| R. H. A. l.
OF THE NOTORIOUS
A n in Carson.
4.W.D HER -1000MPLICES,
Bºroº Robert wharton, Esq.
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
FOR PASSING
Counterfeit Notes.
JUNE, 1828.




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Counterfeit Notes.
Mayor’s Office, Philadelphia, June 19 isºg.
Ann Carson, alias Ann Smythe, Charles Loring, Sarah Maland,
and others were put to the Bar. ROBERT WHARTON, Esq.
the Mayor of the City having taken his seat on the bench and giv
en orders to preserve silence and keep the passage clear, &c.
James Brady was called and sworn, and handed a counterfeit
note. He was asked a question by the Mayor, when Mrs. Carson
interrupted him and said “I have no counsel, Sir. I understand
that Mr. Brady has sworn to my person and I desire he will look aſ
ne, and on his oath, say whether I am the person he has accused of
passing a counterfeit note.” The witness said he has no doubt of
it and proceeded.
1 received this note between 5 and 6 o'clock on Friday June 6.
She, A. C. purchased a pair of silk stockings at a dollar and a
quarter, and I gave her change of a five dollar note. Then this
gentleman (pointing to Mr. Saville) asked me if I knew that woman
just gone out. I said no but I thought she had given me a counter-
feit note. [Mrs. Carson said I can’t hear the witness. The º
then directed the officer to assist the prisoner nearer to the wiſess.
She required assistance in consequence of having sprained her an:
cle in her escape from Trenton prison.] We then followed the wo
man up Pine street. [Here the Mayor directed the high constable
to take into custody Sarah Parish of Southwark, as one of the per
sons concerned in this conspiracy. I saw her continued the wit:
mess, go into a house, not a respectable house. Mrs. Carson said,
it is not true, it is no such thing. The Mayor, Mrs. Carson hold
your tongue or I will make you. As she continued talking, the
Mayor said, if you do not be quiet I will have you gag’d. [She
then became quiet.] I followed her into a house and said this is a
bad note—she said she would change it, and gave me five dollars
in good money and I told her I would send her the note. I have
no doubt but this is the woman that gave me the note. Mr. Saville
was the person that saw Mrs. Carson go out of my store.
John Saville, Swn. I saw a lady in the store opposite and it
was mentioned “there is Ann Carson.” I then stepped over tº
Mr. Brady and said do you know who that was that was here 1.
was between five and six o'clock. I watched the woman, and Mr.
Brady said he feared the note was bad. I know this woman well
and this is the woman who came out of Brady’s store.
º 0. What reason had yea to suppose that note was a cottº
ºfeſſº.
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W. It was from the appearance of it.
A. C. Do you recollect my dress.
W. A black silk dress.
A. C. What sort of a bonnet had I on 2
W. The bonnet did not strike me.
A. C. I should suppose the bonnet would have struck you move
than any other part of my dress?
W. I was remarking that you were much worse dressed than you
used to be.
J. W. O'Neil, Swn. I saw this note on the morning of June 6:
it was handed to me by Mr. Brady: he told me he had received it
from Mrs. Carson. I said it was bad—he said he had lost nothing
by it, as she had given him good money for it. I took it the next
morning to Mr. Campbell, the Cashier of the Philadelphia Bank.
The note was marked by Mr. J. Brady and myself, and I have no
doubt that is the note.
Hugh Brady, Swn. I know this note, J. W. O'Neil, handed it
to me. I showed it to Mr. Boyd, who said it was a counterfeit.
It was never out of my sight, while Mr. Boyd had it. That’s my
signature on the note.
Sam. H. Carpenter, Swn. I belong to Mr. Girard’s bank, and
know his signature well. That note is a counterfeit. It is not Mr.
Girard’s hand writing. I am positive it is not.
1 will now said the Mayor, call a witness to whom Ann Carson
acknowledged that she had passed a counterfeit note of this kind.
The witness is one of your bosom companions.
M. C. It could hardly be believed 1 was so foolish as that.
have no bosom companion.
The Mayor. Bring out Sarah Willis, this is the woman that
same with you Ann, from New-York.
