New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-22
THE GREAT BOND FoRGERIEs.

,pocyrprsGs AGAINST ROBERTS, GLEASON AND
orHHns-HIsToRY OF THEIR TRANSACTIONS.
The announcement that the proceedings
against Roberts and GLEASON and other notorious forger
are likely TO be carried to successful termination VIII
arouse hubble interest again in the bold forgeres which
threw Walst, into commOtiOn in the summer oI 1870
Vim Writ Hewett counsel for the defrauded banks ana
has been ndefagabe in his eIertons to bring
the forgers TO Justice and there il good prospect tha
his efforts will result their conviction The history OF
the forgeres and of the legal proceedings which nave
been Instituted is as follows;
About two years ago discovered that there was
IN existence large number of forged bonds OF the
Rna,lo New-York and Erie Railroad Company, the
New-York Central Railroad Company the Western Union
Telegraph Company, and other corporations LUG Iao'
of their existence first brought to light by hndms
two bonds containing the same number DistrictAttor
ney Phelps Immediately began Investigations, with
yeN 70 discover persons by whom the forgeres had
been committed. For this purpose he employed the
Pinkerou Agency, aud through their efforts Andrew L.
Roberts Valentine Gleason, and John A. Olmstead the
sn.rayer were arrested. Fifty or sixty indictments
were found against Roberts and Gleason, while Omstead
esnddy stated that had made the seals for the forged
hands His manner and frankness of expression i'm.
pressed the authorities with the belief that he was en-
ing the truth and had nothing to conceal He was placed
I'm the House of Detention be used witness against
Roberts and Gleason. About the middle Of October,
1873 it was learned that these forgers had large
amount Of personal prope'yconsisting OF United STATES
bonds first mortgage bonds Of railroads. ana cash. inc
yaluc Of the whole being 00Ohd away in the suyve-
sant safe Deposit Company, and the authorities mhed
ately took possession of this property.
Shortly afterward the victims OF the forgeres-the
National Trust Company, the New YORK Guaranty ana
Indemnity Company and several bank OF WaEst-
through William Writ Hewet, attached the money ana
real estate of Roberts Gleason which stood IN inc
names of their wives, amounting in all to more than
100000 In June 1874 Roberts tried in the Oyer
and Termner The result of the trial was disagree
ment OF jury, which occasioned by not having
the testimony OF spence" Petts, who Is now III the
State Prison al Charlestown, Mass He was connected
with Roberts and Gleason and Others In getting up the
great forgery schemes The Dstrict-Attorney needed
the testimony Of Pettis foundation for numerous
other witnesses by whom TO prove the conspiracy
Roberts & Gleason then released on Dali In
November 1874 an application was made to the Gov
ernor OF Massachusetts, by District Attorney Phep Ior
the pardon Of Pettis. in order that he might
be used as witness against Roberts and Gleason The
nrt information which the authorities here received that
Roberts and Gleason the leading conspiratOrs came
from Pctris who claimed that he had been wionginy
convicted in Massachusetts Dy them and their coat0s
90 that he might give evidence against them ana iny
might retain all their spois Inc aplIca.on 10 We
Governor Pcttiss release failed ana soon aIcr Mr.
Hewett took the deposition OF Petis win reference 10
the forgery In the A N ef al Tpe Cmpapy oe
the attaching creditors came up Tor ral before e
Hon John 5 sedgwick, and lasted during the entire
term II resulted in verdict of $4,000 and costs for
The COMPANY The of the success OF this suit was
the testimony of Pettls which cOrroborated by that
OF 40 or 90 other witnesses. In the early part oi ts
month the New-YOTk Guaranty and indemnify Com
pany obtained order OF arrest against Roberts;
Gleason and Corp who were arrested and held FOR baii
In the sum of SIS 900. This hail not obtained and
they were Iodged in the Ludlow street JAIL where they
are now confined The property which has been attached
consists of $4,000 Of personal property and nearly
$50 900 worth Of real estate.
Tie accused persons all notorious criminals In
1850 Roberts convicted of rObbing the Adams tx
press COmpany's safe between NeW-IOIk and Boston,
and he been sed On charges OF counterfeit
Ing Gleason has also been implicated In similar Onenscs
His father was a cOuuterteer was also the father OF
Corp who is "a brOthei-nIaw OF Gleason. In the recent
trial Superintendent Walling testified that Roberts,
Gleason and Corp had been known to the police for many
years as bad characters and dealers in counterfeit and
Ia yal Inn