The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-20
THE GREAT FORGERIES.
IMPORTANCE OF THE TRIPLE ARREST IN
CHIcAoo-wHAr THE NEW YORK SUFFERERS

IMPORTANCE OF THE TRIPLE ARREST IN
CHIcAoo-wHAr THE NEW YORK SUFFERERS
KNOW ABOUT THE MATTER
The despatch from Chicago in yesterdays HERALD,
announcing the arrest of Nelson A. Gesncr f. T. Hen
dcrson and Z. b. Weston on suspicion OF being con-
necied with large and well organized band OF
forgcrs, o welcome piece OF news to the
bankers and other business men Of this
city, as 10 believed prooaoie tnat
from the parties arrested some cew may be obtained
10 other forgeries which have been perpesated in New
York within past year. The particular forgeres in
which they accused of being implicated are
check for $64 the Union Trust Company Of Now
York, purporting to be drawn by the New York Lite
Insurance Company, and for nearly $2s 600 on tho
Third National Bank, purportng to be drawn by tho
banking house OF Winslow, Lanier Il Co. These two
forgeries were performed with the greatest skill and
proved wholly successful the swindlcrs escaping with
over 500 O00 They naturally occasioned considerable
excitement at the time OF their occurrence-that on
the Third National Bank In December lass and that
the Union Trust Company IN January OF this year.
In the latter part of the month Of December check
Tor 900 was presented tor payment at the First
National Bank. II was signed by wnslow, Lanier 4
Co., and, appearing Enthusiastically genuine, was immc
diately cDshed. The next day a check for $4,000,
drawn by the same hrm was presented by the
Same messenger al the bank-thc First National.
This time the suspicion OF the officers was aroused,
and upon inquiry ut the Office OF Winsiow, Lanier
Co., this time before payment was made, the check
was ascertaIncd TO be a clever forgery Upon invest
cation It appeared that the cneck paid the day before
had also been forged Detectives were at once put
upon the and several parties have
since been arrested suspicion and will
before long DO brought 10 trial. Not only bad
the signatures OF tho two notes question been cx
ccedingiy clever limitations OF the original, but the
numbers all IN Order showing, as Mr.. l.aner
yesterday remarked to a HERALD reporter, that tho
swindlers must have been well posted with regard TO
the check book OF winslow, Lanicr 4 Co. MIR. Trn-
man T. Handy, President OF the Third national BANK,
s,f tlQ hat
by whom fraudulent checks were sent TO the bank
had previously drawn genuine cheeks The matter is
asked whether no believed the three men arrested In
Chicago tho guilty ones, said that he would not
express opinion; That he hoped So however, and
thought It likely. Mr. Lanier also seemed disposed to
consider II not improbable
THE UNION TRUST COMPANY FORGERY.
The larger forgery. that of check Tor $64, 600 on
the Union Trust Company, purporting TO be drawn by
the New York Life Insurance Company, occurred early
in the month OF January last. Tho check was dated
January 2 but the forgery did not come to light until
the 10th OF the same month, Il was then discovered
by the caeh,er OF the New York Lite. who came across
two checks bearing tho same number. ono for the
amount OF $64 600 the other for $4,000 Tho latter
was proved genuine and the former spurious. differing
from tho genuine paper ut various points. A forged
check .,purporting to be drawn by the Union
Trust Company, was accepted by w. !. Hatch
sum OF So $780, gold. Instead OF giving coin, Hatch
gave check for tho amount, and aiterward, dis
negotiation OF tho check drawn by themselves. The
check Tor SGA 900 was passed by Mr. George L. Max
accepted by Hatch & Sons, passed aud endorsed
by named Blood. In u few days Maxwell was
arrested charge OF completely In the forgery. He
was confined TO his house by spraincd ankle, and,
after spending three days In tho charge Of detectives
was admitted TO bail in the sum of $40 900. II. H.
Browne, George H. Chadwick and j. Coumbne were
arrested similar charge the same month. Early
April four other men were arrested and examined on
suspicion OF being connected with the same forgery
1t will be seen by these frequent arrests
that tho detectives were determined not to
OF the three with $36 COO IN their possession is
certainly OF much importance If II can be proved that
they had any with the gigantic forgeiies
darngly perpetrated in this city. The development
the will be watched with the greatest interest
Two statements made In the despatch from Chicago
announcing the arrests were yesterday denied by tho
persons most Interested. One the effect that
nearly had got out of the THIRD National
Bank. The President Of the bank declares that such
put into the hands of the New York police, but was
s'compctcy sold out by one person." superintendent
Walling denies any knowledge OF any such compiler
tions the part OF the Police Department
THE PRISONERS ON THEIR WAY TO THIS CITY.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, August 49, 1877.
ts estimated that the forgers have swindled
various banks out OF millions OF dollars. Stevens
arrested near Grand Haven yesterday and is ON
his way to New York. Tho officers having in charge
Weston and Gesner left for New York with their
prisoners yesterday evening.
Upon examining Gesner's trunk after hts arrest II
gas found to contain a largo assortment Of
PIGMENTS necessary to his profession, including
inks, microscopes, acids brushes pens. ira
cling implements, &c. In Woston's possession
which everything had been oblitcracd by acid except
cashiers signatures When dealing in drafts II
tho custom TO buy them for small amounts aud then
oblitcrate with acid all INK marks except the cashiers