Civil trial of an alleged counterfeiter
Item
Type
Author's Letterbook Copy
Title
Civil trial of an alleged counterfeiter
Description
Discusses civil trial of an alleged counterfeiter of U.S. government pay certificates.
year created
1785
month created
01
day created
23
author
sent from location
Hartford
recipient
in collection
in image
content note
On the forged certificates, see also the following documents from this same letter book: 12/16/1784 (p. 8), 12/29/1784 (p. 9), 01/11/1785 (p. 14), 01/12/1785 (p. 15), and 01/18/1785 (p. 16).
notable person/group
Joseph Howell
William Thompson
person accused
attorney general
Judge McKean
offenders
Congress
notable location
Hartford
Hartford
Connecticut
notable item/thing
depositions
court
civil damages
trial
indictment
bonds
appearance
prosecution
criminal line
pecuniary compensation
value
note
damages
costs
jury
civil trial
attorney
defense
offender
just wishes
condign punishment
punishment
counterfeit
national securities
frauds
notable phrase
come off so cheap
document number
1785012370055
page start
18
transcription
20 Hartford Jany. 23d 1785
Sir
i received your favor of the 17th and gratefully acknowledge your goodness in forwarding the requested Dispositions, which came to hand this Day = they cannot be opened but before the court, which is to meet next Tuesday I hope they will answer the purpose of recovering civil damages from the person accused, who has evaded a trail on the indictment brought by the attorney General, only by neglecting to appear at court when called all the consequence of which is the forfeiture of the bond (for[L with = through it] 2000 given for his appearance - and he is by the usual practice of this State exempt from all further prosecution in the criminal Line, and be able only to make pecuniary compensation for the value of the Note and such damages and costs as may be given by a surgeon a civil trial, wherein he may appear by himself or attorney and make as open a defense as if he was innocent
I think it is a great pity that so high handed an offender should come off so cheap and lament that it is not in my power to forward the just wishes of the Hon Judge McKean, "to bring such offenders to consign punishment - But I fear it will not be affected in this State, unless congress should think proper to recommend and adequate punishment to be inflicted on all such as counterfeit or after any of the national securities, which the fragrant of repeated frauds of that kind seem loudly to require -
Jos. Howell, Esq. Wm Thompson
Sir
i received your favor of the 17th and gratefully acknowledge your goodness in forwarding the requested Dispositions, which came to hand this Day = they cannot be opened but before the court, which is to meet next Tuesday I hope they will answer the purpose of recovering civil damages from the person accused, who has evaded a trail on the indictment brought by the attorney General, only by neglecting to appear at court when called all the consequence of which is the forfeiture of the bond (for[L with = through it] 2000 given for his appearance - and he is by the usual practice of this State exempt from all further prosecution in the criminal Line, and be able only to make pecuniary compensation for the value of the Note and such damages and costs as may be given by a surgeon a civil trial, wherein he may appear by himself or attorney and make as open a defense as if he was innocent
I think it is a great pity that so high handed an offender should come off so cheap and lament that it is not in my power to forward the just wishes of the Hon Judge McKean, "to bring such offenders to consign punishment - But I fear it will not be affected in this State, unless congress should think proper to recommend and adequate punishment to be inflicted on all such as counterfeit or after any of the national securities, which the fragrant of repeated frauds of that kind seem loudly to require -
Jos. Howell, Esq. Wm Thompson
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (1 pages) | DDA01 (175 pages) | Collection: Numbered Record Books, 1775-1798. (RG93) (M853) | V:136; P:18 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | William Thompson | Hartford | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Joseph Howell | [unknown] | [n/a] |