The New York herald., 1877-01-20
THE GREAT FORGERY:
The Prisoner Brown Held for "PrObable
Cause" in $4,000 Bail.
ARREST OF THE BROKER MAXWELL
Louis Baumann, the Supposed Ulterer Of the
$1,000 GOD Check.
AN EXTRAORDINARY CRIME.

secms TO stand forth unique the annals OF counter
ci,ing. The GOODNESS and adrotness OF the principals
The extent and accuracy Of their Information and tho
skill with which ihcy madc OF or hoodwink cd their
intermediate agents would alone suffice TO mako tho
a marked ono. But 1t is the number OF gang
engaged tho variety OF their several talents and the
admirable execution OF that masterpiece OF counter.
feiting the forged check, which, in tho opinion OF
authorities, stamps the as unprecedented. Ex-
pcrts who have examined the check OF The opinion
that cvcn tho government stamp upon IL is counter
felt, and that from the and expense requisite
cngrave tho plates the work upon them may Lavc been
In progress for several months past That the design
carefully maturod Is evident, and II Is yet to be
explained how tho forgcrs obtained tho genuine check
or the Now York Life Insurance Company which they
copied SO closely, and how tho number given on the
check identical with that OF another check Issued
The day These and other vcxcd questions
might perhaps be explained by Mr. Horace L. Brown
nt present residing IN tho Tombs, If hc would condc-
sccnd to open his lips On Tho subject; but,
although he is by means taciurn In or
out OF Jail, no has the happy faculty OF talk
ing round proposed subject TIL, tho
end Of an hours conversation, the inquirer is
han he was at tho beginning. Brown has mover mp
pcarcd concerned about himself and the close yes.
lcrdly's examination found him cool and non
rhalant over His bail has been set at $40 00O and
~ Is thought by no means improbable that his sup.
posed friends may club together and bail him out
which would still leave ihcm profit OF abou, 400 per
cent on their lttc transaction
The other Developments of tho day are Mr.. G.
/. Maxwcll's arrest at his homo on Twenty.thrd
street, and the asccrtannent otho and dcscrip.
ton Of SIR Kclters partner the supposed uttcrcr OF
tho 50, 500 geld check.
At ten minutes to tour O'Clock yesterday afternoon
Brown was brought before Justice Duffy at the Tombs
rolice Court. Counsel both sides were present
.r. Hewitt IN bohalr Of tho prisoner agreed TO waive
all examination Tho Judge then asked Mr.. W. H.
Pccknam, the part o. the prosecution TO state the
circumstances He went over tho facts already pub
lishcd, showing how tho prisoner attempted TO do
fraud Mr.. Dmock IN mapncr precisely similar 10 the
fraud IN the present cuse. He admitted that thcr
direct proof III the evidence, but said there was
probable cause sufficient 10 hold the prisoner. Mr..
Hewitt was asked what ho had to say and replied: :
Nothing unless you wish to discharge tho prs
oner"
The J udgc rephed:-"Undcr tho law the police JUS
tees hnvo power to hold prisoner for probable
The only question now is TO iix tho amount OF bail
think So 900 would be right"
Objection was made by prisoners counsel 10 the
aLhount, but he did not succeed in reducing II.
The prisoner was then brought forward, and in
Horace +. brown, aged forty-hvc, bofn In Msssa.
chusctts, and living at No. 2l4 Seventh avenue II
nm not guilty" he said In answer TO The charge He
was tncn committed.
Justice Duty explained 10 HERALD reporter ofier
The court had adjourned that he had fixed the bai at
20 low u figure because there con elusive cvi-
acncc against him. and In any tho District Attor.
ncy had power TO raise or lower the amount.
II. Il. nRowS's CAREER
Tho prisoner was born in Charlcsown Mass, in tho
year 1881 His parents wero natives ot Name, his
father removing from Portland to bc fore
the birth OF his He was TOR some ime employ cd
In counting mouse IN Charlestown, from which he
moved to this city. lie Is widowcr. He went INTO
bus shpDuilder at No II South street, where
he occupied desk room in tho Office of Mcssrs George
Stephenson X Co. Hc had n clerk there, named W.
w. Hurlburt, who left Brown ono time ago and wcnt
down East, but Is now back in ihs cay again. The
names Of both were seen painted on the outside Of tho
ner ,hc 10 ian,.or oscr,c Them w ss also
rs steamship broker Tor Mcssrs ". p. Clyde & Co..
selling them occasion the cclt bratcd steamship
Florida, known in connection with an alleged expcdI-
tion 10 Scuba LDrc." Brown also dealt,
IL rs reported, in the bonds OF tho Scuba Libre,"
nnd disposed OF many OF them at Wash
Ingion He WAS once agent OF limo Of small
steamers plying between tins port and Boston, Of
which was lost tho Long Island while coming
10 this port. Hc also employed by n leading
South street shipping firm Tor the purpose Of opening
up the trade with tho Island OF Nassau and made
eral trips to that place Gu the Florida that vessel
boing chartered to them. He showed IN this matter
great intelligence aud activity.
