The New York herald., 1875-08-23

Aforesaid agents removal from office for maeasance
During the succeeding mnstraons the "Ring" bus
iness largely increased there several changes
political and otherwise, during my term The agents.
with the exception OF Agent s. H. johnson, all came TO
that the officials discussed tho amounts
rHK INSPECTOR CHARGE ''srooD ~"
for during each term On the 5th Of July 1861 had
completed my term and was discharged On the 10th
OF July 1865, was adjudged years for the
offence and shortly afterward placed In my old po
stion at Sing Sing 1t was now, during the admnistra
ton then controlling, that called upon by the
Prison Clerk TO enter upon Of
NNUMERABLE FoEGERTEs,
aggregating large amount The agent was Stephen II.
Johnson the only honest ono knew the place.
] did not work under his direction however, but be-
longed solely TO the clerk, Walter Franklin, formerly
clerk In tho Canal Board and member Of the Canal
Ring" II was only when parties from this Ring"
eame to Sing Sing that the forgery business began there
now
would be ordered to 'cover" certain amount, say
81 500. II It was near the close Of tho year ! would
make out false voucher for blankets for this amount
| had memorandum book containing the fac-simile
signatures OF the business houses with whom tho prison
dealt, and from this signature book would aax the
forged signature 70 tho voucher in two places on the
face and under the Jurat We called this proceeding
covering" thus covered monthly large amounts
from $500 TO 81, 900 and upward. Having thorough
and critical knowledge Of tho routine and details OF tho
business there, having filled tho position for twelve
years II invariably left wholly TO my discretion in
what way would the sums designated 70 me.
filled this position for about four years altogether under
COOKING UP'' rnE ANNUAL REroRrs.
Beside this voucher forging business compiled and
for q salary of 500 per annum 70 be paid mo my
discharge or the clerks removal
At this time commenced taking copy OF every
forged voucher made, and monthly would deposit
the memoranda in place of security for in the event
OF my not receiving the money due me (which deemed
possbleL that could thus have these evidences
fall back upon took the number Of the voucher the
name Of tho maker the date and the amount thencefor
ward. The clerk owed me $780, and anticipating
removal. s. II. Johnson the agent, was to leave Janu
ary /, 1865 David r. Forrest ex-cerk OF tho Canal
Board being inspector in charge and his term expir-
inc he yynS % a rSpde
wide the crposs OF the Legislative Investigating Com
mittee the Canal frauds published about this ume in
DAVID r roRRxsr's ADMINISTRATIONS.
January l, 1868, Forrest was made agent and Clerk
franklin, having been with him as clerk in the Canal
Board remained with him at tho prison. Under this
clique business was actively pursued for one year
mcr, when, rejecting upon the mass OF memoranda
already accumulated, and the probability OF its
being discovered, deemed prudent not to increase it
further 1t now occurred to ME that 10 place some
significant private mark upon each forged voucher
would answer every purpose for future identification
and be in every way for me- tho memo
randa might be lost but the voucher could at any
time DO identified in the Comptroller's Office. The
course that pursued as TO few manufactured vouch
about this time affords instant ocular dcmonstra
ton that they are forged
now THE FoRGERrEs WE'RE DONE.
would select from package OF paid vouchers
with the signature designed forging my blank
would then, tracing paper, trace the signature from
the genuine, and then transfer this tracing TO my blank
and carefully ink it, thus producing minutely perfect
fac-simile so exact that the lines Of the forged and the
genuine, on being supcrmposed would exactly coincide
when viewed upon window pane or exposed in the
stereoscopic side by side. Now, twice write
his name in so exactly the same manner and
close examination with cyeglass will
exhibit tracing These vouchers have also the pri-
vatc marks could select such vouchers now, from
memory Of the dates When they vouchers that
purport-as most Of them do-to be from New York
city houses by reference to their books II can also
easily be ascertained that they never sold the prison
such goods at the dates specified and that all such
vouchers have forged signatures
EVERY LITTLE HELPS"
Small amounts from $25 to $50 thereabout would
generally be covered in the vouchers OF estimate for
'convict deposit refunded because considerably
less work than 'buiding up" bills by pretended items
of goods, with fractional prices, &c have some min
uey perfect traced signatures such before described
In this pretended estimate made out at this time
ANOTHER FRAUD.
