Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-07-14
His Checkered Career.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE FAMOUS BOND
CouNTERrEITER BRockwAY.

The history of William Brockway, alias
BILLY Spencer" alias Long Bill" who has
figured in the case of Doyle. arrested for
counterfeting 81, 900 United States bonds,
like that of many of the coney men, abounds
in singular instances, and is replete with
suggestive thoughts. II is remarkable that
the the fascination which attaches to the
"business" never. or rarely ever, leaves
those who are engaged in it, The case of
Brockway is a striking illustration of this.
He has shown remarkable adaptabiity 10
this kind of work ever since he did his first
job in New Haven, Conn, in 1850. He was
apprentice to a printer who did the printing
for the New Haven Bank, which institution
thought itself to be secure against limitations.
Two of the directors of the bank would take
plate from the vaults, carry il to the printer,
and stand by him while he made the impress
sion. They then took the bills to the bank.
where they were signed bv the president and
cashier.
Brockway was sent to Yale College, where
he became proficient in the art of electro
chemistry as taught by Prof. Silliman, the
printer paying his expenses. On his return.
he was able and willing to impart much
valuable information to his benefactor, and
it was his suggestion which brought about
the following bit of clever work. The
directors had come over with % plate,
which was placed on the press. The printer
called them aside for moment 10 examine
the quality of the paper that was to be used,
alleging that it was inferior to that which had
been previously used. The examination re-
guired but a moment, but during that time
Brockwav secured copy of the plate in soft
metal, which was perfect and slipped 1t under
his apron. He afterwards electrotyped it,
copied it with second transfer, electrotyped
this. and a fine copper-faced plate which
worked to perfection was the result. BY
degrees the paper was obtained, and 20, 900
impressions 800, ,OO0-were worked of.
BrocLway was an expert penman, and the
bills were signed.
So well ex ,cuted were these bills that they
were taken by New Haven banks in large
numbers before it was ascertained that they
were spurious. The bank was unable to
fathom the secret, and began to redeem the
notes and do its own printing. Brockway
got possession Of the plate and printed spuri-
Gus VS. on the North River bank and II's on
the New York State bank. On these his
troubles began. He was run out Of New
York. captured in the woods, gave up the
plates, and sent to State prison for six years
He was released before his time expired, but
his imprisonment hal only made him more
superior notes Of 80 bonds. The work was
so artistic that 800 900 Of the issue got back
into the United States Treasury before any,
thing wrong was suspected.
The question Of the falsity Of the notes was
contested by Jay Cooke, but, while the gov
ernment obtained verdict, there were many
who still doubted that they were false. The
secret service undertook to unlock the mys.
terry connected with the issuing of notes. 1t
was ascertained that Brockway was the only
man known who had perfected this art Of
transferring the face Of plate by the electro
type process. He was again in the tolls, but
was cleared. 1t has been a conjecture even
since this was brought about. He gave bail
in the sum of $4,000 and his wife backed his
bondsmen with forty 800 United States
bonds. He was afterward arrested in New
Jersey. and when the decision was given in
the case of Jay Gould, Brockway was arrest
ed for that work. He give bail, and whe n
the trial came of no testimony was adduced
that would convict him, and he again went
free. On several subsequent occasions he
was arrested, because, as he alleged, he
would not give up hush money, but in every
instance he escaped conviction. One of the
salient points in Brockway's character is said
TO be that Of holding his tongue. He has
been regarded by the secret service men a
the most polished scoundrel in the business.
He made enough out of the very frat venture
he had to keep him independent for life
ChfrdUo Tim<s