The New York herald., 1875-12-17
The Strange Disappearance of a WOr-
ceSter Manufacturer.
A CUNNING FLIGHT.
Patient Tracing, Detection and Arrest Of
the Fugitive.
Sorrow of His Family and the Sad
ness of Friends.

steamer October 2, and at first supposed to
have jumped overheard been murdered,
rested In San Francisco the 9Th inst He arrived
here this forenoon, in company with two officers Mr..
Pond, who large manufacturer and formerly
much respected, left his affairs In disastrous condi-
tion when he took fight, and it was soon aterward
discovered that for long time he had been renewing
\ the value Of paid notes by removing the face and
writing them, thus saving original Endorsements.
This practice appears to have been going some two
years. and these forged notes to the value
| OF probably 5000, ,O00 Nobody knows the exact
amount They are mainly in the hands OF note
shavers, but the banks and small property holders
have many.
DISCOVERY PoRGERIEs.
The forgeries were discovered by putting nut gals
upon the notes and restoring the original writing In
many instances the had done service three times
with one Endorsement Thisss the most dangerous
kind Of forgery known to bank men, and the hardest
to detect the signatures themselves in all
cases genuine
Mr.. Pond leading member OF the Methodist
Church. and noted for his hberaty the dcnomi-
nation and to anybody who needed a helping hand.
The community greatly shocked at the crimes dis
covered. and the rst announcement received with
ncredulity
TRACING THE
The FIRST trace OF Mr. Pond was found at Hamilton,
1
peared there asking for work and appearing
rather oddly He seen by persons who
knew him, and a leading house these wrote
to the 1rm here calling attention to the fact. David
w. Pond, the son, sent person to investigate II
found that the fugitive had disappeared, but, from
the description of him. there doubt that
he While this detective away the forgeries
discovered, and David naturally abandoned the at
tempt to dnd his father, although circulars describing
the missing were sent to Canadian police stations
Ezra Churchill, detective of the Worcester police
visited Hamilton and found In hotel register the
name OF l.. Wilson in Ponds handwriting Wilson IS
Ponds middle This the FIRST cew, but
nothing more was found at that time and Churchill
returned home. His visit was kept quiet and the
affair seemed TO have blown
A TELL-TALR TRUNK.
On the 18th Of November trunk shipped from
this city to Boston by the Boston and Albany Express
Company, marked to be called for there by certain
Mr.. Kdder The trunk delivered TO the express
company here BY Mr. Ponds truckman and immedi-
atey excited suspicion, though bore address,
cept that mentioned above This trunk found 10
have been called for in Boston by a stranger and
have been Immediately reshpped by the Wells, Fargo
Company Express Sacramento, Cal, TO the address
OF IL D. wilson," the with the exception OF
the middle initial, that used by Mr. Pond the
register OF the hotel Hamilton during hts brief stop
on Canadian soil
II was found that Mr. Pond received this trunk on
oath OF November and Detective Churchill started for
California Sunday the 2sth requisition from the
Governor of the State was necessary to secure the
needed papers, and II was obtained and sent 10 on
Ger Churchill at Sacramento Wednesday, the ls Of
December
A GUILTY MANS PRECAUTIONS
Meanwhile, leaving Hamilton, Pond travelled con-
stanty through Canada and Northern Michigan for
about month, avoiding large cities and doubling
upon his tracks 90 battle pursuit and registering
\ different hotels L. wilson Becoming tired
I OF this game about November l, ne for the
FIRST time communicated with his family
hereby relieving their fearful suspense TO whether
4 he were living dead and started for tho Pacific
coast During his long journey thither he continued
his precautions, using different aliases suddenly leav-
ing trains and remaining in remote towns for day
two that II took him three weeks TO reach sacra-
mcnto Here be received the trunk which has been
the cause of much mystery and conjecture, and
which finally led TO his detection. At Sacramento all
trace Of him lost by Officer Churchill who had so
far followed
THE FATEFuL TRUNK
II was found at the ONCE or Wells Fargo & Co. that
the trunk had been received BY them set out on tho
sidewalk and taken away by some unknown man.
Churchill, however, by diligent inquiry, discovered
I that the trunk had been taken TO hotel ana from
thence carried away by an unknown man, OF whom no
further trace could be found
DETECTION.
After fruitless search lasting several days the ON
Ger naturally concluded that his man would seek a
larger seaport at offering secure hiding places
and numerous chances for leaving the country. He
therefore proceeded to San Francisco, and,
procuring the aid Of the metropolitan police, IN
the different hotel registers Al length he was re.
wardcd by finding the book of the Brooklyn House
the name Of a. Williams" Churchill sent police
fot "a talItn tim inuu
Johnson and at the same time to bring down q care.
full description of the man he should see. The officer
OF found Mr. Johnson but brought back such
accurate description Of the countenance of l. Will
Jams that Churchill at once recognized II as belonging
to Mr. Pond although the officer described him as hav
ing smooth face, whereas Pond when in Worcester,
full beard. Acting on this information the
two officers proceeded to inc room M. ano L,o
you do Mr. Pond?" Pond answered, ~ do not know
you" whcreupon Churchill explained his presence
and mission II then appeared that Mr. Pond had mis-
taken him for II. H. Comings, member of the
Massachusetts State Police Mr.. Pond then asked the
officer If be had rcquisition from the Governor o.
Massachusetts for bis arrest On being told that he
had seeing the papers he acquesced AT once IN tht
inevitable and commenced packing his trunk Tor IN
mediate departure.
NOT AN HOUR TOO SOON.
The arrest made none too soon Tor POND had en-
gagged passage In a steamer which was TO sail Tor Aus
traiia as soon IL received the English mail, for
which II waiting and which arrived a few hours
later Another day and he would have been beyond
reach At the time OF his capture Pond had in bis
possession but about ST. 200 in specie, all of which,
with the exception Of little spending money, he al
once turned over to the detective The officer
and his prisoner started for homo on
Thursday the 9th, having quiet and un-
eventful Journey. At Omaha they met by
Mr. Washburn, the city marshal OF Worcester, who
from that point shared with Churchill the OF the
prisoner. Mr. Pond, having given bis parole not 10
escape give trouble was not ironed and treated
with all possible kindness He presented 50 little The
aspect OF prisoner that no one on the different trains
suspected the fact until after bis arrival Springfield
where he was known.
WITH POND.
A reporter OF the Worcester Gazette having met She
party at Albany, had long conversation with the
prisoner on the way down. on meeting hun Mr.. Pond
was evidently good deal Affected, and
Immediately inquired for his family and
HIS old friends One OF the first
things he said was tWc, / they wanted ID
Worcester and have sent for me- / should have pre-
ierred 10 come Of my free viii, which | should
have done within year and half, II not within
year" The reporter said that he glad 30 SEQ HIM,
although sorry 10 mcc. him under such circumstances