The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-21
An Irregular Financier from Alfred.

Our readers cannot have forgotten the great
railroad bond forgeres which caused such stir
in New York last summer. Over million dol
lars in counterfeit bonds on the New York Cen
tral, Erie & Buffalo railroad companies were ne
gotiated, and some of the most prominent
bankers in Wall street victimized. These
bonds are said to have been the best executed
ovcr pu5 on rne marKer- rne- aururnrr-.e~
eral arrests were made. The implicated par
ties are now in the Tombs, awaiting their
trial, which comes off this week.
The moving spirit of this band Of forgers,
the most adroit and successful ever known, is
asserted to be Andrew Roberts, Familiarity
known as ANDY" Roberts, native of Alfred
in this State To his account is laid the
charge of projecting one of the most stipend
Gus and widespread frauds ever sought to be
imposed upon the business community The
amount of these forged bonds executed is said
to reach nearly $40 900 600 and 81 ZOO, 900 were
put upon the market befors discovery was
made of their fraudulent character. Roberts
is said to have furnished the capital, amounting
to $4,000 for the forgeries. They were so we'll
executed that they deceived the president of
the Erie road, whose signature had been
forged, and he purchased to the amount of
$4,000. By mere accident suspicion was ex-
cited, and Allan Pinkerton's detectives were
put upon the track. They followed up the
scent with the persistency of blood-hounds,
and last fall nine men were arrested. The de-
tectves say that andy Roberts furnished
brains as well as capital for the undertaking,
and that he evinced wonderful talent and
shrewdness, displaying ability which could moi
fail to command success in higher and legiti-
ma tie walks.
The good people of Alfred, where Andy was
born and brought up, will not hesitate to be
lieve the reports of his shrewdness and ability:
but it is with difficulty that his old neighbors
can be brought IT, credit the stories of his con
nection with the bond forgeries. He is re-
membered by many of them as bright-ap.
pearing, intelligent, well-behaved boy, with
laughing black eyes, and curly brown hair.
While yet a youth he went to New York as
clerk for his brother. saloon keeper IN that
city, and soon by industry and business capac-
ity, was able to start in business for himself
and accumulate quite property. He has
been iu the habit of visiting his native village
Summers, where he has succeeded in making
himself general favorite by his genial man
ners. For number of years he supported his
aged father and mother, now both dead. and
ever proved himself an effectionate and dutifuI
son. Many of those who know him best are
10th to believe the stories current regarding
him.
In appearance Roberts is a noticeable man.
His straight slender figure, close clustering dark
hair, coal-black gltterng eyes, and quick, i'm
petuous ways would Immediately attract atten-
ton even in crowd. His manners are cordial
and gentlemanly, but there is look of con-
slant watchfulness on his face, an ever-recur-
ring CLEAN of suspicion in his dark eyes, which
are strongly suggestive. To the school
girl 1t would suggest romantic possibilities,
to the detective criminal probabilities.
The New York officers assert that he has been
dweller in the tents of Ishmael for lorg time.
that his financial operations have been irregu-
lar in the extreme, and that not content with
the issue of the government mint and printing
press. he has been running minis and printing
presses of his own. How that may be re
mains to be seen.
1t is curious coincidence that the prosecu-
ton against him will be conducted by another
Alfred man, Henry W. Allen, who is District
Attorney in New York city. Mr.. Allen is the
son of the late Judge Allen, was born and pass
ed his youth and early manhood in the same
village with Mr.. Roberts. When these two
men confront each other at the trial the scene
VIII be suggestive one.