Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-04-08

Price we're Identical. On Mr.. Prices
person were found a large number of
notes and a considerable quantity of
white tissue paper. When he was ask
ed II he used the tissue paper to print
his notes on, with a flash of humor the
great forger replied that he purchased
1t to make air-balloons for his chill
dren. Unfortunately, Mr.. Price never
came to trial. He was naturally a
modest man, with an aversion to pub
licity, so he hanged himself to an in
genious arrangement Of hat hooks and
gimlets he had attached to his cell
door. He was said to have secured by
his forgeries upwards Of 100000 ($1,-
000, ,00O), but no trace Of his gain could
be found at his death. 1t was believed
that he had buried his treasure, and
that the secret of his hiding place had
died with him.
Henry Fauntleroy, the banker, whose
fate created such a sensation eighty
years ago, was different type of GRIM
inal. He was a son Of highly res
pected London banker, and at an early
age succeeded to his fathers business.
In his first few years Of business the
banking establishment was unfortu-
nate. They lost G170,000 through some
great bankruptcies in the building
trade Then Fauntleroy's partner died,
and 100000 had to be paid to his
heirs for their share in the business.
To make up for this deficiency In cap
ital Fauntleroy began a huge system
Of forgery. He forged powers Of at
torneys to sell stock he held in trust
for clients. Gradually his dishonest
proceedings grew till at last he had
sold a17O,O00 of clients securities, and
was paying 916,O00 year interest on
principal which had no existence.
During the ten years he carried on his
frauds he was often on the verge Of
detection.
One lady, who had 913,O00 in Faunt-
leroy's hands, wrote to her London
agent to sell out her stock. He turn
ed to the list Of stockholders at the
Bank of England, and to his surprise
found that her name was not among
them. He hurried to Fauntleroy for
an explanation. The banker listened
to him quietly, and then, with notable
presence Of mind, said: "She gave me
instructions to sell out her stock, too.
Here Is the money" and he opened the
drawer and took out $4,000 in ex-
chequer bills. The agent naturally
thought that the good Mr.. Fauntleroy
was in the right, and in spite Of his
clients protests that she had given
Fauntleroy no orders to sell out her
stock, he thought that the whole mat
ter was caused by the unbusiness-like
habits Of women. On another occa-
sion, while gentleman was talking to
him in his office, Fauntleroy actually
forged the mans name to a deed,
and, taking 1t out to his clerks with
the ink still wet on it., observed that
"Mr. - has just signed this"
The time came, however, when
Fauntleroy could not meet the de-
mands upon him, and the whole super
structure Of his forgeries fell to the
ground. In vain was 1t that divines
and great city merchants spoke Of the
high moral character Of the forger.
Incidentally it was revealed that the
virtuous Mr.. Fauntleroy had been as
two-faced in his private life as in his
business life. He had not been averse
to the pleasures Of the world, and had
been in the habit Of entertaining lux
uriously a circle Of boon companions.
Thereby hangs a tale. One Of these
choice spirits accompanied Fauntleroy
to the scaffold, and at the last mo
ment, when the moose was actually ad-
justed round his friends neck, appeal
ed to him to tell where he had pro-
cured some choice curacao from. But
the banker preferred to take his i'm
portant secret with him.-Kansas City
Independent.