Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-06-11
Observation-Disclosures
STORY OF HOW RICHARD VAUX RAN
DOWN A FAMOUS COUNTERFEITER.

the Recorder, Which Was Not Carried
Out-A Noted Duel Which Grew Out of
the Trial-Evarts Was In the Case.
Richard Vaux was not only famous as a
jurist and statesman, but over half cen
fury ago achieved widespread fame as a
detective in the case of Colonel Monroe Ed
wards in Philadelphia, in October 1871.
Edwards, who was a native of Russellville,
KY, astounded the world by the boldness
and success of his operations as o forger,
his last offense realizing S44, 600, which
was secured by series of forged letters
and cotton warehouse receipts.
Judge Loundes, famous criminal law
yer, was engaged to hunt down the Gull
prit. He was located in Philadelphia, and
Richard Vaux, then recorder of the city,
by shrewd detective work, discovered tho
forger's stopping place. On going to the
house the recorder rang tho bell, leaving
Judge Loundes and Mr.. Hart little to
one side from the door. A servant girl an
swered to the bell.
81 want to see Colonel Monroe Ed
wards" said the recorder "Is he imp
She replied that he was, and Mr.. Vaux
Immediately walked into the parlor. Be
tween the parlor and the back room there
was door, and it was evident from the
rattle of the knives and forks that those
within the other apartment were engaged
in a meal. There was no one in the parlor,
and the girl went through the door and said
something. A moment later o fine look
ing man came into tho parlor. He was
about feet 8 inches in height admirably
proportional, with hair as black as the ra-
ven's wing and dark eyes that shot pierre
ing glance from under dark eyebrows He
was dressed with scrupulous eXactncss and
wore large amount Of fine jewolry, evil
IDENTIFY paying great deal of attention to
his personal appearance The recorder ap-
preached him and said:
Good evening, Colonel Monroe Ed
wards. believe you are Colonel Monroe
Edwards if 1 recollcct aright?'
lam that person, was the reply, land
am very glad to see you"
The identity ascertained the recorder
gave the preconcerted signal, and Judge
Loundcs, Mr.. Hart, Captain Young and
the police entered the room. Mr.. Vaux di-
rected Captain Young toput the handouts
on Edwards which was done. The pris-
oner made no remarks of any kind, and
said not word, Tho recorder having
completed his duties in the affair." was
about to leave the room, when q very agile,
slim, light colored mulatto boy of about 16
years rushed at the official with long
knife in his hand, and made lunge at
him with the weapon. So quick was the
movement that there was nothing for the
recorder to do but knock his assailant
down and take the knife from him, which
he did. Two or three persons, probably
boarders, came into the room at that mo-
ment, and the mulatto disappeared, and
was never afterward seen in this city,
though che" was aftcrward found to be
woman who travelled with Edwards in
male attire.
The forger's trunks were secured, and
Recorder VauX gathered the evidence with
peculiar detective ability.
The trial came off in the city of New
York before Judge William Kent son Of
Chancellor Kent. Thomas Francis Mar
shall Of Kentucky, Mr.. Edmunds and q
young gentleman named Evarts were cOun-
sci for the accused. Mr.. Naux, in recog-
milton Of the judicial functions of his Of
flee, was invited to take a seat beside the
judge on the bench. The appearance and
dcmcanor of the young lawyer named
Eyarts attracting his attention, he said to
Judge Kent, "Who is that young gentle
MANI"
Ellis namo is Evarts, " replied the Judge,
land l think he has the making of law
yer in him."
1t was tho famous William NJ. Evarts,
since then admittedly at the head of the
American bar.
Edwards was convicted and sentenced to
ten years imprisonment, mainly upon the
testimony of Recorder VauX. AT the close
of the trial the prisoner, with studied po-
likeness, looked Mr.. Vaux piercingly in the
eyes. 81 am glad to have this oppOrtuni-
ty of speaking to you," he said. II want
to say one thing to you that Is important
for you to remember. l am going to kill
you the moment como out Of Sing Sing
l give you this notice as from one gentle
man to another"
II am very thankful to you, Colonel Ed
wards" replied the recorder with the
same politeness, "for giving me this time
ly notice. 1t is very gentlemanly of you
to do so. I will give you the opportunity
at any time you desire. l have only done
my duty and am prepared to take the con-
sequences. 1 only ask of you that when
SOu OllO hUIOillpO gOi " IL AoON AAAO Al
the face"
AS Mr. Vaux said these words he gazed
fixedly into the forger's face. The man
turned white and trembled, for he read in
his captor's countenance the justidable de-
termination to kill him should he ever dare
to face him after his release. Not another
word was spoken between them, for at that
moment the officers led the prisoner away
He never attempted to carry his threat In
to effect for he died in prison in January,
1S47.
AS a sequel to the trial came the duel
between Tom Marshall and Colonel James
Watson Webb. Marshall was member of
congress at tho time of the Edwards trial.
and for defending the brilliant criminal at
the same time that he was a representative
of the American people in Washington he
was severely criticised by Colonel James
Watson Webb in the columns of the New
York Courier and Enquirer, of which jour
nal that gentleman was We editor. In his
address to the jury Marshall answered the
newspaper criticism in that bitter style of
invective Of which he was the master. This
led to challenge and meeting on the so
called "feld of honor" The congressman
shot the famous editor in the knee and
famed him for life.-Cincinnati Enquirer.