Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-01
A DISTRICT BOND FRAUD.
Cancelled Sewer Certificates in the
Market,

A DISTRICT BOND FRAUD.
Cancelled sewer Certificates i'm the
Market,
A swISDLE TO THE EXTENT OF sII 300 so FAR
AS KNOWN.
The sewer certificates OF the District of Co.
luIaoia were issued by the Board If Public
Works under an act OF the District legislature
70 raise funds to pay for the vast sewerag e
system then commenced. There Is still out
standing about $4,000 worth of these certiti-
GATES. the residue having been redeemed. These
certificates are more Familiarity known on the
street as 'yellow backs" When first issued
they were at considerable discount, but now
they are at premium OF thirty-three per cent.
An Ohio firm that has dealt extensively with
the District seems 10 have been large holder
from time 10 time OF District securities, and has
Geait 10 some extent In yellow
backs" which they purchased from
bro, er OF this city To the amount of several
0usand col airs. TBese certificate on being
Offered 10 the District authorities 10 be con
verted into other securities were upon comnar-
ing numbers found to have been once can
Ct led. IL has teen ascstained that 81, 800
Sor' OF THESE cancelled CertIncate5 have been
thrown on the market. After the abolition of
the board OF audit for the District the certih-
cares (''yellOw backS') that were cancelled by
that board were placed In the custody OF Dis
IT CT Auditor Benson. who placed them In an
unused room OF the columbia bull1ing. Subse-
queDtly, however. this room was allowed to be
occupied by the clerks from the Dis
tT1Ct Engineers Office In spite OF the
protest OF the District Auditor. The
m sitter has for some time been In the hands
Oi the detectives. Some OF the guilty parties
are said 10 be known. but how many are i'm
plicated has not yet been ascertaned. The
MODE OF making the cancelled certificate aD-
pear valid was by erastng the mark OF the can
collation. stamp through some chemical process.
No arrests have as yet Deen made, althouy n
some OF the parties are known 10 the officers
IN whose hands the case has been placed to
work up.
FORGED BOARD OF AUDIT CERTIFIC ATEs.
The STAR some time ago made mention OF the
fact that a number or forged board OF audit
certificates were In existence. In the case OF
these. the way in which the bogus paper was
put anoat Is very simple. The board OF audit
Issued certificates for old material and after
wards found that the certificates were erro-
neous. being In excess OF the amount due, and
also In many cases drawn IN favor OF the wrong
people. These erroneous certificates were or
dered to be Cancelled. They were cancelled"
by having that word written in red Ink across
the face The certificate was. however left on
the books undestrOyed. Certificates drawn In
favor Of the proper party and for the correct
amount were issued In their stead. In many
cases the latter have been presented TO the
s1nRiTg fund Office, where they have been
converted into 3.65 per cent bonds under the
act or 1SI4. The cancelled certificates which
remained in the books, were distracted BY
some one having access to them. The word
cancelled In red fnk, was washed OF with acid
and the names or the payees' forged These
special assessments, although there is no law
au1 n0rizing their receipt for such payment
The s1nkfI 6 fund Office has come into posses
sion OF q number OF these bogus Certificates
Tley bear the same number as the genuine: in
cancelling the erroneous and excessive certifi-
Gates The same number was given to the
proper ones issued. Thus they represent
larger amounts than the genuine. Rubbing
out the word cancelled and OF forging the
payeeS' names Is very buaGlingly executed. The
SetuGcaleS thVS treated look as II they had
Ia rf-OIT
The fCrgeries OF names OF Wei-knOwn
p pie, 10 whom the genuine Certificate.
were issued, Is the worst kind Of
Work. There Is not IN many cases the least
s6molance TO the genuine Signature. The fo-
lowing are the numbers or forged and altered
certificates. with the amounts repr3sanLei.
that have come 10 the sinking fund ON ., a11
which were received for payment OF specIal
asses mentS by the District No 3.035. S36.35:
1919 s. SO; 1892 S26.s2; 1895 1892; IA 2j5
s4i o.; is, 500 s. ~; 59j. S2t.g; 2.02S so 81;
q 900, s4t.]9; 2l,ll9. 1886 ~; 81 l6I. SllT.4I;
u ls2 s2l.59; q 323. III; - 351 s51 % u ils
81 II: u .45S S5i14; q $50 $50 2 q $50 si54 II:
II IO3, 90 So; p 'l3, Sl29.64.
