The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-08-06
Great Robbery at the fremont House,
Boston.

Great Robbery at the fremont House.
The Boston Bulletin OF the Sd instant says:
we have just learned that yesterday in the
forenoon daring robbery was committed at the
fremont House, IN this CITY; Mr. j. A. Merritt OF
New Orleans, arrived yesterday morning, and took
rooms at the fremont House. He had IN his trunks
large amount of property, which was stolen dur,
ing he forenoon, and, as II now appears by one OF
the dodgers, who had entered his name on the books
as &c Thompson, of Washington" The robbery
was not discovered until last evening, when MT
Merritt went to his room and found that his trunk
had been broken open and the money distracted
He Immediately gave notice al the bar oil the roDDe
ry and suspicion fell upon Thompson at once, and
he was politely asked by ''he Deacon" to step into
a paroT and wait the arrival OF an officer. He was
afterwards searched, and under the cushion OF the
sofa where he had been sitting, were found two
Treasury notes of $500 each, and some jewelry
which had been taken from the trunk. We under
stand that Thompson had negotiated during the day
two other notes OF $500 each at the Merchandising
and had spent portion of the proceeds Tor a gold
watch and other valuable articles, which were found
upon him, together with 1878 which he had re ceiv
ed from the Bank Thompson had also stolen
set OF bills OF exchange for $1,000, which he had
left, with other vauables, in the back building Of
| the fremont.
He was committed TO prison, and this morning
was take to the Police Court, examined, and put
under bonds for 5OO0for his appearance at the Mu-
nicpal Court
| The Boston Mercantile Journal of Friday, gives
The following version of the story
This morning George iThompson, alias F. w.
Gett, was brought up on the complaint OF John A.
Merritt, charged with breaking open and robbing
his trunk at the fremont House on the Sd instant,
of the following property =
Four Treasury notes. of $5O5 EACH with interest," s2ss6
Three bills OF exchange, for. ..".......... 1870
One gold ring.
One gold diamond PIN. IS
! Two gold breast pins. ........".....
ss4ls
Two of the Treasury notes, Nos. 1853 and $685. let
tiers and G, were paid at the Merchants Bank, and
cancelled. The amount paid, as testified TO by the
! The prisoner was taken into custody at the Ire
mont House last evening, about ii P. M, by some
of the officers OF the house, when constable Clapp
was sent for. On searching him eight 500 notes
of the Merchants Bank were found on his person,
and one $50 note. Beneath the cushion OF the sofa
upon which he sat were found two of the Treasury
notes not negotiated, and the ,jewelry 1t is sup.
posed that he secreted them there alter he was Ia
ken into custody. The bills of exchange were
found loosely wrapped in paper in the privy: He
purchased watch of Dows Ball 81 Co. which was
found upon his person. The evidence was suffl-
GENTLY strong to warrant his being bound over in
the OF $1,000, to take his trial at the next term
of the Municipal Court. All the property, except
$500 or $500 has BEEN recovered.
We have received an extra from the Office of the
Boston Times, from which we copy the following
additional particulars, elected during the examina-
tion-
1t seemed that Thompson was lodging at the Ire
mont, as a gentleman OF leisure, having recently
taken up his abode there from the South.
Mr.. Merritt, (who is represented by the Times as
merchant from New York; testified that ne ar
rived in town yesterday took lodgings at the Ire
mont in a room which had several beds in 1t, the
house beng full at the time went out OF town on
business with friend. returned in the evening, and
found that his trunk had been broken open, by the
clerk handing him bundle of refuse papers, &c
| which had been found, and on which Mr.. Meritt's
name was found. The thief did not take all the
property from the trunk, but left some sealed packa
ges of value.
Mr. John A. May, clerk at the Merchants Bank,
testified 10 the fact of the two Treasury notes. 1863
and 1863, being negotiated at the bank by person,
stranger. He paid $1,000 and interest, taking and
cancellng the notes, which also bore the receipt of
G Gil fa'S'A 0e'''e '''' VIC AN
testified to calling on Mr.. Clapp and searching
Thompson. Officer Clapp found on the prisoner
near him eight 500 bills, one $780, and one $50 and
| the watch. His attention had been called TO the
suspicious circumstance of stranger bargaining
for watch at Jones IL Dow's, throwing down
on the counter Treasury note for $500
No; $685.. which was not taken. watch
Clapp then followed him to Willis exchange
shop, to the Merchants Bank, to Gibert's, in Ex-
change street, and then again at the merchants"
where the gentleman was receiving the money OF
the paying teller afterward he tracked him 10 the
| ~ Y. depot, the man IN the meantime having
changed his clothes entirely.
Owing TO some accident Thompson missed the
cars, Clapp not arresting him because he was not
| then aware OF the robbery, though having watch
on him, that he readily placed his hand upon him
when called upon by Mr. Tucker at IL O'Clock last
night.
The person was fully identified, and bound over to
| the next Municipal Court In the sum OF 5000. In
default of bail ne committed.
Soon after this the District Attorney, Franklin
Dexter, Esq, at the suggestion of the Merchants
Bank, appeared in Court and desired that the Urea
sury might be given up to the bank, the agent
of the United States as they were the property OF
the Government, and should be Immediately return
ed TO Washington.
The Court was inclined to retain possession of
the same, and did so, as being necessary link in
| the chain OF evidence, and as having been, when
stolen, the property of Mr.. Merritt
NAvAL.-ARRIv AL OF THE U. 8. SLooP OF
WAR BosroN-The United States sloop OF
| war Boston, from the East Indies, via Rio
Janaro, June % arrived at this port yesterday
afternoon. Officers OF the Boston il. Collng
Long, Esq commander; T. 6. Benham, Henry
Walker and !. N. Brown, lleutenan,s; Red War
den, master; X. | Dodd, surgeon; J. H. Wright, as
sistant surgeon; N. g. Rogers, acting purser; Reu'
ben Harris, K; B. Lowry, |. p: Quackenbush B.
M'Cauley, and F. Gregory, mi shpmen; S Henri
ques, captains clerk; Elisha Wilton, gunner; L. X
Fox, bOatswain; Geo. !. Lozier, sailmaker; Mr.
Page, masters mate-all well. X. M Walsh, eec-
rotary OF legation court OF Brazil, and A N. smith,
Midshipman U. s. NJ, passengers.
This is the first cruise of the Boston since she
rebuilt She is heavily spared and armed, carving
during this cruise 20 fory-two's, carronades, and
two long twenty -iour's, being two carronades short
J of her complement We understand that she has
proved to have the qualities of an excellent sea
boat and fair saer and that she has returned IN
excellent condition, and can be reftted and sent to
sea again Immediately.
She sailed from, New York Nov 18th, 1910, and
performed her FIRST passage to Rio in 35 days-the