The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-29
Prominent Business Man who
Twice Resorts to FORGERY.

A Prominent Business Man who
Twice Resorts to Forgery.
Lucius W. Pond of Worcester, Mass,
was a large manufacturer, formerly much
respected and a leading member of the
Methodist church, noted for his libcrality
not only to the denomination but to any.
body who needed helping hand. Octo.
Der I'd he disappeared from a Fall River
steamer on Long Island Sound and was at
first supposed to have jumped overheard
or been murdered. On examinati ton his
affairs were found to be in disastrous
condition and next it was discovered he
had for along time been renewing the
value of paid notes by removing the face
with some chemical preparation and re-
writing them, leaving the orig
inal endorsement. The original writing
was restored by putting nutgalls
on the notes and it was then seen that in
many instances his notes had been nego-
tiated three times with but one endorse
ment. These forgeries amount to about
100000.
His fate was unknown until he was
seen and recognized in Hamilton, Ontario,
where he registered as L. Wilson Will.
son being his middle name. From there
he was again lost. November 18th a
trunk was delivered to the express COM
pany at Worcester to be delivered in
Boston to a Mr.. Kidder. This was de-
livcred in Worcester by man formerly
in Ponds employ, was taken in Boston by
some unknown person and was imme-
diately reshipped to L. D. Wilson at Sac.
ramento. By following this trunk the
detectives finally found and arrested
Pond in San Francisco, few hours be-
fore the departure of steamer on which
he had intended to sail for Australia.
Being returned to Worcester, Mr..
Ponds old neighbors exhibited more SYM
pathy for him than would be expected.
He explained that he had committed the
forgeries Fin hopes to tide himself over
the present depression in business, just
as he had done in 1857, twenty-eig ht
years ago, when he resorted to the same
means. Then he would have paid every
demand in full. He had doEe nothing
from hope of gain or desire to defraud
anybody. He wanted merely to keep up
his credit, and it was in the belief he
could do this he had committed the for
serieS.
Gcs,tlcsaas, Georges Star Tour i'm the
Southeast.
Augusta Letter, December 18th, to Chicago
Ti1nes.l
On Monday last George Fl. Pcndleton
of Ohio entered Georgia by way of Chat
tanooga, accompanied by his daughter
and another lady. They came ostensibly
for the purpose Of taking refuge from the
chilling blasts of your northern winter
in the orange groves of Florida. This
was the ayowed and perhaps the real
reason for his coming. Bnt TO sooner
had he struck Atlanta than the widest
enthusiasm sprang up, and a spontaneous
call brought forth speech, to which he
acceded, addressing "a multitude that
no man could NUMBER At the conclu-
sion CT his address General Gartrell,
hero in the late war and very popular
citizen since, nominated Mr.. Pendleton
for President of the United States. This
was received with a great shout by the
crowd, and the next morning all the
daily papers in the town came out fiat
footed and Internationally in favor of
his nomination. They have rung down
the cry ever since, and if Atlanta could
make President, Mr.. Pendleton GER
tainly would be Grant successor. This
was the signal for all Georgia to wake up
in his favor, and the nomination made at
Atlanta mas been ratified throughout the
State with vim.
After capturing Atlanta, Mr.. Pendle-
ton moved down the Georgia road, and
halted in Augusta. His fame had GER
taln]y preceded him, for no sooner had
he registered at the Planters hotel than
great and small men began to pelt him
with their cards, and clamor for admission
to his room. He received them all with
that bland, magnetic po]iteness and smile
for which he is somewhat distinguished.
The superior court was i'll session.
Judge Gibson detailed one Of his best
attorneys to repair to the hotel and ex-
tend the distinguished stranger his COM
pements and invite him to seat beside
him on the bench. This was accepted,
and upon his arrival on the floor, the
court took a recess, when all the men,
bers of the Augusta bar present we're for
mally introduced to him. One lawyer
said he ''knew he must be good man,
for Harper's Weekly had abused him reg
ularly for the last ten years. Pendle-
ton replied that he had not seen that
sheet in many years, being too dirty for
admission into his house.
Mayor Estes then appeared with line
of carriages and invited him to ride, when
he visited nearly every point of interest
in town-the great cotton factories, the
canal and monuments included.
Upon his return to the hotel, the Con-
gressional district committee formally ill.,
vited him to make a political speech.
This Invitation he declined. But the
people were determined to have speech
cro,,o I, in, T., cx,;to &C al 4l;o .e