New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-12
STOCK FORGER IN CELL
MORE ARRESTS EXPECTED.
Hamilton Bank Note Co. Made
the Bogus Certificates.

C. Augustus Seton, the chief conspirator in the
Norfolk and Western stock forgery, was brought
| back to this city yesterday from Elkton, Md.
where he was arrested on Wednesday, and is
now held at Police Headquarters, waiting to be
arraigrsed before Recorder Gof. Samuel Hum
phreys said 10 be an accomplice of Seton. is in
the Tombs under 5000 bail and the arrest of
a third member of the band is momentarily ex-
pected. The detectives are keeping a close
watch a holding a responsible position
in well known business house, and If he makes
any move to get away from the city he will be
arrested at once.
Seton was arrested on Wednesday night in
Elkton Nd. where he had been followed by
Barney McConville of the Central Office. He
made a strong fight but when he that he
was outnUmbered and the officers fairly had him
he gave up. and, with an appearance of bravado,
offered to return to this city without requisition
papers
Humphreys was arrested early yesterday
morning at the Manhattan end Of the Brooklyn
Bridge by Pinkerton men and Central Office de-
tectives. He was taken Immediately to Police
Headquarters. and after undergoing the third
degree was taken before Magistrate Rinn and
held in $4,000 bail
Seton arrived here at o'clock over the Penn
syvania Railroad and was taken at once to Po-
lice Headquarters Recorder Goff had sent for
the prisoner to be brought before him Ser
gesnt MCConville took him to the Criminal
Courts Building at once but Recorder Golf had
gone, and they went to the District Attorneys
Office Mrs Seton was waiting there for her
husband.
The warrant on which Seton arrested was
issued by District Attorney Jerome. and when
the Recorder could not be found the party went
to Mr. Jerones office where they We're closeted
+o1rar haoI- 70
Police Headquarters and locked up. He will BE-
taken before Recorder Gof at 10 o'clock this
morning.
Humphreys is said by the police to he Setons
stool pigeon He it was. they say who imper-
sonated the MIR Collins Seton's imaginary
client for whom he wanted TO borrow $4,000
from Barnard & Clark on two of the bogus Ger
tifcates He lives on Brooklyn Heights. and has
been known for many years along Park Row as
an advertising agent He has been concerned IN
various attempts at promotion, but his record
has been clean. His alliance with Seton is Of
comparati lively recent date, though he had known
him for some time.
STOCK PRINTED HERE.
With the arrest Of seton and Humphrey
many Of the details Of the plot came to light.
II was learned that the stock turned out
bv the Hamilton Bank Note. Engraving and
Printing Company of No 90 Gold-st, on what
was termed by one Of the officials Of the Nor
folk and Western the fimsiest kind Of order.
purporting to come from former. president Of
the road In fact no such person existed
The man who accepted the order from Seton
and made the stock certificates two days after
the news of the forgery had become public tod
his employers OF the circums tances. and it was
through them that the detectives learned Of
/! Seton's connection with the oaSe.
The whole proceedings Of the ordering and
notwithstanding of the certificates We're farcical
in the extreme. Seton. who had an office at
No 40 Exchange Place, fitted up in sumptuous
style. formed friendship with Harry G.
Thomas. Of No 2O7 Sixth-ave. Brooklyn, the
manager Of the Hamilton Bank Note. Engrav-
ing and Printing Company. who practically ran
the business OF the concern The president and
directors seldom appeared, and all the business
was left in Thomas's hands. Seton took consid-
cradle work to him. Among other jobs Seton
had the stock of the Fox River Railway Com
pany turned out by his friend Thomas, and al
together he had got to be exceedingly intimate
with the bank note companys manager.
Last August he went UP to the Wadorf-As-
toria where he spent good deal OF his time In
the cafe presenting the appearance of pros
/ porous promoter and man about town. and car
ried away with him of the letter paper
OF the hotel On this he wrote to himself the
following letter:
New-York August 3, 1905.
G Aueustus Seton No ~ Exchange Place
Dear Sir. IncIosed you will find copy of the
old n & w certificate, which was used, as |
explained to you when 1 was president OF the
company.
our new line runs from Norfolk TO st Louis
and the proceeds from this additional stock issue
! | want 10 use acquire control OF the rights
! to terminals depot grounds and freight yards
TIE name is to be Norfolk and Western Rail
w., instead of railroad as appears in the old
sto. ( There will be $S9o00O00 of this capital
! stock and. as told you. "A bond issue or the
! same amount to follow Have this work rushed
through as rapidly as possible. and we will pay
/ the extra expense necessary to expedite Htho-
! graphing etc When the bond issue Is readv
We will have YOU handle the work.
! am Going out of town Tonight, but will he
| back I'm NeN-York Monday, and want TO see you
! then. Yours very truly. =
/ c. B. FRANKLIN.
! There has never been president of the Nor
/ folk and Western by the name Of c. 2 Frank
! lin and officials Of the road deny all knowledge
/ of any such person.
In the mean time Seton had procured one o.
! the old certificates of the Norfolk and Western
1 Railroad Company. which had been called IN
when the company reors sanized and the
! Norfolk and Western Railway Company took its
] 1Iace All Of this old stock was not turned H.
/ and the company has had considerable trouble