rooerts that II he
tpettis) mad been identified he (Roberts could
have obtained the bonds
THE NEXT PHASE
OF the case was the appearance of Eustice J.
Cooper, VINO, acting as an agent Tor Bolles 4 Co.,
visited the once OF Superintendent Kelso and
asked TO see Pettis Accordingly Pettis, IN answer
TO note received from the office Oh Superintend-
ent OF Police, visited that ONCE and Caotan Ir-
from the West. ana was told by Mr.. Cooper that
he was desirous OF obtaining some stolen bonds.
said he would give Pettis 1000 If he would re.
cover them. Pettis told him he would try, and
went and saw Roberts, VINO said the bonds had
been sold, but that he could get them for fifty per
cent cash. Petus told Cooper the facts, and
he returned to Boston. Cooper again visited New
York and there told Pettis he would give him the
fifty per cent Tor the bonds. Pettls then told
Cooper he wanted TO have power OF attorney. so
As not to be mixed mp seriously In the affair.
Cooper tnen wrote the form OF one and Pettis told
him that would do, when properly signed. Cooper
returned to Boston, and third time visited New
York, bringing with him the power OF attorney,
ana IN regard TO II said he would send 1t to Petts.
Arrangements were then made by Pettis to meet
Roberts, and so Pettis saw Cooper and went with
him 10 Twenty-tnird street, near the Masonic
Temple. Roberts remained In one store and
BOND Of $500, ana Cooper paid MIN $3.50. Roberts
then gave him bond Tor $1,000, and
Cooper pp paid $500. Ine @ next bond was Ior
PetIis tDat the remaining $1,000 IN bonds he would
obtain ana meet him at the Astor House at a GER
tam time. Pettis told Cooper the circumstances,
Dut at the time designated by Roberts he saw
the remaining bonds from Roberts. A. serward
Cooper went 10 Boston and told Mr.. Bolles he mad
reasons for believing that some OF
THE STATE CoSsTABLEs
had received some OF mis- bonds. Pettis was then
arrested again In New York, August IL. 1871, and
brought TO Boston and was told by Cniel Constable
Jones That IL was said some OF his oficers mad the
bonds and ne wanted Pettis 10 get them or he
would hold him IN Taunton at ball be could
mo- not Obtain sta pet Petus was held IN Boston
trial on the charge Of forgery In the
Boles case but was finally tried on a charge OF
forgery for $4,000 committed six years pre-
yiousy, and out OF which several detectives
ceived a percentage. ON this cnarge Pettis was
Pettis considers the attempt to convict on this
charge TO be an outrage, as he was an innocent
man. John Williams was tried, convicted ana sem
fenced TO the State Prison Tor term OF eignt years
on this charge. Pettis says Williams conviction was
caused by Andrew L. Roberts Hank Hail. Peter
TED the forgery aud then, he alleges paid Boston
detec ives-Hunt Jones' Heath and Baker-s5,7Jo
TO convict Williams, the money being held by Frank
Surge. When Pettis
BROUGHT TO BOSTON
ne was arraigned before Judge Parmeuter and
had an examination. the government at tnat
time introduced two experts-Phippln and
Sawyer-wno swore tnat letter dated June TO-
1871, signed &c. 5. PettIs,' sent to Mr.. Bolles,
was IN the same handwriting as the forged cneck
and letters received rom Woodiord, and upon
their testimony Pettis was held for trial IN the
Upper court. After Pettls was acquitted on the
Old forgery mis- counsel Messrs Hyde and
Dickinson, demanded trial on the Boles forgery
case, and District Attorney Cneney set January Is,
1872, as the day for the trial. A lew days previous
to that time the District Attorney informed
Pettls' counsel that for want OF Jurls-
diction the would be tried at
Taunton. Pettis was taken to that place and was
gwen bearing before Judge Fox. AT that ex-
animation two experts Southwortn and Drenton
TO five letters az written by Pettis and that
ne wrote the WoOdlord letters and also the letter