Lancaster Gazette

Villainy Extraordinary.

A case of high-handed forgery has just been discovered in this town which almost exceeds our credulity, notwithstanding the facts in the case are too obvious and stupendous to be either suppressed, evaded, or in shape discredited. Luther Richardson, a Counsellor at Law, of respectable standing in his profession, and a young man of small family, heretofore possessing of integrity the unbounded confidence of this community, has been found engaged in this deplorable business, and to him beyond a doubt, notes and endorsements against various individuals in town, though mostly in town, to the extent of twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand dollars! No palliating circumstances, temptations of any kind, nor necessities we have yet heard of, can come in mitigation of this atrocious transaction. Richardson's habits were ever irreproachable in private life, so far as our own knowledge or information has extended. No losses, nor any liabilities, which he incurred, could have been an inducement to the perpetration of a crime so enormous. To account for it, therefore, is beyond our conception. A small proportion of the forgeries will fall upon one or two of the banks, while the remainder must be borne by individuals, and some who have heretofore been Mr. R.'s best and most devoted friends. The affair is certainly an unparalleled one, both in point of criminality and extent. We forbear to express more at present upon a subject so full of unhappy reflections.