New-York tribune., 1877-08-23
THE CAPTURED FORGERS.
WHAT HAS BECOME OF THEM.

/
ERs sEcRETED IN DIsoRDERLY HOUSE IN WEST
TwRNTY-THIRD-sT.
All the facts that can be obtained in regard
to the forger arrested the indicate that the pr
yate detectives employed work up the evidence and
the officers OF the banking institutions which have su
fered by the orgeres arranging with the criminals
TO secure the return of any part OF the spos still under
their control The regular police detectives and
authorities know nothing OF the criminals who
have been arrested and "prfyate detectives only are
understood TO be engaged In arranging settlement with
the forgers. The settlement OF implies that no
prosecution on criminal charges will bo made against
Roberts, Gleason, Chadwick. Gessner Weston, Cross,
sprague, and others Of this extensive gang Of skul
forgers
The question which most excited police and detective
circles yesterday what had become Of these forger
Jayne started for New-York with them, but reached
here he gave out alone 1t concluded that he was
operating in the interest Of the deauded bankers for the
return Of the moneys which the fogers had obtained by
their arts The fact that the arrests in Chicago
made in Irregular manner, and that the prisoners
were brought to this city without requisiton from the
Governor Of the State, sufficient suspicion
The further fact that since their arrival here the prisoners
have been kept secreted In disordery house West
Twenty-thirdst., kept by a notorious person named
Cameron, who lately driven out Of Lexington-aye
by Justice Bxby for offences against the peace and de-
cency Of that part Of the city, gives the suspicion su
greater strength.
Mr.. Adams a stenographer employed in the Office OF
Wheeler II. Peckham, counsel for the Union Trust Com
pany engaged for two hours yesterday taking tbs
statement OF two Of the forgers brought this city by
Jayne. What the testimony amounted 70 IL is
impossible to tell, but the forgers running
to which shall be the first
TO turn States evidence, its general character
be imagined. Mr.. Peckham, counsel for the Trust
Company, Is Of anxious TO the return Of
tho ahf al hv fha aofada fouu
months ago, but it seems more than likely that the
thieves will escape the booty returned and
be free to begin again like operations larger scale,
to be compromised In like manner when detected.
The ignorance Of superintendent walng and the Chief
Of Detectives Sergeant Kelley Of the pursuit and arrest
OF the forgers at Chicago has been the subject OF
remark, but the apparent fact that the criminals
captured TO be compromised with and to be prose-
cuted, will explain their position. Yesterday, however,
they took occasion to explain themselves 10 TRIBUNE
reporter. They both stated that person at Police
Headquarters knew where the forgers were confined.
Sergeant Keeley thinks they not in NewYork but lie
assign why they should be detained else
where
Superintendent Wallng, in commenting upon the case.
said that there injustice In the law which
allowed private persons who called themselves "spe-
cial" private" detectives TO arrest men and hold
them In confinement for days and weeks before arraign
ing them in court police officer obliged to pre-
ter the arrest, if such in session. at the
opening OF the next term of the court. BY
any failure TO comply with this requirement,
the officer lliable TO suspension from the
force. The Superintendent cited which occurred
several years ago in which he fined 500 for
deaining prisoner than twenty -four hours These
private detectives the superintendent declared, were
in officers, and their action In kidnapping and
combining prisoners almost long they pleased, in
order to elicit testimony and confessions, was high
To the regular detectives of the Police Depart
ment. The private detectives also trying. the
superintendent sad to east sur upon the OF
the police force IN order 10 create the impression that
they themselves were more efficient and trustworthy.
In yesterdays TRIBUNE, william Wirt Iiewett, LAWYER,
who stated had been connected with the prose-
cution Of Chadwick Maxwell aud Brown, stated thsS
months ago. and but for the fact that the case
sold out by several Seen MADE oas Seo
this time" This statement the superintendent
that The Police Board would summon Mr. Hewett before
it and make him explain the charge The statement he
Sresent member Of the detective force Of tie police
Mr.. walng, in stating this had probably forgotten
pcaed with forger Macdonald IN robbing tine Bank
OF England have since the organzalon OF the present
been dismissed compelled to resign from the police
force . =, .,. ..A . ro,n,,,,.
reporter Yesterday, said that the statements detailing
the origin and operations OF the gang OF iorge as pun
lished IN THE TRIBUNE correct. He tnou9ht uat
the men arrested were now at INDIANAPOLIS ana az Co
iumbus and would be brought 10 this city In few days
Deectye sampson also said facts forth in lBE
gDtSTSr were correct b. g. Jayne could be st
the Filth Avenue Hotel yesterday, and II was not KNOWN
whether no was IN OF out oi MS room during the "noie
day.
Az the New-YOrk Life Insurance Company's Office
ohing new could ascerained III reference 10 the for
ery cases. the officials refusing even 10 state whether
they knew anything about the arrests ...
chadwick and Brown stl MAINTAIN tnat tney are not
connected with the men captured IN the West Chad
wick denies he knew DE la Crolx the man VINO
il is the founder OF the gang Oh i1rgeIs ana
from whom Chadwick is said to have learned the method
~ checks thought IN some circles tue arrest
of the forgers in the West VIII be snown IN few days
TO have greater Importance tha Is AT present atsnea
IN H. and that these captures Will result III the arrest anu
convction of many under indictment Tor forgery
ho hitherto have been released on ball. III consequence
of Insufficient evidence possessed by the prosecution 10
insure their conviction: =. - =. A.. ,.,,.
snrit In this gang forgers. is in the Jail AT New
ark under indie for altering United states regis.
tered bonds. He is Belgian about forty years OF
70 and has been engaged ia fraudulent oper-
atoms for about ten years. lie Is thOught 10
have been Implicated in the forgery committed
on the Bank England, for which Mcdonald and Bid
we'll were convicted. he has only been arrested once
and was released bail, as nothing could be
nroven against him. Since then be has been
very successful in his operations, but has always
He WAS also supposed have done the scratching" on
the stolen Buffalo and Erie bonds, and on many raised
CHECKS and strongly suspected OF having forged the
names Of Wnslow, Lanier Co.. and OF the Union trust
The records Of the War Department show that Nelson
Gessner who is said to have been thelpenman OF the
forgers and TO have altered the checks was appointed
Captain IN the 40th New-York Volunteers on August
IS 1861. On June 20, 1862, he was promoted 10 the
rank OF LleutenantColOne and on February 25s
1863 Le resigned his commission aud left the army
position his does not appear ON the rolls OF the
New York oi1ce
THE SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS.