The New York herald., 1875-12-25
The Great Railroad Bond FOrgerieS Suit
Drawing to a Close.
DISCOHFITNG CHRISTMAS EVE FOR THE JURY.
One Of the Penalties of Confidence
in Comptroller Green.
Heavy Verdict Against a Firm of
Birmingham, England.

Holders OF railroad bonds and negotators in this
class OF general look OF CONSERVATION
when the announcement was made, exclusively in
the HERALD that most skially executed forgeres Of
bonds Of the New York Central, Buffalo, New York and
Erie and Central Railroad Of New Jersey and Western
Union and other companies bad been put
into large and active circulation Ii is unnecessary
to republish the long story rcciting the facts
as thus gwen II required the most vigilant
researches OF Official and skilled detectives to trace
these forgeres their guilty authors When tho clew
was once obtained IL was followed up with the most
unyielding portnaeity. Arrest succeeded arrest in
rapid succession. AT length charge Of completely In
preparing and uttering Of the forged bonds
preferred against Charles Ralson, Andrew L. Roberts
Lydia J. Roberts, Charles J. Williamson, Valentine
Gleason, Gotlieb Engels, Horace $. Coup and
Amelia 3 Gleason. Taking the lead in
the civil prosecution was the National Trust Company
Tho trail OF this case, which occupied OF the last
April term, before Judge Sedgwick Of the Superior
Court resulted a verdict OF $3y 600 in favor Of the
plaintiffs Following on the heels Of this verdict was
the suit Of the New York Guaranty and Indemnity
Company, which was brought to recover $4,000 ad,
vanced SlO4 600 OF forged first mortgage bonds OF
the Buffalo, New York aud Erie Railroad Tho
trial OF this suit began three weeks ago
array Of prominent counsel appeared on both sides,
Mr. William Writ Hewitt who was leading counsel for
tho prosecution in The previous suit, being also the
leading counsel for plaintiff in this sui, and thore
being ssociated with him Aessrs Algernon ), Sullivan
Richard Elliott, while the defendant
represented BY Mr. Ira shaer and Assistant United
States District Attorney A. H Purdy brilliant and
forcble opening Of the case was made BY M, Hewitt
aud an equally creditabe opening was made for
Ihe defence by Mr. Purdy 1t has boen
throughout a closely contested trial. and tho
attendance from day to day has been very large
prisng many OF eadng bankers brokers and other
business men, who are naturally greatly interested
the result There have been eighty eight Witnesses
examined altogether, Of which number ffty-two
called for the plaintiffs and The remainder tor the de-
fence. Some or the witnesses graduates OF Sing
Sing and osher penal institutions and their testimony
a. may be supposed was not very friendly to the plain
tiffs
AT length the examination of witnesses closed
Thursday morning after which succeeded the summing
up of tho casa Mr Shaer made very brilliant argu
ment, occupying several htuTs He followed by
MT suiiivah, who after speaking two hours on Thurs
tion Of his argument. The leading charge that OF
o conspiracy between the defrn ians In his address
response MIR Sullivan referred TO George H.
Bangs, General superintendent Of the Iinker-
tons, as the companion OF General Mcclellan
while in command Of the Army OF the Potomac and ro
cited in rebu,ta his efficient services chief of the Sc
cret Service Bureau he also referred TO Allan Piner
ton the ch.ei Of detectives who accompanied Pres-
dent Lincoln 10 Washington during the stormest period
or the rebellion These points OF course, we're only
Incidental but the argument of both counsel broadly
covered the ground Of their respective sidos. The
charge OF Judge Spcr brief, occupying but
thirty minutes, but Il was clear comprehcn nsvo and
most strictly impartial Inc Jury went out At nalr
past one NJ They were sent for at hafpast five aud
on beng iuterrogated as whether they had agreed
the foreman rose and answered in The negative.
Judge Spe.r with scvcrty-l shall havo to send you
back. Aher me expenditure OF time and money in the
trial Of this cscafter spending three weeks trial
thcre should oe somc definite result
Tho Foreman ldeprecatingly)--E positively could
not agree If We were oct Tor days We stand 10 to
2; ton for
retire and II yon agree give sealed verdict
Tho Court was then adjourned to eleven A. N. to-
day, and the Jury doetuy departed with the prospect
before them Of spending anything bat merry Christ
mas