The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-05
yHE GREAT BOND F0RGERIEs.

XHE GREAT BOND FORGERIES.
Trial OF Andrew L. Roberts I'm the Court
OF Oyer and Terminer-The Case a.
Detailed by tho District Attorney
Examination OF witnesses.
After the usual delays incident to the selection
OF jury, especially In cases where somewhat mo-
mentous interests involved the trial OF Andrew
L. Roberts for forgery was commenced yesterday
In the Court OF oyer and 1ermtner, Judge Brady
presiding Owing to the illness Of District Attor-
ney Phelps the hearing OF the case had been
adjourned from the day previous; but, having re.
covered from his indlspostion the prosecuting
of1cer appeared at his post shortly after ten
O'Clock. He was assisted by Messrs. Hewitt and
Knox. An array or legal talent appeared on be-
half Of the prisoner, including Mr.. A. Oakley Hail.
ex-RecOrder Smith and Mr.. Purdy. There was q
large assemblage in court, and the proceedings
were listened to with great interest. When the
last juror had been chosen the witnesses on both
sides, at the suggestion OF Mr.. Hall, were re-
quested to leave the court room
In opening the case on behalf OF the prosecution
District Attorney Phelps called attention to the
fact that 1t was one OF the most Important OF Its
cies both in this country and England not long
since were aroused by the sudden discovery OF o
vast scheme OF forgery; the criminals were de.
the parties implicated been disposed or when q
scheme equally vast was unearthed in this country,
tlmized. This later scheme embraced the issue OF
forged securities OF railway and other companies;
railroads, the Western Union Telegraph, the
Jersey Central and other railroads. IL might
Wen be inferred that such gigantic scheme could
ration, great skill and daring, Intelligence and
capacity to plan. ability TO print and initiate skill
which an impression could be made sufficiently
like the original to deceive. Moreover, the sigma
tures4ad to pc initiated, and persons were re-
CURED who were familiar with business pursuits
and or plausible address to negotiate these bonds
and pat them the market securities for loans.
Several parties arrested for negotiating these
b0nds-s0me OF them lnnocent-but perhaps the
most Important person to DO captured was the
one who manufactured the securities OF the New
York Central Railroad. Toe prisoner at the bar
was jointly indicted with one Valentine Gleason
to be tried separately. He was charged with iorg-
the President Treas and regist rar or that ral-
road company, and also with having committed q
seGo9d oenSe ne na YIN already been
necticut Tor felony. 1t would be proved that the
scheme OF forgery was dev,sed and arranged BY
They, with others, procured an original bond OF
the railroad. and 1t would also be shown that the
seal was made and delivered TO the prisoner and
Mr. Hail, at the conclusion OF the District Attor.
ney's opening address, moved to strike out the
nth count as to the committal OF former felony
In Connecticut.
This was 0verruled.
Francis w. HOlbr0ok, OF the Mercnants' Credit
Bureau was the nrst witness called.
Mr.. Hall mere objected to the witness receiving
Lne iorgea p0nu because II naa seal there being
neither q seal nor description OF seal set up IN
the indictment.
atfer was psscrne h enaS rdis
"purporting to be signed by the seal Of said cor
poraIioh:
Mr.. Hall submitted that MS objection was valid.
Judge Brady-Yo your persistence, Mt. Hall, re-
minos me OF q reinark tnat was applied to another
counsei o. equa! INGENUITY.
Judge brady-Tnat ne was dealing out flashes
VI lega, ngnsnlng..
bo m n"A-No' Ou' W. 'e"f 'ou' honors 'nonder'
serve them.
to make them lall harmless beyond the Jury.
Jun2e BRADY clearly perceive what you are
doing ,,
MI. noiprook ploceGueu 70 Lesully tnat IN cne
month OF August 1873, Leonard Brown and Charles
Wnlamson came TO MS once and asked him to
negotiate thirty New YORK Central bonds, similar
them and saw they were forgeries and had the
parties arrested. ,
10TH oentrai hailroau company was called to
Drove .le bono SHOWN MN 70 De forgery; the
slghauure, purpor.lng 10 6e tnat OF Erastus Corn
ny, mVuu ueCelve a uot eAuinneu very careIuiiy
inc inc, DINER signatures were good limitations; the
scnn was l Ug s,o ..
who has in Of
,eseeu snat year ago ast March ne met hoberts
op III ne , @ himsen 70 ROBERTS
a suu is.ci v I'LL .ua. ye woih uone ~ ING
W. ior re1tus was reany ior nim Koperts;
NC askeu ! WITNESS hau peen paid i0r ~, ana VII
nus , saiu no au mos peea naii paa hooerIs Gnen
putrou +n w 2 pouu anu asAcu nim y ne coulu
naaAe niat seal' Witness saiu ne Woulu nave
not S1 D,,nons n u was ,. puss unen, aiIer
,e. moper.s ,v na Two OF sree
tines untiI III july hooerts came TO nls mouse and
him to make sea- from II; y was 50 faint mat