The Portland daily press., 1882-08-09
SENSATION AT NoRTHPoRT.
Arrest of an Alleged Forger After q
Chase of Many Months.
Bangor Mhirl

Bangor Whig.l
The beautiful seaside city of Northport was
the scene on Sunday of vuite a sensation, an
arrest being made during the early evening al
one of the cottages, of man who is charged
with the grave crime of committing extensive
forgeries in Ohio.
The name of the man taken in custody Is
John S. Gardiner. The arrest was made by
United States detective, assisted by Sheriff Ba-
ker of Waldo county, The sheriff stepped 10
the front door of the cottage, inquired OF the
regular occupant if the man they sought was
there, and if so demanded he be given up. In
the meantime the party referred to opened a
back window and attempted to escape, but
found himself in the Eclutches of the detective,
an at once gave himself up submssively. Inc
prisoner was taken to Belfast, an d from there
to Augusta, where a requisition from Washing
ton awaited.
1t appears that Gardiner has led an eventfui
life, and the operations with which he is charg-
ed have been conducted on very large scale.
The particulars, as We have been able to learn
of the gigantic forgeries are as follows: Cleve-
land, Ohio, was the scene where these heavy
practices were conducted. The fergeries were
in connection with land patents, and the Unit
ed States Government and the National Banks
of Cleveland were the principal sufferers:
These forgeries are known to. cover period OF
about two years, and it is supposed that from
100000 to 100000 were thus fraudulently oD-
tanned. About eight months as a discovery
vas made that forger had been at work, ana
detective aid was at once employed, The clue
was very slight, and it was for a long time
very mysterious case, which apparently would
not be solved. After evidence pointed to the
guilt of Gardiner nothing was known about
his whereabouts, and the matter appeared as
far from satisfactory solution as ever. 1t was
thought Gardiner had sought shelter in some
portion of the West, and an extended search
was made through that section OF the country.
The thought was not entertained that ne mad
returned to the East, but the detective finally
ascertained that the fellow had relatives in
Maine, and at once came down here to search,
with the success detailed above 1t is now
said that he was native of the State, and for
merly lived in Hancock county.
Gardiner is small man, with dark black
side whiskers, and Of middle age. While in
Cleveland, it is said, he wore a full beard, but
the prominent gold filling in his front teeth
made him easily recognized after this lapse OF
time. he had remained at Northport only
three or four day, and was not seen very ire
quently, although he attended service at the
camp ground on the morning of theday no
was taken into custody.
The search made by the detectives has been
very thorough A portion of the time two OF
the United States detective force have been
prosecuting the case. The search has at no
time Jagged, and large amount of money has
boon expended to bring the bold rascal to JUS
tice. 1t is as yet uncertain whether any of the
money thus fraudulently obtained will be re-
covered. 1t sprobable that he was associated
with confederates, who have largely assisted in
the disappearance of the plumber.
The detective who visited Northport and
Houge, and went under the name of G. w.
Parks, Cincinnati, but this was doubtless an
assumed name. He is a small man, but very
skilled in his profession, and left Northport in
high glee at his good fortune in securing the
man he had been chasing for eight long
months.
The arrest naturally created much excite
ment in the usually peaceful community of
Northportt and it has been the chief topic Of
conversation among the cottagers since the oc-
nurrAOcn