The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-17
TIE F0RGERS GREAT RING.
a LINK or A en- iIN That MAY BIND
NAVY KNOWN CRIMINALS.

Charlie. J. WilIlamson's Connection with the
GIcnsou Roberts Conspiracy Of 1873 -
spence Pcitus, e.. u. Orvis. Engels, ct nj.
On Saturday Capt. Petty arrested n man
who has lately been known a Charles c. Farm
ham, charge Of negotiating and having in
his possession forged California and Oregon
railway bonds. II has since been learned that
the prisoner Is Charles J. williamson, whose es-
cape from arrest about the time Of the forgery
Of the bonds of the New York Central, Western
Union, and Buffalo and Erie railroads, two years
and half ago, has been the principal obstacle
to the punishment OF tho known criminals In
that gigantic conspiracy. The first arrests
made on account Of them were OF brokers,
whose only possible Implication was their bad
luck IT. having the forgefs pitch upon thetn %
Intermediary agents. They could trace their
knowledge OF the forged securities no further
back than TO one Charles J. Williamson, a curb
stone broker. williamson was not to be
found. They soon attcrwsr rd arrested joseph q.
Yates, an Englishman, Of Manhattauvile. TO
whose possession some OF the forged securities
were traced.
Spence Pettus. who was awaiting trial for
forgery In Massachusetts,. furnished .infOrma-
tion upon which Andrew H. Roberts and Val
ontine Gleason we're arrested, aud whioh
set tho detectives upon the track OF
other members ot the gang. Soon after;
whom figured In the Cunningh m-Burdcll mur-
der trial. were arrested for complicltv with the
iorgers. stcphen RAYMOND. a well.known
crooked m1u," had left his usual haunts when
II was discovered that he had borrowed $4,000
on batch Of the forged bonds Private detec-
tivcs traced him TO England, whore he
arrested, and whence he was extradited. This
police next found Gotteib Engels, who was
initiated tho important signatures. The seals.
too. were well initiated hy one George
omstead OF Staten Island. Ho turned
traitor, and was an important witness In the
trial Of Andrew l.. Roberts In the over aud
rermlner IN June, 1874. Olmsteau's testimony
was that he had engraved the seals for SPONGE
In the civil suits against Roberts Clemson,
Mrs. lydia Roberts and Others. tie coiporations
ylctimized were rewarded by verdicts for slO,-
OuO. Roberts and Gleason are In prison. Blasdcll,
En-els and the otner alleged consplrators are
The connection OF williamson with the con-
sirdcy can to more easily cs' ahlished, as In at
least three ofthe five loans for which the forged
bonds were used As collaterals he vas tho man
who placed them In the hands OF tho brokers.
vigorous, search was made Tor him at that time,
but he had got away 70 Europe win the
wife Of George Millard, who Was convicted as
the receiver OF the gang OF masked burglars ar
rested bN Detectives l1eld ana king Two wears
ago. Williamson was known to have about Si0,-
OOl ~ the proceeds OF the fOrrerics
On Jan. l9. a wcl-kep'. prOsperous-l looking
stranger answered an advertisement for special
capital, 10y Rollins Brothers. bankers, at Wall
and broad streets. The stranger rode IN stylish
coupe, driven by a liveried coachman. lie said
that his name was Charles c. Farnham. Having
plenty OF unemployed capital. ne c0ntem plated
Tmrn1sh s,rscsfIe ncc,rn,,n 1rs ssn1'r " nnrf
nar %, ,ha Arm ,v.s r,stber plsa,cd Win the
knoHleare n nnonSe aisuiayed NV bis visitor
The ,uiv ,sis va tho tfnrt thnt Mr. Hoiitns
,vas an Inc cve ~ .at,ns for I'ond"n ana xn,,II
""t bavs 49,, ,o ",n"isie .he Srti.iss Of mart
nershin II was agrsch however that Mi t,'imgs
neing = tisf,rtory tIc n.rtner'htn yvn,,ld Ge
enir1ed mo on hts return 4 tricnt idea
occurred to MIR Farnhafn Iii, wealth was in
vcsted in 4; ovcr,n mani Nav Vorl, Icutrai and
otber honna MI "a xifv rnueh casn At com
,nani he thnusht NJ Uniiins r1i'.ht neoottate n
Lam at ught interest," in London or lir,isscls
usinp Mr. Inrnhntn's honds ns Collateral Mr
| Rnliins assnnted to this and agreed to cahle
| Mir Farnh,n, eli an fr,n Eir1ne ns soon as the
| ioan ,yas n~gotinfed
Mr. Hnlina s,iied for Furrpe ON Ian o., and
| fercived sinln1 hnnda froiu NJ Iarnnam's
| cont TI.t befcfe he ,,cnt aboard the Steamer.
| There was no time to see what sort Of bonds
| th.v were
N F'rfhatn fora fcwda,s thereafter WA not
! s.nf on I. ,freoi When hc ny, r,ne,rsd he
.n,d that ne wanted ia rai.e "a 10 lie olt lined A
Ian ~ ~ O,l fs,, auy. ,ftet Vai,. On $40 Sew
| YCri. ttn.rI bonds. AhOut IA week .ro he l.Lsl
; f,r,her l9an cf sbtso. ofcrinr IL out nm as
W, - 81 y. - ~. ,,iirh
| fu'"le'Yi Vrt'r'" NNT''. ~, Hiff.Ssi. Ma.
IT, snid lie Aaa are a. isuse, W ~, S psrn.
! N,, ., N .ilin' m Va aus, ''','' "''- 49,
am -, " l.h the mon " pruN Njcd hc could