Sarah Willis, Swn. I came on from New-York with Ann Gar-
son, and she told me that she had passed a counterfeit five dollar
note on Girard’s Bank to Mr. James Brady.
Q. Campbell, Cashier of Philadelphia Bank, Swn. I was hand-
ed a note of this description by Mr. O’Neil and I said it was coun-
terfeit and returned it forthwith to the young man.
S. Willis, again called. I know that she bought silk stockings
*om Mr. Brady, and I believe them are the stockings Lalluding to
a pair of silk stockings the Mayor showed the º -
ºl. C. I wish to ask the State witness a question.
C. Have you not told (look me in the face Sarah Willis)
some person that you had stockings of mine in your trunk?
W. No, I never did. -
Ann Carson was then ordered on this charge to find bail in 33,000
º answer at the Mayor's Court now sitting in the city of Philadel.
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phia, or else be committed for trial. The witnesses were all bound-
over in $100 to give evidence at the Mayor’s court. -
Now said the Mayor, I shall take up the case of a conspiracy be-
tween Ann Carson, alias Smythe, Charles Loring, Sarah Maland,
and Sarah Parish, &c. “to pass and utterfalse, forged and counter-
feit notes purporting to be good and genuine notes of sundry incor-
porated banks, as well as those of the bank of Stephen Girard, they
well knowing the same were forged and counterfeited.”
Sarah Willis. [The mayor had previously privately examined
and taken down the examination on oath ºf Sarah Willis, and from
that paper he examined her from time to time during the public exa-
mination.] I went to Parish’s in a hack and sat down, and Mrs.
Carson and Mrs. Parish had a private conversation, while she told
Mrs. P. she had got those notes, and Mrs. P. said something might
be done with them. We went to Mrs. Maland. Ann said she
would prepare her money and said she would pass it the next day
or be in prison. She rubbed it over her hair and in her hands to
mull it, and they told me to do the same with mine. We went to
bed and early in the morning Ann said she would go out and pass
them.
1. C. Speak out, I cannot hear you.
The Mayor. She shall speak loud enough for you to hear what
she says.
W. She soon returned and said she had passed one, but that she
had had it returned and gave good money for it. She seemed much
frightened. Mrs Parish said I was a d-d fool that I did not
hide, that I would be taken by the officers—that Ann was now in
the cellar to conceal herself from them. I went and saw Ann in the
cellar, and at her request went to enquire in Pine street, and found
the note had not been returned nor any officer been there. This I
told Ann Carson on my return. I went to Shaffer's and there met
Loring and others. He took me to Mrs. Maland who was sick in
bed and 1 shewed her the counterfeit notes I had. Dr. Loring came
there and left the carriage in which had been Mrs. Carson. Mrs.
Maland, and Mrs. Carson walked first, then the Dr. and 1.
The Mayor. Did you take the bootle with you then? [Bootle is a
slang word for a bundle of forged notes...] Here A. C. laughed and
said to the Mayor, “I see your honour is up to the slang.” -
We met at the Yellow Cottage and took some refreshment and
looked at the money. We talked of putting them off and conclude:
to sell the whole. I gave all mine to Sarah Maland. I don't
know whether Ann gave her’s or not. Ann thought the Dr. (10-
ring) might offer one of the counterfeits at the bar, but he said he
paid for the refreshments in silver, although Ann had told him to
push one of the notes off. He had offered one of the notes but the
man would not take it.
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5
phomas B. Steel, Swn. He keeps the Yellow Cottage. There
was a man, this is the man, Loring: who offered me a nºte. I
ºld him it was not good; he then paid me. I did not notice the
women much. The note was like this, but the paper rather darker.
Loring said it was as good as the Bank. He paid me in a one dol
lar Philadelphia Bank note. -
8. Willis, called again. I came up first to Mrs. Parish’s and
she said Wm. Butler had been there three times and would be there
again. I sent word to Ann and she came up and said she had sºld
$100 of Girard’s notes to Butler for $30. That evening Mrs. Pa.
ish and Ann talked a good deal and Ann said that next day she
would get a gig and go into the country and run this money off.
