The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-09
FORGOTTEN CRIME.
Story of Fraudulent Issue of Govern
ment Bonds.

ment Bonds.
IN a recent issue of the Star the pres
ent system of keeping the files of
checks and other papers connected with
the United States loans was described,
says the Washington Star. 1t was then
noted that there was fraud perpetrated
on the government TO the amount of
5,000 by the presentation of affidavits
as 10 the destruction Of bonds repre-
senting part of the loan of Feb. ..
1862. believed TO be the only such case
in which there was success.
There was, however. a fraudulent is
sue of government bonds nearly 100
years ago in which a trusted clerk was
the culprit, and the loans known as the
deferred 8 per cents of 1880 and the
per cent loan of 1898 We're involved. The
certificates or bonds were issued by the
register OF the treasury, then Joseph
Nourse, and Charles Tompkins was a
clerk under him from 1890 to 1902. hav-
ing charge of the books of blank ceYr
tifcates. To facilitate the issue it was
the custom of the register to sign these
blank certificates. When the $1,000 900
S per cent loan of 1898 was offered sub
scriptions We're received by the banks
and loan offices and scrip certificates
given on which 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, 600 made
in 1890 was taken UP in ten years.
The Discovery,
Tompkins left the government serv-
ice in 1902 and in 1906 it was discovered
that there had been an OVcr-issue in
the $4,000, 900 loan of 81 900. On investi-
cation it was found that ten certificates
had been taken and the abstract al
tered; that Tompkins had presented
himself as the agent of Clement Bid
die, a banker, OF Philadelphia. with an
order for the stock which he issued,
and obtained from Mr.. Biddle $1,000,
including the premium.
Though Joseph Nourse, the register
recommended Tompkins' arrest. such
action was not taken, as the proof was
deemed insufficient for a legal convic-
ton. and the matter was dropped. In
September. 1911, the officers OF the
treasury received from Archibald Ora
Gle & Sens Of New York a certificate
for $4,000 United States deferred g per
cents bearing the genuine signature of
the register. Mr.. NOurse, for redemp-
ton. The filing and marks of issue
bore the evidence of forgery. In a short
David Parish of Philadelphia held 4
certificate for $50 600 which he had pur-
chased al London. and it was found
that this and that forwarded from New
York had been sold in London by
James Tompking, a son OF Charles.
Then il was found that from book Of
blank deferred S per cent certificates
which had been in charge Of the elder
TOmpkins, ten were missing. and. it
having been the custom of the register
TO sign such certificates in blank. it was
abstract them.
Thompkins' Son Involved.
II was also ascertained that the
younger TOmDkins had a partner in the
fraud, one Thomas JOY (alias Harrl-
son1, and that they had sailed from
Liverpool for New York in the ship
Jastina, which James Tompkins had
purchased with part of the proceeds
Of the certificates sold by him. The
ship arrived in New York, under the
command of JOY. IN November, aud an
chored under the guns of the United
States sloop Wasp. Tompkins and JOY
were at once arrested and on exam
nation the latter denied everything. /
but Tomnkins made a full confession /
The latter acknpWledged that he had |
received he ten certificates from his |
father; that he filed two. one for $4,000 !
and one for $50 coo; 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 cuIprit Acquitted.
Thev 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 J
conmiseration for the son, who was
looked Upon as the tool of his father, /
and he was pardoned in few months, /
and JOY was set at liberty George NJ. /
Dallas, who managed the cases for the /
after the failure 10 con- /
Wet the father. did not oppose pardon !
inc the son. and recommended that the
case against JOY be abandoned. His |
vciws were concurred in by the secre- /
tary of the treasury. Mir Gallatin. and .
President Madison Messrs. Oracle &
Sons GOT Dossession Of the ship Justina
and Mr. Parish the G3.0G0 mortsage in
Liverpool property. but the government
appears to have recovered nothing.
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