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▲ HISTORY OF THE FORGERY.XU lOlW 1UC Ul 111 UlOn ibe first of October, 1858, S. G. Langdon, formerly of Cincinnati and latterly of New York, and Stephen P. Dillaye, a well known politician and Custom House personage, in New York, arrived in Pittsburg. During the day they presented themselves at the counter of the Citzeus Bink with two certificates of deposits on the American Exchange Bank of New York—one for the sum •f fifteen thousand five hundred dollars, the Other for twelve thousand dollars; in all twenty-seven thousond five hundred dollars.Mr. Langdon represented that they had come from New York with a view to invest largely iu the sfock of the Monongahela Valley Bank, the books of which were to be opened on the follow-m%t7\be President of the Citizens' Bank, Oliver Blackburn, E*q., was absent at the time, and E. D. Jones, Esq., the cashier, examined the certificates. They were fac sunities of those used by the American Exchange, and appeared genuine on their face. Mr. Langdon was not unknown, either, having been engaged in the publication of a Detector in Cincinnati at oue time, and bearing with him the recommendation of the well known firm of C. E. Nourse k Co., Bankers, of tbat city.Mr. Jones without hesitation counted out the money, which Dillaye took, while Langdon endorsed the certificates. The junto then left for M’Keesport; previous to leaving, however, one of them requested Mr. Jones to allow the certificates to remain is bank a few days, and they would themselves lift them, thus making the Citizens’ Bauk the gainer of one half per cent.—the difference on exchange—by the operation.These certificates, one of which we ha vs seen, reads as follows: S. G. Langdon has deposited in the American Exchange twelve thousand fivo hundred dollars, to the credit of the same, payi-bjeto theordsrofycpli m i “itAyw,Tb» following;jjnorning, OcL, 2d, Mf. ioqea informed Mr. Blackburn of the transaction, tod the request made by the presentors of the certificates. That gentleman,'with his proverbial carefulness in monetary affairs, after examining the certificates, suggested to Mr. Jpnea tbaty as the transaction was one of some magnitude, it might be Well to telegraph to the American Exchange, and bo sure that the certificates were all right. Mr. Jones immediately did so, and in less than an hour received a reply that the certificate* toere forgeritt! MR, JONES DEIVETH FURIOUSLY AS THE SON OF MDC8HI.uauXiii’U' u aCo. disposed of their detector to E.W. Young A Co., and soon after removed to New York. From memorandum books found in possession of Langdon, it is evident that he has been in business relations with Kingsbury Root sioce 1854. Hawes lived; in 1855, at No. 24 Oliver street, New York. We judge from the memorandums that his business relations with Langdon have been quite confidential. Langdon has been constantly traveling since 1856. In June of that year he was at New Albany, Ind., where he attended ths Methodist churcb, and seems to bare been enamored of a lady ih the congregation, and iu the same connection mentions reading “Female Life among the Mormons,” writing that “poor Mrs. Stillman's reflections oa page 330 are good.” One page from his memorandum book will indicate his business activity:March 8,1856.—“Called on Mrs. L. in the evening-—outi” 9th March—“Sunday—Called on Mrs L ; she signed paper at Mrs. Phelps’, corner 17th street, Irving Park; 12th—Took depositions at 139 Henry street, N. Y.; 13th—Same were mailed. Dined at Mr. D’Groro’s; tea at Mrs. D’O.'s; staid all night with Hawes; 14th—Tea at Briggs’; 17tb —Seat |25 to Kinsbury Root, also wrote Dr. Fawkes, H. S. D’Grove and W. Lee White; 18th— Left for Cincinnati; 20th—To Madison, iud,; had Hawes in company.” Langdon also had memorandums indicating the extensive use of secret telegraphing by means of word signs— many of which, with the key to them, are in possession of the Mayor.RETBOSrZCriTE - LANGDOIl’g EMBASSY—ROOT AMD REVOLVERS.Ia following the principals to the present time, it has been necessary greatly to anticipate/ The subordinate characters and scenes in this Romance of Rascality, are too interesting to be omitted. It is necessary to go back to October, 1858.Laagdon was thoroughly frightened when be madoYis escape from M’Keesport, but he did not give up all hope of securing the stock subscribed tod paid for in forged paper. Not he! Afraid to venture out himself, he dispatched Mr. Kingsbury Rbot to look after it. Root, evidently, was not to appear in the character of agent for Langdon, but on bis own respansibility-ras a capitalist who had infracted Langdon io subscribe the four hundred shares for himself and wife.Root arrived in M’Keesport daring the latter part of the month, and called at the Bank. He is described by those who had the felicity of seeing him, as * diminutive Geotile, weaseued faced, and not over prepossessing in appearance. There was nothing formidable about mm, boweve; ’ seem**** *'af Md ’if Small weed and C!ie wetfaro of. his*stoc^an^ coolfvutvipt iouj A ICUiaiUjAi/urs, i ruiD.P.ofiff.ATconcern lor ..... - .;.Mred’tBs*dkt to .