The New York herald., 1875-11-30
Gagged AT LAST.
roncrR CHASED FOR SIX YEARS N EUROPE

There was arrested IN this city yesterday an hhlNiu
ual who six years ago obtained from well known
banking house in Exchange place $40, 900 IN govern
mcnt nve.twenes forged check The story Of his
wanderings ana pursuit together with his clever cap
ture is given below and win prove very interesting.
Late In the year 1909 there resided in New York
James b Commingford and John Mitchell two profess.
sonal swinders though then unknown 10 the police
Failing to prohtably continue here their business Of lv-
ing upon their wits they removed TO Baltimore in the
last month Of that year. and at went INTO
dealing IN grain. Their mode Of conducting
their business of such straightforward character
that the new firm had many acquantances and in
due time they became members of the Produce exchange
IN the monumental city. BY operations involving large
sums, the house Of Commingtord 4 Mitchell soon at
talned excellent standing in the community, which
was not only maintained but improved the weeks
rolled on. Among their acquantances was fellow
member of the Produce Exchange, who became quite
intimate with them, and the recipient many
occasions Of their generous hospitality. Vine
suppers were of frequent occurrence; seemingly,
there was end of the money ut the
disposal OF the grain merchants and the story runs
their guest came to the conclusion that il a lucky
4 day which brought him into contact with his newly
made friends When each thought they understood
the other thoroughly Mcssrs Commngford and Mitchell
began the little game which had taken them to Baltl.
more One evening, everything apparently being pro.
pitious Commingford said conGdentiay to the Balti.
morean 'Ay friend Mitchell is the possessor of $50 Oo0
which he does need business and he is seek
ing channel to invest II permanently; he thinks
government bonds Will pay well and prove
the safest Investment Now, are not
familiar with any other business but produce, and
acquaintance has been limited to Chicago Qhe
place where they pretended TO hail from he would like
to be introduced to well known bankers in New
York that he may deal with them to that amount"
The bait took. The friend in a way to accommo.
date them. commingord thought il very fortunate,
and when the Baltlmorean advised him that Mcssrs
Unger Co, Of No 10 Exchange place, New York,
his correspondents and that he could only be
happy TO give him letter OF introduction TO them,
everything presented most satisfactory phase
The letter of Introduction at gwen 10 Com.
mlngord, when he and Mitchell lett Baltimore AT the
same time they abandoned their seemingly lucrative
business but with such foresight were all their arrange
mens made that tins was not known until some days
after, when their operations in New York was the
exciting subject of conversation among the police O
course Commingford came post haste TO this city and
upon his arrival sought the Office Of unger Co He
presented his letter OF Introduction ia which
known. The New York bankers were glad 10 see
Mr. Commneford. who said that he was
acting Tor ms partner ana a once they set TO work to
accommodate him. "inortunaelyn said they, I'VE
haven't $50, 600 IN government bonds, which we
you want now ON hand, but we have S43OOo worth OF
fvetwcnties; Will these do ~ Commingford wanted
the whole amount of 10000, "yet TO prevent his
dealing with unknown parties the $4,000 worth
\ would DO" the necessary preliminary business con-
sequent upon such an extensive negotiation being
cuded Commingford presented to the bankers his
check Tor S43a aOl 81, drawn upon the Ninth National
4 Bank OF New York. Being properly certified with the
OF Thomas the then paying teller of that nstitu
ton, Mcssrs. Ungcr 60. accepted tho check, Com
mngford took the bonds, salutauons exchanged
aud the forgcr lett his victims For forgery Com
mngiord had been guilty Of as the check was worth
less.
1t did take the vicmized bankers long to ascer
tam this The day following the exchange OF bonds and
checks, which occurred on March % 1870 the matter
was exploded and Commngord sought for He had howr
from New York and could be found in Baltimore.
superintendent JORDAN then AT the head OF the
New York police, and he took charge OF the matter
upon the request OF Messrs. Unger Il Co. VINO were
sorely perpiexcd over their loss Communication
at once had with the Baltimore police and
"Pinkn West well known detective Of that
city, visited Superintendent Jordan to talk
over the case. He knew so much, or pretended to,
rather of the general appearance aud habits Com
minglord that he and Detective Dunn, OF the
potan force, we're given charge OF the matter Their
the cost West aud Dunn hunted diligently for Com.
mlngiord but they failed to lind him. At last they OBJ.
unger Co. instructed them TO follow They did so;
and IN England, Ireland and France sought the fugi
live Once they were upon his track at least 50 they
subsequently advised and from place ireland
followed him TO Paris In that gay capital they failed
TO obtain the least trace Of him however and after two
or three months fruitless search, returned empty
handed to New York.
All this was in due time reported TO Messrs Ungcr &
Co., but instead OF giving up the chase II only nerved
them to more vigorous action. Commngiord
wanted and If within the bounds OF possibility they
intended to have him. dead or alive Their sicp-
and 1t proved an Important one-was to call into requi
the services Of Detective Garrett : walling,
years he has been booking Tor Commingiord His
wasn't Of much avail Tor very long time, and up Ia
eight months ago. in his expressive language II never
smct OF him. - At that time however. word came to
the det active that the man he had long wanted
had returned from Europe and living
with his family Brooklyn under hts
name. His house found and watched for two
three weeks, but Commngioru could not be Then
Detective WAllng called upon the iugtves wife, pre-
tending 10 be old friend but she invariably told the
same story My husband has gone West, and don't
know when he VIII return Acting upon well de-
vised pan Detective Waing then dropped the
tmc and did not again actively take up until ah M
three weeks ago he then placed a man in Brooklyn
to watch IL Commngiord removed his houscl old
goods, and II that done TO ''locate' HIM. As
was expected the removal took place. and family nd
furniture were traced 10 No SOB sixth avenue tbs
city.
Special Oiicer Mulvey, OF the precinct watched
he house daily, arriving there rs early six o'clock
but Commlngiord either was absent or had adopted
means of leaving his residence at times when they
were absent The search becoming irksome. change
OF tactics was decided upon. Commngiord's landlord
was sought and questioned concerning such tenant.
Yes, he lives IN my house, said the latter "and
leaves me the rent have never him. thought
continued he, ''and hts wife has recently shown
letter from him, written in Boston, saying that he
would soon be here and make the rent all rghtu
''Did you see the postmark on the cnvelopef ques-
toned Waiting. mo, she only showed me the heading
Of the leet returned the landlord, and with TINS The
Detective waling now made up his mind that Com
mngiord was the city aud concluded that he had er
the house earlier hour in the morning than that
at which they had previously been on hand 50 they
terday morning and they did 50. About half an hour
later the door opened and Commingtord walked
He down sixth avenue 10 Forty hrst street. where
he took car and block further away the officers
also jumped upon IT, Commingford bought n HERALD
OF the first newsboy that entered and occupied his
in studying Stanley's explorations until the Astor
House reached A. he stepped upon the sidewalk
Detective Wang put his hand upon Com
mingfords shoulder and called him by name.
Instantly he turned, when he was notified
that he under arrest without any apparent
discontinue the longsought forger began asking by
what authority the arrest made, and wanted to
the warrant, which Detective Waing told him he had
tt aLaf I'M ffaFt pauNg had
the Twenty precinct police station, and in good
time the fugitive Of nearly six years and wandercr
two continents was securely locked up Later
the day he was removed TO Police Headquarters, ex-,
amined by the Superintendent, and then taken before
District Attorney Phelps. This official, after hearing
the facts, committed Commngiord 10 the Tombs Ia
await the action OF the Grand Jury in default Of $4,000