The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-02
BROCKWAY IN JAIL
The Aged Counterfeiter
Strenuously Declares
His Innocence.
has BEEN ''STRAIGnT" TWELVE YEARS
Denies the Existence of a Gang
With Himself at the Head
Not an Ally of Women.
Specialf 10 the jersey citp Nsus.


TRENTON. March 2. 1Ss6.-The afida-
Wit made by DR.. Orlando E. Bradford,
and now in possession of Judge Edward
T. Green, which states Mrs. Abbie L.
Smith and William E. Wagner. recently
convicted of counterfeitsng were inno-
cent of the crime with which they were
charged, has aroused additional interest
in thecase of the three counterfeiters
now in Mercer jail awaiting sentence.
With a view of ascertaining the senti-
ments of the prisoners regarding their
trial, a reporter visited them at the Court
House last week.
The first of the prisoners seen was
Brockway, the almost octogenarian pris-
oner. whose unusually tall figure and
hoary beard are familiar to everyone
who attended the trial. Brockway at the
time was exercising in the corridor OUT
side the cells, and upon being informed
that a reporter wanted to see him, the
old man expressed his willingness to be
interviewed, and greeted his visitor cor
daily. During the conversation which
ensued. Brockway told much the same
story as he did at the trial and proved
himself an interesting onversationalist,
possessed OF considerable humor,
Brockway is on the best OF terms with
his keepers at the Jail and is friendly
with them all. His case is one which
has excited much sympathy or account
OF his age, and his good behavior while
in the Jail has won the good will Of his
custodians. An incident occurred In the.
jail during the interview which might be
given as an example of the mans sense
of humcr, which he has evidently not
lost, in spite of the position in which he
is placed. Some tickets for an entertain
ment were offered the reporter. and after
he had purchased enc Brockway put his
hand in his pocket n drew out some
small change. which he gave for a ticket.
AT the same time he said, with a smile:
81 may not be able to go myself, but the
little girl that sometimes comes to see me
may be able to use It,"
Mr.. Brockway.' asked the reporter.
SIS it true that you were a student at
Yale University and studied chemistry
there?"
NO. he replied, 'sbut there is as
much truth in 1t as in a lot of the other
things that nave been said about me. I
have. never studied chemistry and have
never been an engraver in my life.
These stories are all rot. Why. [ have
seen in some of the newspapers that I
was one of the best engravers in the
country. The fact is I can scarcely read
my own writing, let alone. do engraving"
THAT doesn't look much like the work
of one of the best ~engravers in the coun-
try" said Brockaway, showing the repor-
ter a letter which he had gust written to
a friend.
Mr.. Brockway, were you surprised at
the verdict in your case?'
This question which was put by the re-
~nrta af1 o. W n NO EL NJ
Brockway. asking the reporter If he
thought there was any eyidence against
him TO warrant a conviction.
sThere was some strong circumstantial
evidence" said the reporter.
Yes, but what was it? Should a. man
be convicted on such evidence as thai?
found in my room. and that so much fuss
was made about, if I had had any idea
that there was any criminal operations
going on there, / would hive showed 1t in
the stove as soon as 1t came in the house.
1t was only because / knew nothing of
the couterfeiting that took no prscau-
tions to destroy it r any of the other
During the conversation that ensued.
Brockway reiterated his former asser-
of the lang. and said thai the reason he
had not been brought to testify was be-
cause the Government authorities knew
Brockway, was innocent. Brockway said
that his lawyers had received from DR..
Bradford since the ~1atter's arrest VIC
letters, in each of which he assured them
of the speakers innocence.
| Brockway showed no particular bitter
hess toward Ulrich, the detectives stool,
Through whose efforts he was arrested.
He said, however, that he believed IN
ri9h was the man who made most Of the
plates for DR.. Bradford, and that it was
crfg ecaus he saw, when arrested, that
his only safety lay in turning States evil
dencA that ne was led 10 betray DR.. Brad
ford.
Brockway insisted that for over twelve
expressed it. and during that time had
been perfectly straight with the Gov
ernment.AHe said hat anyone who knew
siness to do he would do it himself and
would not, let swomen and boys know
anything about it. Referring to Wagner
idea of their being members of a Brock
way gang and told the reporter that
whatever else Ne did. rot to call the three