The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-04
THE CASE OF JUSTICE WILEY.
Erom lle .Nsw York Standard.

CouRT OF OYER AND TERMINER, DECEMBER 30.
Before Judge Kent and Aldermen Purdy and Lee.
The People rs WILLIAM WmEY-The accused,
who is Assistant Justice Of the 5th, 9Th, and l4th
Wards Court, was put upon his trial on Wednesday
ON an indictment charging him with having received
stolen property knowing VI To be stolen VIZ gold and
silver, the bills Of the Frederick county Mary
Bank and sundry bonds, notes, and checks of said
bank, altogether Of the value of about SlS0,00
From the testimony of the Cashier and two Of the
Directors of the bank appeared that that institution
was burglariously entered, without violence, between
Saturday night, the 22d, and Monday morning. the
oath Of May, and robbed Of about $4,000 Of the
bills of the bank Of Sl0,049 in gold of ~, 0S2 80 in
the notes and checks of other banks and some
scrip, left on deposite as also of eleven sterling
bonds Of 1850 each; six bonds of $1,000 each ;
fourteen certificates Of stock of $1,000 each some
Washington Turnpike stock, amounting nominal
ly 10 $4,000; and some certificates OF Balti-
more stocks After the discovery of this large
robbery the Oath of May, exertions were used and
rewards offered for the recovery OF the moneys and
bonds and the apprehension of the robbers; but no
dings of either obtained, until letter, dated
New York, June l6, lS4l and signed william Wi
ley, received by the Cashier of the bank on the
18th of June, informing him that if he, or the Pres
dent, person acting for the bank, would come
on and have an interview with him, Mr. Wiley he
had no doubt that he could make arrangements IN a
manner that would prove satisfactory, and that 1t
would afford him wiley great pleasure to be the
means of ehecting restitution of the heavy loss the
bank had sustained, &c.
On the receipt of this letter DIR. Tyler and Mr.
Beall agents of and in behalf of the Bank, on,
and the 2lst June Wiley, and asked him if he
were ready to attend TO the business of his letter. and
he replied he was, but could not fix the time, as his
employer was out Of the city The reward Of 8
per cent for the recovery of the bills of the bank if
the bonds, SC were restored, was mentioned to Wi
ley who said 1t was not satisfactory to his employer,
who expected 10 per cent. This the agent said was
impossible, and they separated On the following
Wednesday they conferred again. and the l0 per
cent. still insisted on by Wiley for his employer,
which the agents again refused to give, and Wiley
successfully offered $4,000, 100000, 900, and
Sll5,0O0 of the bills to be restored, which were sew
orally refused TO be received in full by the agents,
who demanded the 1924 600 of the issue Of the bank
This Wiley objected to, saying his employers had APP
propriated portion of the money to their use,
and per cenage Of per cent? if 100000 were re-
turned was finally agreed to by all parties; Wiley,
for his employers, engaging to restore Sl2O,000, and
as much more he could command, for the per
cent and the notes. bonds &C. be surrendered free
of charge. On the 26th June, Wiley called upon
them, and protessed to be ready TO conclude the BUSH
ness by restoring the money, Sc and the parties met
in upper in the Havana House, corner Of
Howard street and Broadway and after going out for
some ten minutes, Wiley returned with yalise,
which he opened, and took out packages done UP in
strong paper, which, on being opened, were found to
contain the bonds, notes, &c. and Sl22, 6l9 Of the
bills of the bank Previous to this however, Wiley
went and called in Mr.. Hearn Mr.. See, the clerk
of the court and Mr. Hasey, the cashier of the Bank
OF New York, who were present at the opening and
counting of the money, &c and its delivery over TO
the officers or agents of the bank
No gold was lound-Mr. Wiley saying it was 'dle
talk about returning the gold as the gold
returned in such cases The per cent. was then
paid to Wiley in bills Of Maryland banks-thst per
centage amounting TO 80 S09 50, for which Wiley
gave Messrs Tyler and BcalI receipt, "as settle
ment upon the restoration Of the Sl22 GIG of the is
sues OF the Frederick County Bank, at the rate offs
per cent They also gave him receipt for the
l22,6l9, in full satisfaction and discharge Of him
(Wiey) and all parties" The loss the bank sus-
tanned by the operation, Including the reward WIS
computed at about 800 600 II appeared that the par
ties separated mutually satisfied, except that Wiley
wished the agents Of the bank TO obtain of its drec-
tors consideration for his services which they pro-
missed To and did propose to them, but no allowance
was made. Wiley gave as reason for asking this
that those for whom he acted were men on whom he
could not depend for remuneration. 1t appeared also
that when the agents were here to negotiate he resto
ration Of the money, they walked gu, with w Hey
who showed them the public buildings, &c. No in
tenlion to prosecute Wiley conceived until the
August following, when the agents came on hitler
and had him indicted
The defence was that the offence harged did not
come under the statute there was no evil intent
IN the accused, who received the goods for the pur-
pose of restoring them TO the rghtful owners and
also that in legal point Of vew nocgal offence had
been committed II had been settled hat bank note
were not goods chattes, and therefore the indct-
ment must fall. There no testimony to rebut
that for the proseculion-the counsel for the accused
resting his defence the ground of his previous good
character, which was abundanty established in evi.
dence by host of respectable witnesses.
Ike case was summed up by Messrs Price and
O'Connol for the defence and by p Hall, and
James R, Whiting, Esqs for the people occupying
the whole of yesterday. Judge Kent then charged
hejury, who retired at halt past ! o'clock, p m.
and, after an absence of " hours, returned into
Court with verdict of guilty, with recommended
ton to mercy.