New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-12
FORGED HIS OWN PARDON.
A SHREWD KANSAS CONvICT'S BOLD BID
y FOR FREEDOM.
HE AFFIXED THE SIGNATURES OF THE WAR
DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS TO THE Doou-
MENT, AND THEN RAISED
DRAFT FROM s1 TO 10000.

DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS TO THE DoCU-
MEST, AND THEN RAISED
DRAFT FROM 81 TO 10000.
dangerous negro convict confined in the State
Penitentiary of Kansas recently forged draft TOT
$780, 900 on the Mercantile National Bank OF this
city. and at the same time his own pardon But ne
overreached himself. and detected at the last
stage of the game.
George Lewis the convict. is described as an un-
usually intelligent and wel-infomed negro. lie
served in Troop Of the 9th United States Cav
airy for some time being detailed fer duty in the
Auditor-General's office at Washington. There he
was employed in confidential capacity, in which 1t
appears that he learned great deal about the
affairs and methods of the War Department He
abused his privileges and committed forgery, for
which he was sentenced to Imprisonment for ten
years in the Kansas State Penitentiary at Lansing
ON June IL, 1889. Lewis is an interesting man,
and it is said that Secretary Proctor investigated
his case, and becoming convinced that his punish
ment was excessive, commuted his time to five
years.
The fellow had no previous criminal record. and
he succeeded after cunning work in ingratiating
himself in the goodwill of the officers of the
prison. The chaplain, w. b. Poinsett. entrusted
Lewis with clerical work, which the convict at
tempted to turn to his own advantage.
The prisoners of the penitentiary were allowed
to expend their surplus money for luxuries, such
as books papers and tobacco. Their purchases
were made through drafts on the First National
Bank Of Leavensworth. Lewis handled all these
drafts and one day got hold of draft for 81 on
the Mercantile National Bank Of this city. He
raised the figure to 100000, substituted his own
name for that Of the legitimate payee, and sent
the draft for deposit at the Fountain Savings
Bank In Richmond, Va which is an institution
controlled by colored men.
The forgery done skifully that no sus-
pcions were aroused when the draft was
ceived at the bank Lewis supplemented his
work by sending n letter to the Fountain Savings
Bank in which he plausibiy told how he had
obtained the draft through a sale of a ranch TO
an alleged English noblcman named Lord Rand
lett. To back up this story he enclosed what
pnrporte1 70 be letter from the nobleman, who ap-
peared TO be satisfied that he had made great
bargain, and would sail over here on his
yacht with his agent, John Scott, TO take posses
sion Of his ranch. Both Of the letters were type
written. Lewis asked the Fountain Savings Bank
TO certify the draft, because he said that he was
anxious that there should be no irregularty about
the transaction. Lewis was in prison all this
time of course but he was being assisted by
shrewd accomplices.
Mr. Hill, the cashier of the Fountain Savings
Bank, correspondcd with the Mercantile National
of this city. When he learned that the First
National Bank of Leavenworth had balance
with the Mercantile of $4,000, he accepted the
deposit and also cashed q check for $3.50
against it, which Lewis issued to one of his con-
federates, as; M Bryant, who was fellow pris-
oier win hiiBftor some tlme Bryant forwarded
sl3O of the money to Lewis.
Lewis then made an accurate description OF
the letter heads used by the War Department, and
probably through another accomplice had twen-
ty-fve copies struck off by large printing es
tablishment in Leavenworth. lie obtained only
two copies of these, the authorities at Leaven-
worth securing the remainder. Lewis forged his
own pardon on one of the papers, and sent the
document to Bryant, who was waiting at WASH
ington for orders from Lewis.
So far the scheme had worked admirably, and
then Lewis began to put in the finishing touches
lie talked of being pardoned, and no one at the
penitentiary surprised to hear one day that
Lewis had received letter from friend at
Washington, who wrote that a pardon would
shortly be issued TO him. 1t quite natural,
therefore. that Bryant should follow up the let
ter by sending telegram saying that the pardon
had been made out and would be received at
Lansing in n day or two. Sure enough tho pardon
arrived on time, and it was perfectly executed
in signatures and all that one doubted its
authenticity. But Lewis had overreached himself.
In his efforts to get everything he missed all. lie
had appended to his pardon" an order from the
War Department TO Warden Chase of the
penitentiary directing him to return to Lewis
The order for his release which purpoIed 70 oe
signed by William Reeves. clerk in the War
Department. who supposed to act for Secre-
tary Proctor Bryant mailed the document on
March 10. Warden Chase received the alleged
pardon in good faith. but it appears did not under
stand the document attached to the order Tor
Lewis's release and wrote to Washington about IT,
A reply was received saying that no pardon had
been granted to Lewis and that the order for his
release or his pardon was q forgery. An investl-
cation followed. but IL was not until the nrSt part
of this month that it was discovered that Lewis
had attempted to forge large draft. The ac-
count current Of the Merchantile National Bank
reached TcavenwOrth about May f. showing that
IL had an account of 100000 against the First
National Bank Of that place. IL was soon learned
then how Lewis had raised the draft OF 81 on
the First National to 100000 on the Mercantile
and had deposited it in the Fountain Savings
Bank
Warden Chase received the $3.50 from Lewis
which BRYANT transmitted TO him. II is safe to
say that Lewis will now serve his full term. and
perhaps some extra. 1t was not learned here
whether his accomplices have been captured.
ITALTAN AND AMERICAN WORKMEN FIGHT.
pi,+ehnro Nov II A diSnatch from Wheeling