This was at the time she was mulling the money. Mrs. Parish
said she would go with her and earry the bootle, but she would be
afraid to offer the notes. I met Ann at Shafer’s that evening.
Ann said I was such a d-d coward that I was afraid, and ºrg.
Parish advised us to pass the money off as soon as possible, as Ann
was so well known here.
Ann told Sarah Maland, that she would not give her her money,
for that if Butler could, he would take it all as he was going to Ger-
mantown and Baltimore Races. It was at New-York Races he
was to play the money on the sweat cloth. Ann made the sweat
cloth. Mrs Parish was not by at this conversation, but she several
times urged us to push of the money for fear of being taken. Mrs.
Carson told me she put one off at Bordentown where we lodged. .
got the money at 20 for the 100 dollars; otherwise the notes to be
returned to Mrs. Fearis. Ann told me she was to get from Mrs.
Fearis at New-York, a bootle of 3 or 4,000 dollars in notes on Gi-
rard’s and the Camden bank. Dont recollect to have heard at N.
York, that a large bootle was expected from Canada.
Mayor. Put Mr. Moore in the bar. I have got a charge against
him. I am very glad I have got you sir. was afraid you had got off.
While we were at New-York we got a bootle. Ann cºunted it.
380 dollars—I brought it to Bordentown and there shared it nearly
share and share alike. I told Ann not to give Foster any—that
did not like the family and he might betray them.
Ann cursed me for my cowardice and said I had engaged in a
business that I was afraid to go through with. Ann told me in the
ºlºr where her money was, and again told me of what took place
in ºth street. -
lºve a woman ſainted in the dock, when Ann Carson said please
yºur honour she has been in the cells ever since I was in custody.
The Mºor. She is an old convict and iſ she will persist in such
ºf vicious conduct, she must take the consequence (ºr
* is subject to its she is getting better. The woman ºs
ºn into the fresh air.


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1. C. Please your honour, I would say something to this woman ||
The mayor. By and bye you shall have an oppportunity of talking
ºff. C. The person in whose house she says I was concealed, i.
now here and I wish him examined. She says I mulled the money
twice. She has forsworn herself by saying I mulled the money
twice. I leave it to any of the persons present.
The mayor. I cannot permit any person here to give any opinion
as to the testimony.
A. C. I wish that they should bear it in mind, to give evident.
before she court.
* C. to the witness—Mrs. Willis or Mrs. Whitaker, don't you
know that I have not been on friendly terms with Mrs. Maland or
Dr. Loring?
W. You have been very friendly with her lately, and so you
have with Dr. Loring.
ºff. C. I should like to make a statement of my actuaintance with
these people and my opinion of them.
The mayor. I dare say your opinion of them is bad enough, it
must be so.
W. Ann and I went to find Mrs. Maland and Dr. Loring before
we went to Sarah Parish. I left my trunk there and considered it
my home.
4. C. What compensation did you make Mrs. Parish for your
board.
The mayor. That is not a proper question. If she owes any
thing to Mrs. Parish, she may sue her for it.
4. C. Did you ever hear me say any thing about captain or Mrs.
Parish, assisting in any manner.
W. I did. I heard you say they would assist you to pass the
money.
Here Mrs. Carson loudly exclaimed, and the mayor said, “You
need not utter any expression of surprise here.”
.1. C. “How can I help it when I hear innocent people sworn
against. I don’t mind what she says against me.”
W, still continued under the examination of the Mayor. I told
Mr. Moore there was a bootle of money expected and I gave him
one of Girard’s spurious notes, to compare with a genuine one, and
he came down to Parish's, and I asked him how he liked the notes
he said very well. I told him I gave a dollar a piece for them-º.
said they were worth it, and took two or three more of them.
Ann wished Loring to give one of the notes for a pair of shoes ºn
I said I would rather not—I would give a good note. She said
was a fool and gave Loring the measure of her foot.
