Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-09
COL. BRANsCoMBE, DEFENDANT
A Gentleman with an Empty sleeve
Charged with Several FOrgeries.

Charged with Several Forgeries.
'SCOl." Alexander G.. Branscombe, a
tall, leisurely Southerner, with the empty
rght-sleeve of his coat pinned upon his
breast, established himself at 90 Broad
way last summer, says the New York
sun of Thursday, and made preparations
TO contract with business men for adver-
Using space in the official guide TO the
New Orleans Exposition, and a highly
decorated pamphlet, The Diversified In
dustrics of the SOUTH He contracted
with COnroy Bros, paper dealers OF 3S
Beeckman street, on Aug. IA for $1,000
worth Of white paper for his publications,
and gave a note for $1,000, purporting to
be Endorsed by Col. Edward Richardson,
the millionaire President of the Board of
Directors of the Exposition individually,
and as President of the Mississippi Mills
at WessOn, Miss. 1t is understood that
BranscOmbe uttered about $4,000 worth
of similar notes in this city.
In September the holders of the notes
became Suspicious, and inquiry was
made. The grand jury indicted Col.
Branscombe for forgery in forging the in
dorsement of Col. Richardson upon the
s. 600 note. His trial began Yesterday in
the General Sessions, before Recorder
Smyth. Clark Durham, cashier for Col.
Richardson's financial agent in this city,
testified that the Endorsement of Col.
Richardson on the note was Il forgery.
Detective Sergeant Haley testified that
after his arrest Col. BranscOmbe confessed
that he had forged Endorsements to notes
for So 600, and had intended to float $l10,-
600 worth Of the notes. If he had sue
| ceeded, he said he would have carried
| his publications through and cleared
| $50 coo.
Branscombe testified that he had con-
! tract with the managers of the exposition
! for his publications, aud he understood
! that Col. Richardson, to help the expo
sitOn along, was willing to pledge his
/ credit. One Col. Morrison, whose where
| abOutS lie does not now know, but who
appeared to have authority as secretary
! to represent the managers of the eXposis
\ ton, told him to give the notes for paper,
| printing, etc, and that they would be in
! dorsed by Col. Richardson. who, Col.
! Morrison said, was then in Washington.
| The notes were mailed to Washington,
and came back with what purported TO
| be Col. Richardson Endorsement.
| Col. BranSc0mbe delivered his testi-
! mOny so slowly that the jury became i'm
! patient, and the Recorder reminded him
| that there vas q stenogFapher at hand,
and that he need not be so measured in
! his utterance. But he disregarded the
Recorders reminder, and slowly I'M
wound his story at the rate of about
twenty words minute. The jurors
tjdgetcd and looked at their WATCHES, aud
Recorder Smyth said at 4 o'clock eve
must adjourn now until tomorrow, or
hold a session this evening. At this rate
the trial Will take until the end of the
new national administration"
Bransc0mbe's seli-pOSsessiOn was not
| disturbed, and he lOunged from the wit
ness stand with pleasing compOsure.
In August, 1880, Judge Gildersleeve
sentenced Branscombe to State prison for
three years and six months for forging
| Florida bonds.