Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/348

 A Notable Criminal Trial. ferences, but New York City was selected as the locale of operations. And the cause celebre involving such criminality, that began March 15, 1855, in the court of general sessions of that metropolis before Recorder Smith — whom as a great veteran jurist still living THE GREEN BAG recently com memorated — developed by evidence what in the sense of a narrative the following story shows. In the summer of 1854, those three con spirators together visited New York. Findlay put up at a hotel then at the corner of Park Place and Broadway, and the other two took separate private lodgings. But, not withstanding this separation of abode in order to avoid appearance of intimacy, Kissane and Cole used Findlay's hotel room as headquarters and thus exposed their identity and movements to the observation of one of those quick-witted Irish chamber maids whom travelers in this country often observe. There, according to her testi mony, they would sit for hours conversing and engaged in much writing. From this hotel they removed to the large and fashion able New York Hotel farther up Broad way, to be under similar incidents of companionship, as testified to by another quick-witted chambermaid. Here were ar ranged details of the crime according to the story of Findlay, who ultimately " turned State's evidence" — thereby contradicting the very fallacious saying of " honor among thieves." "I was to personate a Kentucky drover desirous of selling cattle to some provision, dealer," said Findlay, when in the witness chair. " Cole was to put up his $2,000 as capital. Through the provision dealer — bringing to him a forged letter of introduction from one of his well-known Kentucky cus tomers of whose handwriting the conspirators had procured specimens — I was, under the false name of Henry Bishop, mentioned in the letter of introduction (and being that of a Western operator favorably known to the

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provision trade),to negotiate with the selected merchant for a shipment and obtain from him an introduction to his bank for the pur pose of opening an account." Kissane, who had in past years dealt with provision brokers, selected a firm upon whom Findlay alias Bishop was to call — its name to be written as addressee in the forged letter of introduction. The firm in question re ceived Findlay alias Bishop very cordially. Its banking institution happened to be the rich Chemical Bank, which by this accident became the victim. Such excellent custom ers as the provision partners had no difficulty in procuring permission from the false Bishop to open an account, and Findlay deposited the two thousand dollars cash which Cole provided and also two forged cheques whereof drawers and certifications were of excellently simulated handwriting. Prior to the visit to firm and bank, Cole had gone to the Wall Street money broker age firm of Very and Gwynne and sold them some slightly uncurrent Western banknotes at a discount, receiving their cheque on the Continental Bank for payment. The cheque bore on its face the imprint, as makers, of Nathan Lane & Co., well-known stationers. To them, before cashing the cheque, Kissane, who was a born confidence man of plausible bearing and business manners, repaired; and under pretense of desiring cheques printed for his firm — inventing a fictitious partner ship name — was heedlessly allowed to ex amine sample specimens of cheques already printed for and used by other firms. Among these samples was a blank cheque on the Continental Bank of the very firm whose cheque he already held and which had in duced his call on the printing establishment; and also a blank cheque, on the American Exchange Bank, of banker John Thompson, one of the best known of his business. These two blank cheques were adroitly pocketed. Thus the signature of Very and Gwynne was already in possession on the good cheque ready to be counterfeited into