Ann went out of town in a carriage on Saturday morning and Lo
ring went a little with her; when he came back he said she seemed

[ . . - *
much alarmed. Mrs. Parish told me her trunks and house had
ºn searched and Dr. Loring taken away by the officers. This
is after he passed the money for her to the shoemaker.
A. C. I don’t know any thing of shoemakers. The mayor–
They are a very respectable class of men-I was a hatter and cover-
ºn the head—the shoemakers cover the feet, and I do not wish to
hear anything disrespectful of theºn. Why sit said ºl. C. you co-
were the more honourable part.]
C. Did you ever hear me talk with Loring about spurious
| money.
Witness, No-but you told me there was an understanding be:
ween you and him. After Loring was taken I went to Shepherd,
and related what was done to Mrs. Maland. I told her I thought
there was an officer coming and she threw away the notes she had.
Mrs Shepherd said they were too good to be lost, and I went down
and picked them up in the street and brought them in and gave them
ºn Mrs. Shepherd. Next morning Mrs. Maland told me that she
and Mrs. Shepherd had buried the notes in the yard.
Mrs. Shepherd now came towards the Mayor to talk of giving
bail, and a man presented himself. What! said the Mayor, do you
Aaron Shepherd, offer I would not take your bail for a farthing.
Your wife told me on her oath, that you had gone away with her
half sister, and married her in the Western Country. I wont take
you for bail for one cent. Your character is too base. I know you
too well.
Mrs. Carson. Will you allow me sir, to speak for this woman.
The mayor–No! indeed, I will not. You are not her counsel.
Mrs. Shepherd talked a good deal, but very little in defence of
the charge brought against her.
Mrs. Willis the witness said, I received a note in prison in which
Sarah Maland told me Ann would have Willis taken up at New-
York, if I did not speak the truth here.
1. C. Will you hear me sir?
| Mayor. No! I will not, I will hear this woman (Shepherd) as she
began first. - -
1. C. Last evening the watchman at the prison was going the
rounds of The prison he asked me how I was and said that he heard
rom New-York, that Willis had been detected passing a note and
that he either was or would be taken up.
Mayor. I cannot have my time taken up by New York stories,
and business not before me. I have little time enough to do the
Public business without having it occupied in listening to stories
which I know to be untrue.
ºn this mass of testimony, interesting as it is, we offer but one ob.
*ation. There does appear to have been a good leek out kept and
















8
these arrests will probably prevent loss to thousands. We hº
some reason to expect that a gang of conspirators and counterfeitº
have also been arrested at New-York. We have omitted much
relevant matter, but nothing occurred which we thought mateº
which we have not reported. -
The following commitments were the result of these examinations.
ºnn Carson alias Smith, committed for passing a five dollar note
to J. & H. Brady, to answer at the present Mayor’s court. Bail
3,000 dollars. - -
Charles Loring and Sarah Maland committed to answer for a
conspiracy in the county, to answer at the next court of Quarter
Sessions. Bail 1,000 dollars each.
Ann Carsson, alias Smyth, and Sarah Parish, for a conspiracy
in the county, is * The next court of Quarter Sessions. Bail
1,000 dollars each.
Ann Carson, alias Smyth, and Jeremiah Moore, for a conspiracy,
to answer at the present Mayor's court. Bail, 1,000 dollars each.
Elizabeth Shepherd and Sarah Maland, for a conspiracy, to an-
swer at the present Mayor's court. Bail, 1,000 dollars each.
Wm. Butler, for passing a five dollar note to Ann Messina, to an
swer at the present Mayor's court. Bail, 3,000 dollars.
Sarah Maland, for passing a five dollar note to Enoch Mudge,
to answer at the present Mayor’s eourt. Bail, 3,000 dollars.
Mayor's Court, July 2, 1823.
ANN CARSON, was brought into Court, (her Counsel hav.
ing deserted her, knowing her case to be desperate) she under-
went her trial and was convicted by the Jury.
* Since the above was put to press, Loring and Butler were
sentenced to Ten Years imprisonment each-inn Carson and tº
other females, to Seven Years imprisonment.
ſº º, º º -
'º - -