The New York herald., 1878-11-20
TURNED STATES EVIDENCE.

TUE STORY OF THE GREAT SOL 225 FORGERY, AS
NARRATED By ONE OF THE PoRGERs-caAgLEs
BECKER rEsTIPyISG FOR THE PROSECUTION In
THE TRIAL OF CHARLES w. PoNTEz.
The trial OF Charles w. Pontez. charged with par
tcipation in the successful forgery and negotiation
OF check for aa5 purporting to be drawn by the
New York Lite Insurance Company on the Union
Trust Company. in January. 1871 resumed in the
Court of Oyer and Tcruiner before Judge Noah Davis
and jury, yesterday.
When Charles Becker was arraigned he pleaded
guilty to forgery in the third degree, and the
District Attorney offered to have him sworn wit
ness. Mr. Gator objected to Beckers testimony on
the ground that admitted he had been convicted
OF felony and imprisoned in punishment thereof in
what is known the Consular Prison., in Smyrna.
After along argument tho Court ruled in favor of the
admission of his testimony and Becker proceeded to
tell the whole story or crime which, in many OF its
features. has long remained mystery.
At the suggestion of the District Attorney, Elliott,
who present on writ of habeas corpus. was re-
moved from the room.
STORY or THE yoRGgRY
Becker then testified that his Charles
Becker; first saw the accused in Sixth avenue IN
Joseph Chapman's house; saw him there twice some
years ago, but not then introduced to him has
been twice TO Europe once shortly after meeting
Pontsz in 1872; went in company with Chapman and
Elliott; there was friend Of Chapman along but
he did not know his name; first went to London.
his twitness) rooms in London in company with
Elliott and Chapman Chapman was known in Lon
don Porter and his wife as Ly dia; from London
witness, Chapman and Elliott went East, Chapmans
wife remaining in London at No. 46 Mort row, Chel-
sea; this In 1879; all three were imprisoned in
the Eas. for forgery; when they returned Elliott got
back to London two months before him and Chapman
remained in the East witness came back to this
country in 1876; Pontez was in London about two
weeks: witness and Elliott arrived here in July,
1876 next Pontez four or five weeks after reach
ing New York in company with Elliott on Eighth
hey w "A
while having their drinks nothing extra happened
had interview few days later, at which nothing
done either; few days after the election they
again met and Elliott handed witness several
checks Of the insurance company and asked him if
he could engrave OF them: he picked out one for
100000 but rejected it had hole punched
through the vgnette and it was handed by Elliott to
pontcz few days later check was brought by Pom
tez for $50, 900, and with this check 0 model he
made the engraving; il was autographed.
ILLUSTRATING TIE PROCESS.
At this point the stone on which the lithograph
was made laid by Mr.. Herring on the Judges
desk. Witness continuing, sad:-A few days after
lie check was engraved it was exhibited to Pontez
who objected to the tint and witness made the
recsion and printed about dozen and half; this
was about the middle of December 1876 the forged
mitted the one from which the impression was
taken The witness was then asked If he could make
the impression the stone any distinct. He
swered he could and taking bottle OF some clear
liquid was about TO 60 through the operation, when
counsel for the prisoner objected The Court allowed
the illustration to be given however and the witness
proceeded with his mechanical operations After
much delicate rubbing with sponges the stone
showed very clearly the lines Of the check and was
exhibited to the jury.
APPROACHING THE END.
In q saloon on Second avenue near Sixth street.
witness saw Elliott and Pontez about week before
Christnas Pontez gave on piece OF paper the run
ming numbers Of the checks Of the insurance COM
pany and witness took the paper home and signed
several checks; next day got orders go further
and did nothing more until the lst OF January 1879
that day Elliott came to his house in the morning
and told him get of the checks ready for the
following morning Elliott flied up the amount; wit
identied the same check ~ the forged one the
number put on in water color on the ID OF Jan
uary; several letters produced were written by Eli
OFT and si,sned by witness in the name OF the vice
president OF the New York Life Insurance Company;
these signatures were traced with free hand. but
those on the check traced with brush the let
ters were used III negotiating the check.
THE DIVISION.
On the 4th of January, 1877, Pontez at the cor
rer of Worth street and Broadway in saloon
Elliott PonteZ and witness were all there together at
about noon; they went into small supper room,
where they had little lunch here Elliott took out
$4,000 and some smaller gold certificates. and
handed them to Pontez; shortly after and about the
18th 18th Of January, all met in barber shop and
Us he little excited Pontez told him not 70 speak
to him loud there trouble at the Office
about the affair; about eight nine weeks ago he
Pontez accidentally in car when Pontez winked
at him not to recognize him, and after riding Raf
block further got out.
Becker then testified that after his conviction
for forgery in Smyrna he did not out his term
as be did feel inclined to do 50, and escaped TO
England where he remained six seven months;
never forged any bonds of the Central Pacific Rail-
road to his knowledee; has been engaged Ia o great
many schemes, but could not say how many.
He was then shown and identified his answer in
civil suit brought against him by the Union Trust
Company the $6400o. but did not recollect
IL he to the setting up general denial,
and pronounced the substance Of IL entirely to
him He further testified that NC Maxwell.
the broker to whose orer the check made payable
and who il under indictment, any time during
the preparation OF the check the subsequent nego
tiatipns.
This closed Beckers testimony. and motion was
then made by Mr.. Dos Passos to have him committed
for perjury, but the motion denied by the Court
BrDoDs PART.
Sylvester Blood testified to- the forged check having
passed through his Office and his giving gold certih
Gates TO Maxwell in exchange therefor.
This closed the case for the prosecution with the
exception OF evidence Of the fact that about
eleven months since the accused and Chapman were
in the employment of a transportation company to-
ether This the defence willing to admit, pro-
vied the Court deemed 1t competent testimony. The
Court admitted il a. competent.
This morning Mr.. Irving Ward will open the
for the accused.