The convict would sign his voucher for mileage and
allowance and at night would take this mileage voucher
and his signature the blank and fill II up for convct
deposit refunded, $25." was instructed that when
made vouchers Of this estimate open and close an
account In the convict deposit ledger closed with the
same date as the vouchers we're dated In many
did this but mostly omitted doing it, for the
that although the ledger might show that the convict
had such deposit there by reference to the cash
deposit could be found, and in the monthly leash
ccved" sheet forwarded to the Comptroller it could not
possibly appear If no such money deposit had been
ceved. II invarabc occurrence the close of
each month that cash over, at times much
81, 500 taking the cash in the safe the 1st of the
month with the cash balance in bank. Adding the
Comptroler's draft for the month and deducng from
the sum total the cash expenditures the result will in
variably exhibit large surplus. Now this plain and
glaring fact am prepared to exhibit and verify from
the books Of the bank If the prison check book bank
book and cash book even have been destroyed
DESTROYING RECORDS.
have known administrations on the eve Of leaving
to destroy these books In every monthly instance this
could not be shown but where the bank account at the
bank shows greater balance of deposit than tho
turns madc in the sheet the Comptroller calls for then
Now, having shown these facts, the query arises,
whence accrues this monthly surplusS and am pre-
pared to plainly, indisputably show from
These funds would not lay long enough to spoil.
division was effected with magical CELEBRITY, and the
figured records and the cash hand would coincide
The bank check book was useful and reliable
in many ways. suspicious voucher, purporting to
from New York city house. could he readily
detected The check book would show If the payment
had been made by check, and all payments other than
in Sing Sing made by check on the New York city
bank the Sing Sing bank. An account was
kept at this time in the New York bank, as
also in the Sing Sing bank The New York bank
shortly after this date closed up and the
Sing Sing bank tho sole account After Forrest
left the bank check books were never | had
successfully searched for them for a month.
HENRY O. oPFIcE.
January l, 1863 Horny G. Nelson replaced Forrest
agent, and the machine was run on the track
had filed the position from 1850 TO 1855 and consequently
understood the trim Of the ship, being very poor
was very hungry. Franklin called upon the 10th
OF January and paid me $500 due me and destroyed
tho Of forged voucher memoranda had sccumu-
lated, as deemed IL unnecessary impedimcnta the
ccssity for which amasscd IL not arising Having suf-
lcent testimony already had on hlc in tho Comp
troer's Office, certainly could have done wiser
thing for 1t would have proved fatal TO had been
discovered ] continued marking the vouchers that
might in the future need Identification but merely those
of large amounts and my attention somewhat re-
mittent had been confined for long time constantly
the desk days in the week. and writing night
until twelve o'clock. Ny health was failing, and
worked out
AN AMATEUR TRIES HIS
At this time the clerk tried his hand at forging voucher
signatures and select some OF such from the Jan
uary and February 1862 packages The agent very
'cntcrprsng," and speculacd largely in -four, having
purchased large lot OF either damaged or very nder
ent -four and gained S. or Sc on II per barrel. The
prisoners would not consume and refused work. Tho
consequence open rebellion, and 100 out OF
l. 100 locked up in their cells for weeks Sep
tember | left the Office out and did no labor OF
any consequence in the prison again.
PECULIAR BooKKEEPSo.
In Nelson's annual report if the debts and credits be
taken and the balance struck the looks very diff
from what he states II therein and shows large
balance due him from the State. This Is partly owing
his giving credit for money drafts from tho Comp
troller to the chain works. and OF which he
makes mention. lie deposed for some