The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-12
nssJy, alias Burr DAnnstt, the notsd DWindlsr
and FOrger.

DssIy, alias Burr DAnnstt, the noted DwindIsr
and FOrger
From the Montreal Transcript, April u
The annexed communication, containing additional
information respecting this artu and unprincpled indl
vidua has besn furnished us for publication by the
gentlemen whose names below justly enttle their state
ment to tho respectful consideration of the friends OF
justice. the citizens of Montreal and particularly TO
those who have suffered from the dupicy and artince
Of this daring impostor
From the following letter. addressed to merchant Of
this In reply to certain inquiries respecting the said
Seely it would appear that he was some years since
known in the state OF New York by and reputation
he assumed the Of ssely with view not only to
elude the vigilance OF that justice which would
eventually have arrested his nefaious designs but as
cloak under which he might continue practice tho.
deception and fraud which he has artfaly imposed
upon large portion of the citizens Of Montreal -
BANK OF DANsvrLLs, N.Y,(
DEAR SIR,-I am greatly obliged by your Information
respecting Burr seey alias Burr Bennett and in return
hasten to give you Information upon which you may
This man is the vertasle Burr Bennett who came to
this place in 1914 with heavy stock Of goods, and
N. Y. In the fall he sold out his stock Benz Cook
at about half price and started ostsnsby for York
$40 oeO-isssued handbiils-empoyed the police, and
made great noise but the artincs shallow aud
badly played off, that it gained no credit and to avoid
the opportunities Of his New York creditors and the
public Indignation he fed the country. and this is the
nrst ntmstion that We have had of his whereabouts
greater rogue q more accomplished, does not
probaoy exist and the citizens of Montreal and tn.
public generally, have reason to congratulate themselves
upon his arrest
You at liberty to make such Of this letter
tanned in 1t
Yours very respectfully,
s c. WOODRUFF, Cashier.
In relation to his name, the statement contained in
the above letter is fully corroborated by the fsct that
at recent sale held at Champan in the State of New
York. Of sundry effects seissd by tho sheriff the pro-
perty of said Ssely-the name of Burr Bennett was
marked upon several articles Of wearing apparel These
articles purchased by of the creditors residing
in Montreal and are now In his possession and can ct
From various Sources the above named persons have
reliable information that the raid Ssely alias
Burr Be1nst to Montreal two or three years
since from the State of New York that he then offered
himself student Of law and after having obtained
sufficient information to the law of Lower Canada to
enable him avoid leg responsibility turned his at
tension to those private specuaons Of cent per cent
oulties and urgent necessities of the unfortunate
chant and the struggling tradesmap. Living In COM
Portable and with pecunisry
resources at his command lin all probability the fruits
Of his former peculaton he gradually acquired the
fdence of many citizens here, and by tho
ready facilities Of his business habits, attracted
notorisy His means enabled him on several occasions
negotiate bills Of exchange between Montreal and the
neghhoring cities Of the United States which circum
stance doubtless conferred upon him that degree OF
money Importance which only served to stimulate his
Avaroious desires for further gain BY the arts Of fraud
circumventon and crime Sheiterng himself under the
semblance of an affected zssl for the promotion OF
Christian piey he attached himself and family to one
the religious o. Ia: o,sy Gocup;a
at prayer meetings. and subscribed literally to those
benevolent societies associated for the Advancement Of
Christianity and the diffusion of its sacred doctrines
These subscriptions, however Liberal to their nomi
nal amou nt-we learn paid, with the sxcsp
position thu. h. to extent
confidence and favorable opinions Of many ofour worthy
and enterprsing merchants and in some few cases of
responsibility enabled to extend his credit and
large tho sphere of his business operations.
Having thus far succeeded In attracting the notice
portion of the commercial public Of Montreal he some
six or eight months since opened office In st. Fran
co.'s Xavier street, and commenced business as an ex
charge broker. This situation necessarily introduced
him into what Is technically dsnernnsted in financial
language " the money MARKET and from his having
various banks in the western parts Of New York. the
cheques which duly paid to individuals who
chased them here he soon became at the several
banks of this city those OF discount
collection and deposit, connected with all monetary af
fairs He at time exhibited from eight to ten Ger
caes of dsposte various banks in the Unied States
the varying from $500 to 81 900, all of which
sold in Montreal and duly honored by the said banks
He represented the amount of these deposits Is being an
annuity from his wifes father to her-the quarterly in
stslments being $500. These few transactions regu
lated by the apparent promptness and fidelity Of mer
camille integrity obtained for the said S4ely alias Burr
Bennett the partial confidence Of some few Of our
influential and respect merchants; and presuming
their favorable moderation, and aided his
prscsed arts Of assimilation and cunning knavery he
planned that series of successful mpostions the 60
nerous confidence Of the people Of Montreal which
not but awaken the just Indignation OF every honest
mind end nvoks the speedy interpretation of that
Justice which alone adequately punish this daring
and hardened culprit The following "details exhibit
few cases among the many in which he succeeded in
obtspir large amount Of money from the various in
dviduals upon whom he practised his we'll planned and
artfu dsceptions They include all classes of society
from the foushing and uent, to the hurnblest Ia
borer who tolls for his daily subsistence Among the
evinced some show Of generosity boastsd effort an
assumed magnsnimity Of mind-they will rob only the
sssy on the contrary faithfully acted out the true
character Of stern and memorable robber The just
demands of humble poverty met no reur. of justice at
try were among the spoils of his nq 1itous trumphs
notorious 1t is inhuman that among those
whom he sought to overreach by his perndous designs
to DO found many of the poor sIketwomen Of the
metropolis who subsist alone upon their daily earnings
and among the very last of his deuded victims the
cabmen and carters who assisted him in his bur-
risd and ignomiuious fight from the city
II would in fact require columns Of space to detail all
the instances in which Seey has imposed upon the
munity; . few more may be added -
He sold q draft for $1,000 Otsego County Bank, to
firm here representing that be had funds deposited
In that bank, against which authorized draw
The draft has been returned protested for accep
lance Also another DRAFT on the bank for 5000
aud third for 500 In fact he made every attempt to
some of them Of large amounts he evidently had
funds and prospect of having fundsin the bank
which the drafts were drawn.
On the 18th February last sesly sold TO mercantile
house bill Of exchange for fa25 stg drawn, or pre-
tended to be drawn, on Barring Brothers, of London by
Ell Corbett Co, in favor Of B. Seely & Co, dated
Philadelphia 4th February ls4S. He represented to
the parties who bought the exchange that the firm Of
l.. Corbett Co. wss wealthy and respectable house
with which he was connected, and which had been
largely engaged In the lumber trade In Canada II sp-
pears from the affidavit Of sngraver in this city that
he engraved for Ssely qure two Of blank bills of
change dated at Philadelphia, with the name " T.. L
Corbett Co." In themsrsn, and the pay bill soli on
the 18th February, and dated on 4th February, IL
id ntiaed by the engrever having been delivered by
himself to Ssely on the evening Of the 18th February
These facts sworn to and sbundAnty established,
and form part of the grounds which charge Of for
gerry IL gfourded.
Another case II will be rscolested that Sealy ab-
sconded Sunday the goth February; the evening
previous he obtained various of money various
prstences giving checks payable at the Bank Of British
North America, which being presented for payment
on the Monday following, were oil course, dshonorsd
"A wals ofS Anti nj at q auA in