The New York herald., 1878-03-01
FORGERY by A LAWYER.
THE cuIPRIr, ATTEMPTING TO SWALLOW THE
EAIDENcE OF HIS GUILT, Is cHoKED DIX AN
OFFICER AND COMPELLED TO DEsIsr.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

EAIDENcE OF HIS GUILT, Is cHoKED Dy AN
OFFICER AND COMPELLED TO DEsIsT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
ST.. LOUIS, Feb %. 1873
Intense excitement has been aroused in legal aud
commercial circles here within the last days by
rumor that Zacharias Mitchell, very prominent aw
yer, who until recently possessed largo and Iucra-
i've Insurance company practice, had been
arrested on a charge OF forgery preferred against
hun by Colonel J. o. Brodhead, another lawyer, who
stands at the head OF his profession in this State, and
whose prominence as politician appears Ia the fact
that At The last Democratic National Convention no
was strong candidate Tor the Vco Presidency Of the
United States Toe most strenuous Efforts have been
made by Mitchclrs friends TO have the facts In the
suppressed, but thoy Will hardly DO successful
few months ago Mitchell was doing large business.
the Commercial Insurance Company alone retaining
his services AT u subsidy OF $500 week. 1t
discovered, however, that he had been guilty,
wniio transacting their business OF accepting lees
or advice he granted to parties with whom that
pany were In litigation, aud this led dismissal
rom the Bar Asssociation Of this city and the begin
ming vi legal proceeding, against HIM ior unproies-
sional conduct, which eliminated lew days since IN
averdct OF guilty OF several OF tho counts In The
charges preferred against hun.
CRIMINAL CHARGE.
AZ about three O'Clock r1csday afternoon Mr.
Mitchell called NJ the banking OF L. O. Cocquard,
on the corner Of Third and Pine streets, ana I.it
note Tor $500, signed by aamcd
Eo"aTu hatthews anu ihaOrseu ny himself
anu Colonel j. .. Brodhead, which he requested Mr.
Cocquard 10 sell tor him. When tho banker saw Mr.
Bfouhead's Endorsement he told Mr. Mitchel that he
would nave no trouble IN selling II with that name
II. Mr. Mitchell then lett aud IN snort time bill
broker called IN at the banking oico Mr. Cocquard
and offered MIN the note Tor sale The broker
ainined the INSTRUMENT and pronounced Coionei Brod
heads signature to DO forgery. The Coonc aud Mr.
Mitchell were seui for The form. arrived
rst and AZ stated that the signature the back
OF the note was not his own Anticipating the arrival
OF Mr. Mitchell, Mr.. Cocquard sent TO tho police
fufin nrn MIN tn
had barely departed when Mr. Mitchell was seen
approach, aud In order that his quit might be firmly
established, Colonel Brodhoad, al Mr. Cocquard's
suggestion. took up his position behind door i'll Tho
Office.
SURPRISE
AS Mr.. Mitchell entered the pluco Mr..
Cocquard told hum that he had offered tue note
Of us customers who had pronounced Colonel Brod.
hcad's Endorsement 10 be forgery Mr.. Mitchell as
sumed deep nation at hearing this said, with
much emphasis, 81 tell you sr that Colonel Brodhead
indorscd that nOtcn whereupOn tho Colonel stcppcd
from his hiding place and said quite phaticaly
"And toll you, sir, that did not" In tho middle
OF the excitement winch ensued Turnkey Bradley, OF
the Chestnut street station, arrived the
Mitchell, Immediately on seeing him, by rapid mo-
tion succeeded in snuching the from Cocquard's
hand and tore II III two, and slufing the pieces
into bis mouth began TO eat them. The OIL
and chokod him vigorously that he
was forced 10 release tho paper, when It found
that he had swallowed OF The halves OF the note.
Unfortunately Tor him. however, was tho half that
aid not contain Colonel Brodhead's indorsemenI
The officer Immediately handcufeu his prisoner and
took him to the station.
PROSECUTION.
While ut the station Mr. Mitchell madc such nit
eous appeal to Colonel Brodhead that that
agreed TO prosecute The cusc, and he accord
ingly discharged. Your correspondent has had AN
interview with Mr. Mitchell, but he stated that the
case was OF such nature that the least he SAID
about II the better.