The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-11
GENERAL SESsIONS-PART
Before Recorder Hackct.


AN ALLEGED ACCOMPLISHED FoRoER
A respectable looking man, fifty years old named
William Leith, OF No. $50 Pacific street, Brooklyn
was arraigncd at the bar yesterday by Assistant Dis.
trict Attorney Bell on mn indictment charging him
with forgery. The prisoner was defended by Mr. j. r.
Fellows Mr.. Bell, In opening tho the part OF
tho prosecution sot forth tho facts tho case The
prisoner was charged with forging the signatures OF
Messrs. Bryce Smith, wholesale liquor dealers, No.
SO Front street, to check for 49, $50 25 on tho Mer
chants Exchange National Bank, made payable to
William A. Leith, q son of the defendant In the
month OF March, 1876, Loith madc ovcrtures
to William +. vcltman, OF No 10 Sterling place.
Brooklyn, who was then employed bookkeeper by
Bryce Smith, and 1t was claimed, induced him TO
enter into certain arrangement by which both he
and the prisoner were to accumulate wealth. Welt.
man, who was intrustcd with the entire banking bust
ness OF his employers, undertook TO supply Icth with
tho checks Of tho drm In the Merchants Exchange
National Bank, to which, tho prosecution claimed,
Lcth forged the requisite signature. All the checks
thus supplied tho handwriting of Vel,map.
who, being well known at the bank, much facilitated
tho scheme on hand and the forgcres being excellent
In their way the Cashier did not doubt the genuine
Less OF the documents 1t would seem that the 1rst
TO bearer This check drawn by vcltman and
handed 10 Le,th, who gave vcman $3.50 as his share
OF the spos. Some time alter Lcuh suggested to
veltman the propricty drawing two chccks-ono for
1896 ~ aud the other Tor $4770 SOTO the order
W. A. Letn son OF tho accused, In whose
account was opened with tho proceeds in the Union
Trust Company from which institution, however, II
was subsequently withdrawn. IL was, OF course,
necessary 10 keep the account OF Bryce 4 Smith
straight at the Merchants Exchange National Bank,
and TO this end forged checks bearing the signature OF
c. s. Bryce, a member OF the firm, on the Fulton Ma
tiopal Bank, Brooklyn, corresponding with the
amount Withdrawn. wore deposited in the former
bank. II was not until November TINT Leith ana
veltman resolved the prosecution alleged on max
Ing clean sweep before their departure Tor parts up
known. A check for $12. $50 % was got ready bv
n n n n a IN nrua IN
crease the bank account OF Bryce Smith to q snt-
aciont extent to warrant tho Withdrawal of so
four forged checks the Marine National
Bank, The Fulton National Bank. the CONNER.
Bank, Brooklyn, amounting In all to S19, sol 81.
veltman presented the forged check Of Mcssr Bryce
4 Smith to the cashier and mad II flea. Lolth
received tho check and deposited the Union Trust
Company on hs sons account, drawing ut the same
tire amount should DO Withdrawn that day and equally
divided between LeIh and yeltman who then to
bid farewell TO the metropolis The meeting Was 10
have taken place at i've O'Clock J. N. that day, as It
thought by veltman that the forgeries would not
be discovered until the day following Accordingly,
he proceeded to his place OF business after his visit
the bank In this move ho made his mistake, for the
cashier OF the Merchants Exchange National b INK,
lodged by vcitman, Immediately set inquiries on
foot, and the iorgeries beng promptly discovered.
vcltman was placed under arrest vetman at
admitted his guilt and. setting forth Lcith's
alleged participation In tho matter, the latter
arrested ut his house In Brooklyn next day bv De-
randum OF the forgerles their order Leith's son
disappeared, and has since been heard of Civil
proceedings were instituted by Messrs Bryce Smith
against Leith and he was conveyed to Ludlow Street
Jal where he remained until Saturday last Assistant
District Attorney Bell nad the Shcrins order OF
vacated IN order that Leh might be handed TO
the criminal authorities for trial. There found
the prisoner at Police Headquarters a memorandum
which aggregated $20.5l7 II, and The sum
paid TO Vcltman-namely, 81, 346 These
figures we're shown 10 agree with the statement
confined In tho Tombs until July, 1870, when no
released on bail. He then went HamltoD. Canada,
but was subsequently, arrested by Detective Rcilly
and taken back TO New York. Vcllman pleaded
guilty 10 tho charge preferred against hun. ard tho
prosecution yesterday produced him against
tho accused Among those who also testified
Mr.. G. s. Bryce, member Of the firm. who gave
evidence as to the several orgeries and Mrs Margaret
Nurtagh, who owns saloon In Wyckon street, Brook
lyn, where the forged checks executed. The
further hearing OF tho case will be resumed this
morning
THE CHURCH SCANDAL CASE.
Mrs Adelaide Leavitt was arrngned for trial ycstcr-
day upon Indictment charging hor with perjury In
having, alleged falsely accused the Rev. Dominck
McCanrcy, pastor Of tho Church OF Our Saviour, OF
having committed On indecent assault upon her. Mrs.
Lcavtt pleaded not guilty and motion OF her
sell Mr.. John o. Mott, the set down for trial
by the Recorder on the I'D inst
JOE coBURN's AssAILANr YREE.
In December last named Robert Hoyt, OF No.
154 West Thrty-sccond street. fired pistol in Broad
way saloon at Joe Coburn, serving ten years.
in prison for shooting two police officers, and
arrested charge OF fcloDious assault. Hoyt was
held $500 bail The trial was set down for yester-
day. but tho chef witness being unable 10 attend or
testify tho accused was, on motion OF Mr.. W. +.
Howe, discharged by the Recorder