The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-08-20
The Great De Facto in
Vermont.
Another Outrage by a
Spanish Cruiser.
Detroit Regatta The Time
Made
Beats the Best on Record.
Gang of Forgers Arrested
in Chicago.
Heavy Operations Brought
to Light.
Gnng Of Forgers Arrested

CHICAGO, August l9 "A report WAS
published here, yesterday, by one OF the
morning papers, relative to the arrest OF
certain parties supposed to belong to q
gang of t0rgers, who had been operating
extensively IN this city, New York and
otner places. Inquiry OF the officials
here failed to elicit any definite facts, and
the story was generally discredited. 1t
Is now known thst yesterday morning,
constable Hartman arrested in this city,
two men named Weston and Gesner, on
charge OF forgery. 1t appears that
these men were working IN connection
and other accomplices through
out the country, and have
for some time been carrying on \ system
OF forgeries from which they have re-
allied large sums OF money. In January
Issl the Third National Bank, OF New
York, WIS detrsuded out OF 6Z7 900, by
mear- of checks purporting 10 have been
drawn by Winslow, Lanler " 90. About
.ae same time check ,Ur 100000, pur-
porting to nave been drawn by the New
York Lie Insurance Company, on the
Union Trust Company, of New
ork, WAS presented and paid.
There havs been other similar
operations known, bu; never made
rubIlc. The representatives OF the New
York houses employed 10 investigate the
fJrgerles have been toilowsng up sus-
pe,tcd parties :or several months and
nave found that the leader OF the gang
is a man Of wealth and rOspeCtabllIty
named Stevens, GLlGS Henderson, who
mas been known here a. n speculstOr IN
Grain and stocks. Next TO him comes
Wilson, alias Gesner, y wealthy man OF
Minnesota and formerly member OF the
legislature of that State. Associated
with them was w. Weston, OF
TINS city, fotmerly real estate
agent. Upon examining Gesner's trunk
after his arrest, II WAS found TO contain
large assortment OF implements neces.
sarv to his profession, including inks,
microscopes, acids, brushes, pens, tracing
implements, etc. In Weston's posses
sion was found n number OF washed
drafts. on which everything mad been
obhbarated By acid except tho cashiers
.,pnature. When dealing in drafts, 1t
WAS the custom To buy them ior small
amounts, and then obh!erale with ayid
ali ink marks except the cashiers
name. Before this WAS done, however,
careful erasing WAS taken, and then
when the larger amounts were written
oI, the face of the draft they had on
the tracing tsc simIle Of number of
the letters and figures which were used
IN the greater amounts. In dealing IN
checks they would learn from some one
in a bark or office OF n IrIn depOslLlng
IN particular bank just how the deposit
stood, IN order not 10 overdraw the sc-
count. Ii Is said that some forged checks
| have been drawn ior sums OF $4,000.
Developments so far, indIcat" that these
men are part of II gang o the most dHu-
gerous torgers that has existed tor years.
1t is eslimatei that they have swlnd ed
various banks out OF millions ot dollars.
| stevens was arrested near Grand Haven
Yesterday, and is now on has way To New
York. The officers having in charge
Weston and Gesner, left for New York
with them yesterday evening.