-toeomitetcondition of the affairs ia the Bank.Dr. -r— Hney, one of the directors, and a west* known cilisen of M’Keesport, replied that as Mr. Root desired to know about his stock and tlso Bank he could gratify his laudable curiosity if hpThis unexpected exigency demanded decisive ae--tisa. Mr. Jones was off in a twinkling. A horso and carriage were procured, and he vaulted ia. As he drove along Wood street, he met'one of the Directors of the Citizens’ Bank, and it occurring to him that it was a wise precaution to have a friend with him, he called a halt.“Get in here, for God’s sake,” said Jones, highly excited, “and come with me.”“But where are you going?” queried the innocent Director, leisurely.“Never mind.” was the hurried reply; “I’ll tell you as we go.”So the Director lept in, and the two made headway for M’Keesport on telegraph time.Leaving Mr. Jones to “explain” to the Director,would accompany him to his private offioe. Arriving there, something like the followingthoJOHN S. DYE PUTS IN A CLAIM.These gentlemen claim not only to be session of tho stock, but Mr. John S.Bank Director notoriety, comes In for Indie-1, he has precedence of the others of the tollowing letter:Merchants Exchanob Banking C New York, 24th Dec., 1858.—Dr. Hue:Sir—I have under my control the 800 fetock subscribed by Mr. Langdon to yo Yonr immediate attention is requested, j a satisfactory arrangement can be made lng I can have a personal interview with If you come, bring the certificates 1 Respectfully, John S. Dyb,THE DIRECTORS IN NEW YORK—JOHN THE ST. NICHOLAS.This missive remained unanswered, b vember Atex. Miller, Esq , President of and Drs. Iiuey and Hill, Directors, went York for the purpose of procuring an tion tho stock which had been tktom ] and declared void.They stopped at the St. Nicholas were seated in the reception room w‘ man stepped in, and inquiring for traduced himself as John S. Dye. ha said, at the request of Mr. Langd desirous to ascertain whether the Dr, tificatcs with him, and if an ar: made to induce him to hand them (Dye.)Dr. JT. replied tbat he had wi h him there, and did not know ringeraent eould be made.Dye—If you will Land them over, cure the cancelling of the stock on without further trouble.Dr. H.—We do cot know tbat any objeot, as we do not recogni:Where’s Langdon?Dye—He is at my office every da; would like An ittorview with him, I' eight o’olock to-morrow morning, call for you. But this interview granted on the condition tbat you ,Dr. Huey accepted the invitation but Dye never called, and the took place.WANTS $3,000—DON’T GET IT Before our visitors left the ed upon by Mr. Hodges, the Detector. lie introduced h Usher, and informed them that from their Mask.Directors--IV* *r*either run you up or run ___________riot aUJ«fck.*_* VftyLsuch as I can have discounted at New Yore.The officers of the Bank respectfully decline* the modest offer, when Hodgson, in virtuous in, dignation, left, remarking as be went, “By Ur~d I’ll star you iu my next issue.”. Eure enough when tho next issue appeared the Monongahela Bank had the inevitable star affixed.colloquy took place:Dr. Huey—Are you not aware, sir, that stock taken by Langdon for you nnd your wife was obtained on paper forged on the American Exchange Bank of New York?Root, blandly—I assure you, sir, really, I did not know that the certificates of deposit were forgeries.Dr. nuey—Come, now, Root, that won’t do. You know the certificates were not right.Root, reluctantly—I do know that they were not Altogether correct.Dr. Huey—What, then, gave you the presumption to come out from New York on this business?Root was startled at the directness and emphasis of this question. The assumption that he came on his own motion stared him unpleasantly in the face, and be confessed timidlv:I came out at the instance of Langdon. He sent me out, and told me to provide myself with a revolver fur fear of denser.HAWKS HAS A CLAIM ON THE BANK.We have mentioned that one John Hawes was associated with Langdon and Dye in the publication of a Detector in Cincinnati. He seems to have been on intimate terms with both, and iu tho wrangle and jangle for stock which no one of them legitimate!? owned more than did Satan the fair world ho showed the Savior; he put in his claim iu the following letter:New York, Dec. 25tb, 1863.—Dr. Huey—Dear Sir: I shall leave here on Tuesday or Wedneadav evening to call on you in relation to oertain stock in the M. Y. Bank held by parties here, with full power and authority to institute a settlement end'1 transfer of the same, and wish to find you at home. Reapectfuily yours, D. Hawks.nawes accordingly came on, had an interview with the Directors, aud left with a flea in his ear.There are other interesting side scenes iu this Comedy of Assurance, but these must suffice for the present.
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Daily Gazette
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Tue, Aug 30, 1859
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Cincinnati A.
OH, USA 08 Nov 2023
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