The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-08-25
The New York Forgers.


grams during the last few dsys-for the
audacity and skill with which they were
executed aud the amounts obtained from
those whose business it is to be on guard
against such things. as well as the promi- |
nence, wealth and responsibility of the
guilty parties. 1t is about time for honest
men to cease to be surprised at anything.
The Chicago Tribune of the oath gives the
following additional particulars Of this
great forgery:
New YORK, Aug. 22.-Ex-Special Treas
urv Agent jayne aud those interested with
him 10 the prosecution Of the prisoners
he captured in Chicago, have been playing
an exceedingly fine game during the past
few days. The whereabouts Of the alleged
forgers have been kept secret. Even the
police authorities have been unable to
learn anything about them. They arrived
here on Monday afternoon in custody of
officers who are unknown to the police,
aud were taken at once to the Gilsey House.
Mr.. Jayne had come in on previous train,
and had secured rooms for them with the
privilege Of not being registered. Jayne
himself took up quarters at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, a few blocks below, and
likewise omitted to register Wheeler II.
Peckham, counsel for the New York Life
Insurance Company, and United States
Commissioner Davenport were notified,
and started at once for the Gilsey House,
accompanied by an expert stenographer.
The prisoners were then subjected to q
rigid examination, lasting over two hours
L. - 1,.D - L.
Mr., Peckham's orders, has not written
them out.
On Tuesday, the prisoners and their
custodians were transferred from the Gil
sey House TO the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
where they were assigned secluded rooms,
without being registered. 10 the evening
Commissioner Davenport visited them,
but no examination was had. During the
day Henry Il. Knox, of Fullerton, Knox 4
Crosby, counsel for the Union Trust Com
pany, arrived in hot haste in response to 1
Telegram, and took room at the hotel t
look after the interests of his clients. His
first act was to post ex-Detective George
w. Elder off to Saratoga TO secure some
needed evidence there. Elder, who has
been for years acquainted with the parties
under arrest. went on the first train, and
took lodgings at the Grand Union Hotel
The examination was not continued oil
Tuesday, but it was to-day, On beinl
approached in regard to turning his hote
into prison on Tuesday night, Mr.. Girls
void gave orders to have them turned out
saying he did not want any such person
there, but whether his orders were car
ried out could not be learned, It
probable that they are still at the Fift
Avenue.
The men under arrest, are as alread
published, j. Henderson, Nelson A. GEES
ner, and Ely b. Weston. lHenderso
otherwise known as Stevens 10 this case
is supposed to be the chief of a regularl
organized gang OF forgers, which include
Geo. w. Chadwick, l.. A. Brown, Josep
ingalls,, w. j. Rec, G.. s. Clarke, jaime
b. Weaver, Clements Harring, Spence
Pettis, aud several others in addition
those above named. lie has a residenc
in this city on Sixth avenue, where b
owns several houses, and another, an el,
CANT mansion, at Railway, n. j., where b
keeps up great style, including horses an
carriages, and is highly respected. He
credited with being a comparatively ric
man. His ostensibe business is that Of
Spectator 10 stocks aud grain. He hi
been associated with Gesner and Westo
to the knowledge OF the police, for elevC
years. Weston, at that time, called hin
self a doctor, aud said he came fro
Chicago. His specially was the cure
stammering, and it is said he was success
iul 10 his treatment, and did got
business. Another OF the party was a u
j. Stone, who ran a distillery in q
outskirts of Brooklyn. By representa-
- L. ii 81 a ~
clerk 10 the employ of the governme
bureau for the destruction Of called bond
he induced lis friends and a number
persons now in business in this city aud r
garded as respectable, TO contribute TO
pool of 100000 The scheme was
pay this amount to the clerk in questiO
who would in return hand over TO q
cons orators $500, 900 in bonds which hi
been utrusted 10 him to destroy, III
bonds were to be taken to Europe al
sold. When Stone got the money in
possession he quietly departed for Euro
himself, leaving the rest of the gang IN {
lurch
Gesner, when a youth, was arrested
Detective Elder on a charge of forgery b
was discharged for want of evidence.
atterward became lieutenant colonel of {
Il
considerable means,
Weston, at one time, was in the re
estate business in Cedar street in partnC
ship with a man named Ball. He a
seconded, leaving a large amount of del
behind him. 10 April, 1875, Capt Sam
son aud Sergt Kiely learned that an
tempt was to be made by Sprague, W
was also known in the affair as Thorn
.ltn L. 2.
mond, alias Trumen, to pass u forg
signature, on Parker, Handy & Co.. brOk
for the purchase gold, Colgate q Co., a
Parker, Handy q Co.. were notified, a
Sergt. Kiely watched the forgeIs two da
At length he was rewarded by seeing X;
mond pass into Parker, Handy Il Go
office. The clerk, instead of cashiDg I
check,as he should have done, began
marley over it nervously. At that nome
Gesner, whom the officer had not preyio,
ly known in the transaction, walk
hurriedly into the Office, saying to Ri
mond, rs he passed him: Get Quit
out You're slower than bag of anvili
Raymond thereupon got out, and walk
as far as the new post-ofice buildiI
where he was met by SpraRue, and Ser
hiely arrested him. A number of chez
were found in their pockets, upon viii
were forged Tinted States stamps.
was decided to try them for this often
the evidence against them being clear a
the penalties being great. Sprague v
arraigued before Judge Benedict, June
following Raymond, who was COUNT
man from WaVerly, N. Y, turned stat
evidence, but the jury disagreed. Sprap
was remanded, but in November succeed