Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-17
FORGOTTEN CRIME
STORY OF A FRAUDULENT ISSUE
OF GOVERNMENT BONDS.
Ten Certificates in Blank Stolen by a
Trusted Clerk Of the Treasury
Department

In a recent issue of The Star the present
system of keeping the files of checks and
other papers connected with the United
States loans was described. It was then
noted that there was fraud perpetrated on
the government to the amount of $15 900
by the presentation of affidayits as to the
destruction of bonds representing a part
of the loan of February %. 1862, believed
to be the only such case in which there
was success.
There was. however, a fraudulent issue
of government bonds nearly a hundred
years ago in which a trusted clerk was the
culprit and the loans known as the de-
ferred per cents of 1870 and the per
cent loan of 1913 We're involved. The GER
tificates or bonds were issued by the regis
ter of the treasury, then Joseph NourSe,
and Charles Tompkfns was clerk under
him from 1870 to 1902, having charge of
the books of blank certificates. To facili-
tate the issue 1t was the custom of the
register to sign these blank certificates.
When the five million S per cent loan of
1893 was offered subscriptions were re-
celved by the banks and loan offices and
scrip certificates given on which the stock
was issued. The whole amount was taken
and the stock issued in 1899. The length
of this loan was fifteen years. but nearly
the whole of this and a like loan of 81, 4S1,-
COZ made In 1890 was taken UP in ten years.
The Discovery.
Tompkins left the government service
in 1902, and in 1905 it was discovered that
there had been an overissue in the So
100000 loan of 81 900. On investigation it
was found that ten certificates had been
taken and the abstract altered; that
Tompkins had presented himself as the
agent of Clement Biddle a banker of
Philadelphia, with an order for the stock
which he issued, and obtained from Mr.
Biddle 81 ,055, including the premium
Though Mr.. Joseph Nourse, the register
recommended Tompkins' arrest, such ac,
ton was not taken, as the proof was
deemed insufficient for a legal conviction
and the matter was dropped In Septem-
Der, 1911, the officers of the treasury re-
cetVed from Archibald Oracle d Sons of
New York a certificate for $4,000 u s.
deferred q per cents bearing the genuine
signature of the register, Mr. Nourse for
redemption. The filing and marks of is
sue bore the evidence of forgery In a
short time information was received that
David Parish of Philadelphia held a GER
tlf1cate for 100000 which he had pur-
chased in London, and it was found that
TINS and that forwarded from New York
had been sold in London by James Tomp-
kins, son of Charles. Then it was found
| that from book of blank deferred 6 per
cent certificates which had been in charge
| of the elder Tompkins ten were MISSING
ana, 1t having been the custom of the
register to sign such certificates in blank
| 1t was not difficult for dishonest clerk
10 abstract them.
Tonpkins' Son Involved.
, 1t was also ascertained that the Younger
Tompkins had partner in the fraud. one
THOMAS JOY alias Harrison and that they
mad sailed from Liverpool for New York in
| the ship Jastina, which James Tompkins
had purchased from part of the proceeds of
the certificates sold by him. The shin ar
rived In New York, under the command of
JOY, in November, and anchored under the
guns or the United States sloop Wash.
Tempkins and Joy We're at once arrested.
and on examination the latter denied every
thing, but Tompkins made full confession.
The latter acknowledged that he had re-
eeived the ten certificates from his father:
that he filled two. one for $4,000 and one
$4,000; destroyed seven and retained one:
that he had sold two, and of the proceeds
:. he had purchased the ship, made loans on
Liverpool real estate, sent some to his
mother and made some other expenditures.
The Culprit Acquitted.
They were committed for trial and
Charles Tompkins was arrested The trial
of father and son took place In the old
Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
in May following, the charge being forgery.
The father was found not guilty and the
son convicted. There was much commits
Grafton for the son, who was looked upon
as the tool of his father and he was mar
doned In few months, and Joy was set at
liberty. George nj. Dallas who managed
the cases for the government after the
failure to convict tbs father. did asat op-