The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-23
General Sessions.

DEC. 22-7fiai of Robert Griffith Tor Conspiracy-
This notorious mock transportation agent put upon
vid Sisson, for obtaining money from John P.Aon Cor
nens g. Patterson and Stephen Campbell by false and
end defended by Theron Rudd, Esq. For the prosecn
ton VIM. NJ. Price and 8. T Mason Esus Several in
dctments had been found against these for obtaining
money under false pretences but they all merged
ny consent OF prosecution in this indictment for consp
racy.
JOHN p ALLISON called and sworn for prosecution-J
reside at Haversraw, Rockland county. called on Grit
9Th and Ssson the LIST of April last SIS Pearl street.
was induced from advertisement that saw in the sun
adv ertisig Tor agents who salary OF
$1,000 by aaysncng $500 The first time ! called Issw
to the selection of agents called again on the 4th OF
April. then saw Sisson and Griffith. Sisson introduced
me to Griffith the man who wished agents and told him
that had called for that purpose asked Griffith
corning the business he said he wanted agent get
freight and baggage. He said he had several
had agents Albany New Haven and Hartford and that
he had just obtained one for Boston also that he had
New Haven asked il the $500 desired Is an advance
would be SAFE He said that the money that would col
ect would make safe also that they owned boats and
other property in the city, and that they part
Of the Great Western Transportation Line He also said
they had agents at Troy, sc: sisson present at
owners Of the line. Each OF them represented them
selves as partner in the line He said that it was
an old line and partnership and that the office at New
Haven had brought in last about SSOOO Hart
ford about $lO000hat being the best represented
made choice of that place and afterwards went Hart
after and stated that the office open and ad
vertiscments had been put out in my came down
about the 18th or 10Th Of April advanced Griffith $780, and
my notes for $500 at short daes then went Hart
ford and found that Griffith Ssson had no Office there
and were not known by any onea letter here PRO.
duced signed by Samuel Fisher the clerk OF Griffith
Ssson)his letter stated that they would receive 500
and my notes for 80 and so days for the balance David
Ssson with the steamboat Belle and ntr
me to Mr. Halber who keeps agency office there and
who believe was in company with Hsrnden & Co in
running express there; ssson asked him there was
IN fhp toot otNoxkA
went to Hartford boarded there with Mr.. Hubert but
found nothing to do wrote buck and they sent me let
letter containing the reply Of Griffith Co. written bv
clerk to witness here presented and they never
provided me with any office while at Hartford could
ascertain that any such ofce kept there; left
Hartford about the lst of May and this city
went to their office in Pearl street the day after came
back and Sisson he told back that he would
be there the next day. did not 60; the next day saw
Griffith and told him that discouraged and would not
go back ne denied had said that he had ever col
ected $iOeoO Hartford have since collected INV
by law at considerable expense; asked him TO give
me niy dollars nn to pay my expenses back he said
my month out, and that at the end OF it if /
did not collect the amount he would send it on
to that he did not wish TO be troubled with such small
business $50 because he did business on large sca
met Si.son afterwards. and he advised go away a.
wasa conspicuous character and If did not go that Grit
nth might put me in the Tombs-he said Griffith was
damned rascal
Cross-,remined Iy THERON KupD for Defence The
agreement presented was signed by Griffith ana me
first gave him my note for $500, and when returned
rom Haverstraw paid him 500 and taking IN that for
$780, gave him two notes for 5000 each o. and
90 days. believe refused to 20 back when he reques
ell me to-
srErHrr CORNELL deposed tina. he became acquan,.
ed with Griffith and Sson in April last that having seen
an advertisement went to their office in Pearl street
they said they wanted agents for offices concerned with
the Great Western Transportation Company they want.
ed me to go 10 Albany, Which refused they then told
that they had used Office in West street near Court
landt which could have | then asked Griffith WHY
they desired $500 advance in cash h said that the com
owned enteen boats Sisson was at Alba
making preparations for the opening of the canal tina,
the Grths Of Troy partners in the limo Beach at
Rochester and Judge Homblower Of New Jersey
the reason that he wished the advance of $500 was that
other ncs had been'n the habit Of buying off their
and this was to prevent 1t asked him il could net
place tho money In some bank to his order he said no.
as the receipts OF money through would be consdera
ble and that in less than twenty days would collect Sc
vera hundred dollars being satisfied with his repre-
sensations signed the agreement end gave him check
drawn by Garrt Garretson of ushug on the City Bank
for $03 and his note demand for the balance saw
friend that evening and showed him the contract; he
said that he thought the Company had failed went
to the bank the next morning to stop the check hn
did not see the check clerk then went 10 the
office OF Griffith s. Co. where saw sisson for the
hrst time he told me that he had lust returped
from Albanyo on asking for references he gave me the
name OF Henry A. Harot and Charles Boughton-Grifh
then came in and we had further conversationLs
son then said that Griffith rich man. aud not only
owned houses and lots in this city, bu, 400 acres of land
up the rverwhenever would come over to the cty he
would sometimes say rainy day. and there was no
use OF seeing about the office thcnthe next day was Fri
day and he thought that quite unlucky TO commence b
sness-the nert being Saturday was too late in the
week and so II went until the last of Apr-sbout this
tme saw publication in the New York Herald relativ.
to cheating practices Of these men and then taxed
them about II, and demanded return of nv money and
Hotes-H was through the Herald that nv eyas were
opened 10 these rdscahhes Afterwards sisson who
told me that he not partner of Griffith that Grit
fifth owned no boats, and there of suing him
IN ~Sss .sd that ss
occupied during the winter and which hsy said