The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-14
BROCKwAY AND HIS PALS.
Criminals Possessin. the Highest Skill,
Plenty of Brains ami Polished
Manners.

year ago for counterfeting and sentenced to
thirty years imprisonment In considera-
ton of his surrendering several 81, 900 United
States bonds, and of information which he
gave concerning other schemes, judgment
was suspended, but he was given to under
stand that if he should offend again be
would be punished.
There is ample evidence, the police say.
that the enterprising counterfeiter had de-
signed bogus revenue stamp. This Offense
alone would send him into retirement for
twenty years. So perfect were the bonds, SO
exquisite the minutest details OF the work,
that examination with a microscope taken
from Brockway's person revealed no flaw.
Martin had a part OF his voluminous and
entertaining correspondence and 800 in
cash. The letters showed that Mr.. Martins
gentlemanly address and amiable temper had
procured his admission to the best society
Over their own signatures railroad magnates
spoke of him in high terms. Other letters
were witnesses to the prisoners deep interest
in that noble animal the horse"
and betrayed an extended acquaint-
ance with the sporting" members
of the community. His rooms at the
st. james were fitted up in style becoming
a man who uniteS a cultivated taste with
boundless resources. One of the drawings
taken from Brockway was declared by Chief
Drummond to be part of q genuine bond.
Martin was the heavy capitalist of the firm
and furnished the money necessary for hav-
ing the forged securities issued. One day
shortly after Martin had called on Brock
way the latter worthy went to the Office of
Ballou & Co., the well-known Wall-street
bankers and sold one bond for 81 900 and an
other for 500, giving the name OF Spencer.
Even the detectives who captured them
express surprise and admiration at the eau
tious and circumspect manner in which the
counterfeiters conducted their operations
They strolled in and out of the houses in
Eleventh street and Lexing ION avenue in the
most unconcerned manner, always looking
to see if they were shadowed and never be-
traying the least uneasiness.
Sometimes the three met at the foot of
West Thirty-second street, walking out on
the pier where no one could approach them
unobserved, to exchange notes. No resource
of art and science which could aid their work
and avert suspicion was left untried. As
has already been said, the spurious bonds
were beautifully designed and executed
1t is thought that the most recent
consultations of the forgers had
for an object the settlement of
plan by which the false bonds could be put
arrest was made so seasonably that, so far as
is known, none of the spurious bonds have
actually been sold. Nevertheless, bond
holders who learned of the raid on Yesterday
said that they would look sharply at Cen
trail Pacific and Morris and Essex bonds of
the classes initiated by Brockway & Co.
After the above narration it need hardly
be said that the three heroes of the little
comedy thoroughly understand their Illicit
business. They glory in being at the head
of the profession. William e. Brockway
was born in Connecticut sixty-one years
ago He has robust physique and his con-
tribution to the rogues' gallery is the like.
ness of a very handsome, intellectual look
ing man. He prepared himself for a brill
liant career by thorough course of chemis-
try in Yale college under Professor Silliman,
and subsequently learned the trades OF print
ing and electrotyping In 1858 ne first dis
tinguished himself by printing 100 900 im-
tations of the five-dollar notes of the State
Bank of Connecticut He was engaged to
preston by running the plate through
press and securing copy in lead. This imi-
tation was electrotyped. The crime was dis
covered and soon traced to Brockway, who
was tried and sentenced to five years i'm
prsonment After three years he was par
doned and bestowed upon society the bene-
fit OF his presence for fifteen years.
His second enterprise took place in 1865,
and consisted of the manufacture of 800
compound-interest notes. In this industry
he had the assistance of Lewis Martin, now
his companion. His other aceomplices were
Henry Hill, alias Holmes. alias Little Hank
jim Morrison, Bill Overton, and Minnie
Langton, who was employed In the Treasury
Department at Washington. Minnie fur-
nished Brockway with lead impressions of
the back of 500 note and he electrotyped
it, Overton engraved the plate for the face.
Brockway's next effort in the field of art
was a homemade $50 note. Miss Langton
and Overton did not aid him, but he had the
assistance of James Doyle, brother-in-law
of Nathaniel Foster, and Charles Smith, a
Brooklyn engraver Doyle is now repenting
his tTansgressions in Jail at Chester, Pa.
Brockway next deceived the late firm of
jay Cooke & Co. with bogus 7.30 81, 900
United States bond. Eighty thousand dol
lars worth of these productions were I'M
loaded upon the unsuspecting bankers So
admi rable was the imitation that Mr. Cooke
insisted that the bonds were genuine and
sued the government for their face value.
He lost the suit
In 1878 Brockway turned out a number of
$500 Treasury notes, series of 1869. His con-
federates were Hank Hall, Lewis Martin,
Charles H. Smith and Thomas Ballard Smith
and Ballard were ranked among the best en-
gravers in the country. Ballard is serving
thirty years sentence in the Albany peni-
tertiary for counterfeiting $40 national
bank note.
In 1875 Brockway made handsome 81 900
note, known as the Morris head note" In
company with Doyle, Foster and Smith, he
made, between 1873 and 1880, 81 coo notes on
three banks in Massachusetts, two in Penn
sylvania and one in Maryland, Smith, Doyle
and Brockway, in the fall of 1880, made 207
New Jersey 6-per-eent. coupon bonds. These,
with twenty-five plates, some presses, ruling
machines, etc, We're captured by Chief Drum
mond, OF the secret-service bureau. Doyle
was tried, and after some delay was sentenced
to twelve years Imprisonment. Smith
turned States evidence against Brockway,
but the latter gave up plates and evidence of
such value that his sentence of thirty years
was suspended.
After the trial he made profuse promises
to reform and spend his remaining years in
peace But with him counterfeiting seems