The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-28
THE GREAT BOND FoRGERs.


OF THE RoBEErs-oLEAsoN GASo--A SINGULAR
CAREER OF CRIME.
BY means OF the extensive publication in the HERALD
OF yesterday OF the OF Louis oppcnhcirar alias
'Sneeny Lou" Robert Ripley and Joseph Hart, by de-
tectves williamson. La Rue and Thompson Open
hemer was identified yesterday the last member Of
the Roberis-Gleason gang. whose enormous iorgcres
OF Buffalo and Erie ana New York Central Railroad
bonds in 1878 startled tho financial community. The
forged bonds prepared under the supervision Of
Roberts and Gleason, and forged by George En-
gels. the man who did the nnc work in the Bank Of
England orgeries The who placed the bonds on
the market were Charles J. williamson. convicted
on one indictment and confncd IN the Tombs man
known as Charles RaIston and Louis 0ppenhcmor.
Walter A. Stuart, now in the Tombs, is charged with
being Ralston. When Oppenncimcr was with Ripley and
HART taken to the Tombs yesterday morning, he had
not the slightest idea Of the late store for him.
During the previous night Detectives Williamson and
REILLY had been securing the city for shopKecpcrs who
had been vicmized by sneak thieves and produced in
court member Of the firm Of Hubbeli Ward, Of No.
l. $50 Broadway, whose store had boon robbed OF s2l
and Mr. John Mccanrcy. OF Finy-fourth street and
Third avenue, whose shoe had been robbed Of
s45 Both gentlemen fully identified 0ppcnheimer
OF the gang of four sneak thieves who robbed their
establishments. Counsellor Mitchell demanded Open
hciner's discharge the ground that the complain
ants could not swear there was any COLLISION between
Oppenheimer aud tho other men, who entered tho
stores at the same tmc rs he did Judge Murray was
compelled 10 discharge 0ppenheimer by reason OF .
recent decision o the Court o Appeals governing such
Ripley and Hart also discharged aud lett
court Hart with be kept under tho surveillance OF tho
police, as no IL a most dangerous criminal, who has
just been released from the Hudson County New Jer
sey) Pcnitentary. Detective OConnor placed his hand
on Oppenheimers shoulder and said,
YOU ARE MY PRISONER"
Oppcnheimcr grew pale and SAID whats this for 7"
He was replaced bennd the railing and Mr.. Harog
made his complaint Ho testified that he knew the prs-
oncr and also prisoners father, Wolf Oppenhcimer,
VINO is Il broker in Wall street: March, 1873, tho
prisoner care to him at his Office, at No IL Broad
street. and said that friend Of his named Thomas
had some Buffalo and Erie bonds TO sell; he took
Thomas to the Office the bonds wore accepted and tho
money was handed Thomas in presence Of LOUIS Open
hemcr and his father; after young Oppcnheimer
again called on Mr. Har,og and said he had some more
Buffalo and Eric bonds for sale; he brought iortytwO
bonds TO Mr.. Hartog, who paid HIM for them in the
presence Of 0ppenheimcr, Sr these bonds eightytwo
ton OF 81, 600 each, Mr. Hartog sold 10 W. A. Guest l.
CO., OF No. IL Nassau street. When the discovery Of
the frauds came September J. 1873, the bonds were
found 10 DO forged and Oppenbeimer ned He went
10 England with woman named Fanny Dale, ard
spent nearly all his money there. On his return he
associated with Abe CoakIey and Billy Derrigan, and
ass sted in picking pockets the street cars Ho
then Rravtated into shopftng having for hts partner
'Jcw Davcn now in Rochester Prison Finding this
business not profitable he joined tho gang OF sneak
thieves, composed OF Tim Lane alias 'Red Tm," Billy
Mocklon, alias Montgomery, Joe McCluskey, alias
and Hart were arrested with him. No sooner had Mr.
Harog finished his testimony yesterday than Coun-
sellor Mitchell asked where the bonds WERE and Mr.
Hartog answered that they in tho hands OF d.
rector Of the company. The counsellor at began
violent dlarioe against the conduct o. tue prosecu-
best evidence IN the case and demanded Oppcnheimcrs
discharge. Mr.. O'Leary, ON behalf OF the District
Attorney stated that Mr. Miller the secretary OF the
company, who could swear that the signatures
forged, al his residence In Buffalo and would have
to be tecgraphed for. He asked Tor an adjournment
until Wednesday next Counsellor Mltcueli vche-
mently opposed any remand In the case claiming that
his client was unlawuliy debarred OF his liberty.
Judge Murray said that on hearing the evidence OF Mr.
Harlog ana the statements made by Mr. 0'Leary
behalf OF the District Attorney, he would remand OPP
penheimer to Police Headquarters until Wednesday
next, at TWO o'clock T. u.
WHO IS RALsroN ?-REAARKABLE STATEMENT OF
''wALTER A. STUART, THE ALLEGED YoRGER-
low ENpEAvoRs ARE MADE TO IDENTIFY HIM.
Walter A. Stuart who Is known Walter Sheridan,
and who is now locked up In tho Tombs a charge OF
being the Charles Ralston who negotiated $780, 900 Of
tho forged bonds OF the Buffalo and Erie and New York
Central Railway companies on Wall street In 1873, yes
tcrday called HERALD reporter TO the door Of hts cell
He said :"I am going to do something which may DO
considered foolish, but which, am convinced right
am going 10 make statement and tell you my de-
fence. Considering that II am convicted am liable to
be imprisoned for 500 years this may bold
Ny defence is a simple II is that although am Wal
tor A. Stuart Ralston To establish this only
ask fair play, which, up to tho present, have
cciyed Previous to 1873 had been living in Four
seenlh years under the OF Walter
A. Stuart. went to Denver City. Col. and resided
there under tho name OF Walter A. Stuart was
elected director OF the German Bank of Denver, and
YOU NAV see nv name. Walter A. stuart on the
hank mana nj mr. cOrr oau utpUii fha tra1
Bank OF this city then went TO Rsita Col, and
cashier OF tina bank there, under the OF Walter
A. Stuart came back TO this CITY and stopped at the
Union and Windsor hotels, under The Same name. IL
Is my own name aud have never denied Il. This man
through the introduction Of a member. Why don't
they produce that member and have me identified? He
will BIO able TO prove my identity.
RALTsov HAD AN ACCOUNT
for quite while in the Fourth National Bank. Tho
detectives brought tho teller Of the bank here iden
THY me as Raston. They told HIM IN advance that
was clean shaven OF the number Of men turned out
the for inspection was the only whose
was bare. The gentleman, when he came to me,
stopped asked me 10 step out and looked all over
Hc said, That is not the man. andpassed on. He then
identified as Ralston man named Cummingford, who
bore the slightest resemblance me. One OF tho
keepers told him hts mistake, and he answered. Then
cannot identity him at ALL Not satisfied with this
tho detectives brought me down to the District At
torney's office and placed mo In small room with ono
to guard me. They then sent IN fhis gentleman
from the bank identity me. but ending that he was
likely to identify The man standing guard over me as
being Ralston ordered him TO leave the room. Even
then the gentleman tailed to identify This Is not
far treatment am conspicuous-Iooking man. You
see have three large my face ought to be
easily identified II any OF the who reputable
citizens and who bad business dealings with Ralston
identify me as being him am satisfied do not pre-.
tend to be any moro than Waiter A. Stuart and that is
my defence"
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A-THANKs "FRoM THE DEPTHS OF THE