The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-17
THE GREAT BOND FORGERlES.


CHARLES PERRIN, ALIAS WILLIAMSON, ALIAS
RoTHscHILD, ALIAS FARNHAM, ARRAIoNED-
HOW ROLLINS BROTHERS co. WERE DE-
FRAUDED.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Rollins, OF thet nrm OF
Rollins Brothers Co., bankers, OF Nos 81 and %
Wall street, gave the following statement to HERALD
reporter OF that firms negotiations with Charles Per-
rim, alias Charles J. Williamson, alias Charles Roth
schild, alias Charles C. Farnham the notorious forger
whose exploits were chroniced yesterdays HERALD.
ION the LIST Of January Mr.. Charles E. Pease left
firm and advertised for partner with capital his
disposal to Gil his place. Perrin to give him the
name we know him by, Charles Farnham,' called ut
our Office My brother received him and had nothing
to do with the matter. Farnham stated that he
worth $l35 900 and liked the excitement OF business
He had excellent manners very neat in his dress
and always drove Office in q coupe driven by a
livered coachman He looked to me OF the type of q
well-todo contractor who makes money easily. The
first business transaction We had with HIM
in some Western Union bonds which we
sold, duly deductng commission for the
same These bonds were genuine. Our general bust
ness is the Negotiation OF city, State and town
securities My brother lett for Europe the 10th OF
January, taking with him, at Farnham's request,
$4,000 to 500 900 bonds principally New York Cen
trails which he asked my brother to place in London
or Brussels at tour per cent 1t was arranged that if
me- and was to pay over to Farnham the amounts
realized. No cable despatch has yet been received on
this subject and am glad my brother has escaped the
risk he of being made the tool of this willy swinder
Farnham also represented that he possessed number
OF United States securities. have teegraphed TO my
brother:-Farnham no governments; advances sunk
all Others bad expect TO receive an answer on the
subject tomorrow
ION the 18th of January my brother before his
barking for the other side, said Mr Farnham will be
here pretty often and you any money advan
tage call upon him. and hope you'll soon get better
ACQUAINTED /. however, a
Monday morning following received word from Farm
ham that he would not be at the office for a week,
as he going to close several country agencies
Twelve days after, as near | can recoAect, he
called and gave me some ST., 900 New York Central
raise loan of Sc, 000 Effected the loan for him,
and have heard to-day that the bonds worth
less. He paid several visits the Office after this,
and talked about stocks and shares and other business
matters. He was very sangulne that trade about
Office, tod him that he wanted $4,000. He said he
would raise the money next day, as he wanted TO
take out $23 900 of Central Pacific bonds he had n.y.
pothecated at Philadelphia, against loan Of S., OO0
He said he would telegraph to Philadelphia and
would go to that city himself, and supposed he
went there. He came TO our office on Thursday and
said he had been disappointed in obtaining the
qured S60 600 The had previously stated $1,000,
the friend from whom he had hoped get the
for few days / asked him what
he proposed TO do, and he pulled out
he to California and Oregon stock which he
said he would use Shortly alter this he brought
obtained a loan of $40, 500 The following day his
coachman came down and asked that Mr.. Burke, OF
our Office might bring him the money, and to in
the carriage No address was given, but the letter
said the coachman knew where TO find him. Mr.
Burke had TO 60 to Philadelphia for us, took the
$4,000 with me neaving our loan of $4,000 in
the oficel and started of IN the carriage
As | rode along came to the conclusion
that Farnhams conduct was mysterious, especially
that he had given his admess Once l asked
him for II, in case telegram should arrive for him
from my brother. The coachman stopped at the Amity
and drove or | went into the barroom, where | saw
some hard looking drinking but nobody in
the house, high or low knew Mr.. Farnham imme-
diately returned to the Office and, rememering that
that there was an overdue coupon on the California
and oregon bonds, obtained it, and took It TO Messrs
Fisk Il Hatch for payment They pronounced
forgery. Shortly aiterward messenger came in from
been treated uncivilly. ! sent a message back
that Barker had gone to Philadelphia, and would Mr.
Farnham kindly call on Friday morning. On Friday
morning received telegram and two letters, asking
that the money might be sent TO the Irving House.
at Twelfth street, Broadway, l replied, Burke not
returned; call at office; will explain On Friday
night Burke and called on Farnham and he promised
come down at half-past ten on Saturday morning
The first thing did on Saturday morning early
20 Pnkerons TO get three detectives sent round
my Office, but they had to spare, so
i got two District Telegraph in plain
clothes to help arrest Farnham when he came
round Up TO O'Clock he had not arrived but let
ter came skiing Burke TO come and pay him the money
the Irving House We marshalled our forces the
ncighborhood OF that place and waited till past two
without seeing man. Word was then left by Burke
that had left, but to come down 10 the Office and
ceive the money. The forces then went back TO the
Office, and all sat down behind the counter
the ground, leaving only Burke visible He
at last and Burke brought him
round into the office, and at glance he
the game up He used considerable bad
langu &c and revealed his character He took his
very cooy, and The only thing he asked
cigar and glass of water. He denied having gwen
any bonds We then called in Police 0ficer Davis,
who took him around TO the New street police station
( house, where Captain Petty nterrogated HIM When
he used to call here number of detectives would fire.
quenty be standing steps but apparently hone
of them knew OF him OF his forty EIGHT indictments
All we lose is the So COO the forged New York
tracts"
II is reported that more than one detective and ex-
detective is rather afraid OF PERKINS, confession.
HE PLEADS GUILTY.
Yesterday Perrin arraigned before Recorder
Hackett and pleaded not guilty to twenty indictments
for forgery He then taken before Judge Barrett,
in the Court OF oyer and Terminer and arraigned
twenty-eight different indictments for forgery. He
pleaded guilty to one and to the others he asked for
! time TO plead. He was then remanded to prison.
Ii is stated that Perrin has been operating Wall
street for months, though he is well known 10 the de-
tectives aud would IN all probability DO there for
long time to come chance had not discovered him
District Attorney Phelps has procured the forty eight
indictments against him, and will try him as speedily
possible those which he is most certain TO
a conviction In the meantime Williamson viii
remain In the Tombs City Prison.
But one additional member of the great forger gang
Walter Stewart alias Charles Rason and who became,
through false representations member OF the Prod
uce Exchange.
'Little' George Wilkes the s'penman." who
rested with Andy Roberts in 1873, and locked up in
the Fith precinct police station in 1878 by Police Cap
tam Petty for completely with Roberts, Is residing IN
this city