UTrERER THE GOLD CHECK.
Last Monday afternoon ut three o'clock meeting
was held by appointment In the office OF Mr. Montague
draw up articles OF copnr,ncrsnip between his client.
Mr. JuIus Keller, ana n man unknown to him, but one
with whom Mr.. Ketcr had been in negotiation Tor
sral months The only thing standing IN The way Of
their agreement was the want OF the capital which tho
stranger had last protcsscd himself ready 10 furnish.
Tho articles wcro drawn up by Mr.. Marks in
the nrm name OF julius Keltcr Il Co, aud
the tlrm TO conduct their business
tho Pequot Glpss Company. The stranger, who
gavo his name LOUIS Baumann, was to bnd
himself TO furnish 5,0oO halt AT tho time of the sg
nature OF the agreement and the other hall within ELK
months time. The cupartnerhip was 10 last thrcc
years, and while Mr. kcitcr gave pruct'cal direction 10
the glass manufacture Baumann was TO solicit orders
and collect bills. All profits accrung were to be d.
vidcd equally between the partners II expressly
stipulated that neither partner should have The power
u indorsc accOmDo Dodation notes anything OF the
sort without the others consent.
siIREwD SPECIAL PARTNER
White the artc,cs wcrc being drawn up Baumann was
'ery attentive TO their wording aud particularly TO tho
s,ruecncy OF the condtiong which inierdictcd either
partner frcm making contracts OH his individual re-
sponsbility. When II was signed he handed Alr.
Keller check, telling him 10 get cashcd ana pay back
the balance al their meeting Tho next day after deduct
ing - 500 and tho la wyers fec. This check was
not certified nd was drawn on the Bank OF New York
for &c. 500 Mr.. kciter tOuk the check, giving hts
ceipt Tor H. aud carried away also the drat OF the
arIccs OF partnership, on the suggestion oil Bamann,
agreeing return them to be copied for tho
next morning. Before the day was Mr.. Marks
met Kccr the street, and told him to keep sharp
watch on his partner, tor hc seemed too shicwd anu
overrcaching TO be trustworthy and Keller might he
HIM The man had tho air Of very sharp aud tricky
fellow, and Mr. Marks dislrus'cd his ooh from The first
now BAUMANy LOOKS.
He was q man oil middle hcigh perhaps five feet
eight inches At most, and appeared 10 bcorty
nve or nifty years OF age lilo had something oil tho
~ peal Yankee look, wearing neither mustacne
whiskcrs, but only light beard, or soatcc His hair
ana beard sandy brown ia color, last turning 10
gruy hair beng quite long nnd brushed back from
the forehead. The mans complexion was naturally
a,r, but his face was deeply tanned aud Redeemed by
apparent exposure TO the sun and wind. The color OF
his eyes gray and they wore very restless
and inauis ive look. As he lett tho Office II WIS
tIccd hat he had Iow-crowncd dark felt hat. aud
n long gray ovcrcoat or cloak, with capc hanging
behind.
MR. MAxwELL's ARIxsT.
At hnlf.past ono O'Clock yesterday Detectives Sanp-
SON. Silicck and Fisher entered Mr.. q. j.. Maxweis
bouss. No. $50 West Twcntythrd street, and arrested
him on n warrant issued through District Attorney
pnc.ps. Mr. Maxwell, being too unwc IRON his re-
cent accident to he removed. olcrr was placed III
chargc OF hc prisoner his house Tho charge ~ of
course an ALLEGED completely the recent forgery,
with which Mr. MaxwciI's connection as ne2Otmtor
Of tho S64 OOJ check has been already published a
HERALD reporter mado several calls upon MI Max
well 10 obtain his explanation OF the CIRCUMSTANCES
connected with the prcscntmcnt Of the check, aud
In, In inrrcd d