St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-28
HOW HE WORKED 1T.
Further Particulars of Wood
ruff's Forgeries.

New BRITAIN, Conn.,, April 81
Charles E. Woodruff, formerly secretary
OF the Young Mems Republican club
and city clerk, has confessed that he
has uttered forged papers to the extent
of $4,000. His victims are the First
National and the Mechanics banks of
this city, the three leading banks of
Mlddletown and banks in New Haven
and Meriden. just how much each of
these banks will lose is unknown. The
banks here are out about SIC, 600. Wood
ruff has practiced forgery for nearly six
years, according to his own confession.
during which time he has forged notes
to the extent of S5Q0.000. Of this amount
he has managed, without being discov-
cred, TO make good all but the sum above
mentioned. The other day Woodruff
forged the Endorsement of f. Woodruff,
OF Berlin, to note for $500. The bank
questioned its genuineness on the
ground that f. Woodruff was in Cali
fornia, and had been there all winter.
Woodruff promised to make good the
amount to the bank. but failed to do so.
He was then confronted with the other
forgerieS and under great pressure was
made to confess his guilt. Among the
names he forged are those of leading
business men of this and neighboring
cities. Woodruff was arrested and
brought into the police court to-
day and was held under $4,000
bail for trial. He went to Jail.
When Woodruff started the Herald, six
years ago, he had no capital and de-
pended upon his friends to help him
along. After a while he became tired
of the dependence and sought some way
by which he could escape from his Obli-
cations to them. 1t was then that he
turned his attention to Speculating in
real estate. He bought a valuable lot on
Church street for $1,000. upon which he
paid few hundred dollars and gave
his note for the remainder. He then
secured loan of $4,000 upon this same
property, which he forthwith expended
in laying the foundations for large
block, which he subsequently erected.
The difficulty which he experienced in
securing money to complete the
his first false step. He issued
notes Endorsed. apparently, by
leading business men. These he kepta
careful account of, and as fast as they
came due he paid them with money
which he had procured through the
issue of other notes to other persons.
He had all intimate friend in the person
VI u. y. OlOper, cashier OF the FlrSG
National bank, and because of this ac-
quaintance he was able to secure letters
of introduction to banks i'll Meriden,
Middletown and Hartford, from which
he secured loans. In October, 1887.
when he sold the Herald to the present
owners, Messrs. Blanchard IL Vance,
the latter member of congress from
this district, Woodruff had out over
100000 in forged notes, upon which he
was paying 800 interest. From that
date to the present week he has uttered,
according to his own admission, nearly
100000 of bogus notes and checks. 1t
is said that there is not man in New
Britain, who is known as a money
lender, who has not held some of his
forged paper. Such was the skill with
which he initiated the signatures of
bank officials and others upon his paper
that the most experienced eye could not
distinguish the genuine from the false.