New-York tribune., 1874-09-09
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
A NOVEL CONSPIRACY.
EXTENSIVE FRAUDS IN RECORDS OF READ
ESTATE.

| A DEAD MANS NAME FORGED IN "A DEED Lhfi TUE
REcoRD-PossIBLY ONLY ONE LINK IN CHAIN
OF FRAUDS DIsCovERED-ARREsr or THREE
MEN-AN INSURANCE CoMPANY's ASSETS.
One of the most skillful and yet daring
pieces OF fraud brought to light yesterday IN very
remarkable manner and before the case II concluded ~
is expected that frauds to the amount Of between t0@
and 100000 will be unearthed. Certainly many pur
chasers estate the holders OF bonds
will do well to examine the titles OF property n order IA
ascertain the true value Of that which they supposed
| to hold securely.
Charles II. Glover, lawyer. having ofice at No. %
Nsssaust In the course OF his professional duty, has
had for the executors OF Isaac Young, deceased the
management OF an estate of great value. Mr. Young
| had been merchant ia this city, and among other
| property had purchased real estate. On Satnr'
day last. F. W. Kenny, the managing clerk for
Mr. Glover while looking over The Real Estate Record
saw notice OF conveyance OF parcel OF real estate
situated Madison-ave., running from Onchundred.
andeleventh-st. TO Onehundred-and-tweth-ft, from
ISaac Young 10 Gardiner g. Gerken, with the acknowl
edgment dated April 1874. Knowing that Isaac Young
had been dead since 1861 and also Mr Glover being the
counsel for the execuors) that such deed had been
executed he thought wise course to visit the Regs-
ters Office and inspect the books He there found that
transfer Of warranty deed ostenslby from Young II
GeFken had been recorded under date OF Aug a., 1874
in Liber 1896 page 1885, for the consideration Of s7c9
Tue clerks also showed him the transfer deed lurport
ure had been very well cxecuted-so well iaCced thdtH
might have deceived his most intimate acq1aint1nces
had lie been alive at the time of the supposed transfer
Suspecng that fraud intended by the forgery
aud the record of the deed, Mr.. Kenny applied 10 Capt
Leary OF the City Hall police, and with Linn went bas
to the Registers Office The clerks then Informed the
captain that tue person who left the deed TO be entered
the books said he would return for IL on Tdcsd.y
and claim Capt Leary therefore took Ina measures
accordingly, and Detective Charles Irving With Mr.
Kenny went to the Registers office at early hour
yesterday morning. Here they waited patiently fof
four five hours but no one came 10 claim tbs
deed fears entertained that the unknown man
had taken alarm from cause and would therefore
escape. Patient watching however, resulted nnally in
success. man, apparently about 80 years OF age
entered the Registers Office and asked for the deed IL
was handed him, but when he about 10 leave tho
Office with IT, Detective Irving stepped forward and ar
rested him.
The stranger greatly surprised, but agreed to
accompany the officer to the City Hal Police
Station where he was confronted with Capt Leary. In
answer to the usual questions he gave the name of
julius Columbani, age 81 years, Frenchnan, "ithout
definite occupation, and residing on Hancockaye, near
Congress-st.. Jersey City He said he was not tho
owner OF the Decd but had been sent by Mr. Gerken,
who was awaiting his return In saloon on Fultonst
Irving and Kenny went to the saloon, first agreeing
upon plan by which they might recognize Gerken
when Columbanl should appear, tue latter being
allowed to go TO the saloon under the surveillance Oh
Detective Quackenbusb Irving and Kenny entered the
saloon first; soon afterward Columbian followed anu
gave the required signal Irving then went up TO Ger
ken and called him by that name; but the supposed
indignantly denied that that was his name or
that he had any knowledge of the Frenchman VINO had
spoken him. Irving decided however, TO arrest him.
and took him to the City Hall Police station where
| he gave the name Of william H. Walker, age co years
no occupation and residing at No. 26 West Housonst
| foi1n
| were found upon him:
william H. Walker Mortgage tBroOElyn III. Q, ,e,,
WIFE s.G5'g s;S9 !'Gs7I' $7 a
william IL Walker Lioer lle2 page Si Consideration si'o00'
Samuel Williams S, Claim ,a, DEED S & sofRy0 Ma, a 1873
william Walker Iibe li62 page SS' Consideration $780,
AndewJ Meen Assignment @ Sf aCrts,gs g5oGsl s On D.
nsme not filed out described in LOer 2S Of Ae at page
When questioned to their ownership GerNen' ala'
| Walker finding that there apparently no escape
said that those deeds which had been made out appa
renty by Lin were forgeres. and we're signed by 9th
er5 and those which apparently made out 10 him
were for no consideration whatever and were entcy
| executed for fraudulent purposes. When asked VINO
had mado out the papers, he replied, "Cnaries saen
aud Marcus sacia father and sou, representing them
selves to be lawyers Nos. II aud 10 Broadwas anu
added that they had all been drawn up for fraudulent
purposes Upon this information Detective irving went
TO the Office OF the sacas but found that both father
aud son were absent He subsequently found Charics
slca on the steps of the Stevens House. Broad"ay Ous
learned that Marcus T. Slcia had left town day OF Two
before Charles Sacia arrested aud taken 10 the
! CITY Hall Police Station where he gave his age as GO
vears occupation that OF lawyer and residence Jersey
CITY Nights Daring a conversation with Geiken, or
walker he said that Charles Saea the President OF
the Palisades Fire Insurance Company OF rsey Cily,
with nominal capital OF 100000. Gefhen alegen' ana
| said that lie was willing and able TO prove, tha'
| there was no actual capital in the Company
what truth there is in this statement the officers OF the
! Company will probably announce TO the public. Tho
State law OF New Jersey, ne said allows company TO de-
post in the place OF actual capital deeds ana mortgages
and these are held collateral for capital. Gerken
alleged that the deeds &c. representing the capital OK
the Palisades Fire Insurance Company are forgeres,
more than Of them being In his name as grantee and
| for these considerations had never passed
The acknowledgment OF the deed represented TO have
been given by Young Gerken, appears to have been
taken before j. d. Mcneil, Notary Public. at his Office
I'm Nassaust The police say that person OF the same
name and having office In Nassau-st Is already under
bonds Of $4,000 FOR some case OF somewhat similar
4 character Gerken or Walker represented to Colum'
ban when the latter acted first for him. that he resided
al No % West Thirty aud also appears that his
name is on bail bond in the Dlstrct-Attorneys ofnee
for the sum OF o which his address Is also given
as at No. 26 West Thirty tyaith-st When asked why 10
had used the OF Gerken instead or walker IN the
deed purportng come from Isaac Young to hi' the
prisoner announced that sicia had hed him WIN liquor
| AT the time, and he did not know what he
was doing: In fact, he would then have been
| willing to do anything that was required
| OF him. When asked what consideration no
had obtained for undertaking such risk Gerken an
swered that he got dollar or two now and then from
saca. He vas then asked why he had given the name
of Gerken aud the address No. 70 West rairty
Off xhl Cd d
tnowtpe as he must have DONE that he committing
| perury Walker answered that he "did not know; ho