IL Is inp1SSlD.e 10 tell how extensively the
work OF putting out these f0rg5rieS has been IN
0ulged In.
IN MUCH THE SAME WAY
bogus sewer certificates have been put afioat
These certificates were made convertible into
beard OF audit certificates and cancelled with a
stamp. But not all were presented for such
conversion. Numbers OF those presented aud
cancelled were distracted, the cancellation
washed out and the certificates put afioat The
act OF June 80. ISIS, allowed the holders OF
sewer certificates. which had not been convert
co, 10 90 before the Court OF Claims, and upon
the adjudication OF that body receive 3 65 bonds
Tor these certificates They have, of course to
present The latter IN court; the signatures must
De sworn 10. and the genuineLe5s of the Ger
ufcate established. In a number OF cases IL
has been discovered that sewer certificates pre-
scented to the court had been washed OF the
cancellation and the signatures forged
MINERAL WATERS. = Congress Water The
purest and safest OF all.cathartic waters None
genulne sold on draught- Avoid all coarse, irri-
tatiLg waters, forcing and domestic; they impair
the digestive organs and kidneys.
The STAMP BALLoCH CASE - Yesterday I'm
the Equity Court, Judge Cox In the case of
stamp agt Gen. Balloon and hts sons-bll TO
lean Palm Pulp Payer company and fraui OF
his rights as a creditor-Jhe court made an
orner deny Ing the Injunction and dismissed tae
Gil, but gave leave 10 file an amended bill o
Include certain inteTrOgatiOnS.
THE TELEPHONE WAR.-Yesterday afternoon
MI l. II. hine, as chairman OF the Lincoln
Hall NEE tiDgS, held IN reference to the PROPOSED
increased rates for the use OF the telephone
sent as q result of the canvas. the aneS OF p.
business men who have sigued pledge not ~
accept tue terms. IN re are In the city apo {
'OO In use, including those III the departments,
and those who nave signed constitute ma.
1ority Of the business men.
FOR THE ISAUGURATION.-An immense lot OF
blankeIs and comTOrJeTs on hand at LausOurgh
d Bro, 4e4 and 400 Eth street. These are con.
signed 10 US for the occasion.
now IN RBSTAURAST.-EVerett Wroe WAS
charged In the Police Court Saturday with au
assault with intent to Kill Ferdinand Lam
esht, wEo testified that Wroe and young
man came into his restaurant and called for
OynteTs, ana was going out without paying for
ILeh, Wnen witness Caught him Dy the snouI-
ueI anu utLnanQed Jne money aDI a Scaltis en-
sued during which WrOe drew a knife and cur
witness In the groin. Mr.. Wroe testified that
MI Lsnbregh- assaulted him aud ne ga5
knccked Gown and beaten by Iambrpchf and
Others. and While down he dre9 MS k1ifa ana
defended himself as best he could. Hera me
Prosecution withdrew the charge OF intent n
Kill, and CD flled the same to tue charge of
simple assault. The court stated mat ne eouId
not accept the plea OF juStifcat ion q nsr
witnesses were heard, one OF them testiryino,
that Lambreght struck the first blow. Inc
court said be could Lot see the necessity for
using knife In such a case aud fined Mr.
Hroe $50 and COSTS or 90 days In jail
nant cavalry commander, General JuflSon XII
paerlek, Will relate many humorous Incidents
OF the late war; particularly those aSsJciatet
Win "Shermans march TO the SEE. az Lincoln
Hall, March Sci, D. 10. Secured seats AZ E,lts'