The New York herald., 1850-04-06

We have received, by the brig Catherine, Capt.
Scott from the above port Esd ult., accounts of
most singular affair which had occurred there
within few days previous, involving the charac-
ter Of several Of the leading merchsnts of that
place We give the account, but suppose that 1t
ought to be received with some caution We omit
the names.
One party 10 accused of having received and en-
beazled large amount of properly belonging to
bankrupt merchant, who absconded from Santiago
about seven years since. This, by the Spanish
law, is crime which renders the receivers liable
10 three times the amount, aud subjects them to
other punishment. One OF the partners Of the
house, and Seniors - and -, were thrown
into separate prisons, and had not been released
when the Catherine sailed.
The aecusers are Spanlards of high standing
and infiuenco with the governmeRt-the principal
one il nearly connected with the late aad present
Governor, and has powerful relatives and friends
In old Spain. He has been doing business as a
merchant, snd agent tor the COPPER mines at San
tiago. He. and all OF mis- class entertain the most
bitter feelings against fore gsers. all Of whom they
wlsh TO exclude from doing any business on the
island They would Danish them ii they could
number Of papers we're produced, and many
collateral evidences and circumstances brought
forward. The principal proof against tue accused
was receipt for sol 900, IN cash, and an obliga.
ton 10 pay the amount to the bankrupt in pe-sou,
signed by hem, In the handwriting of one of the
accused.
There were other documents, purportng to be
lists OF notes, moneys and obli cations, placed by
the bankrupt IN the hands OF HIS father-ln-law
(since dead,) and two Others, To be accounted for
BY them, amounting 10 nearly $i0,0 more.
The defence set up fraud and forgery; and
after several days Of great excitement aud anxety,
tie document against the accused was examined
by a commission al ak of the first chemists of the
CRY, and unanimously pronounced torgery-the
INK on some OF the paper over their signature,
having been extracted by chemica al agents and new
writing substituted, the commencement the head
ot The former. Sr Dr." and parts Of let ers al the
beginning OF the lines being still legiole. This
verdict was only known On the evening Of the 221,
and It's announcement gave general joy, the SYM
psihies of the business public heinz strongly iu
he was known To have various business effects,
with some few exceptions, Traced to his father-in-
law, who had been bOund for him TO a large
amount Ii WIS not known wsat had become of
them. tie had declared a dividend, but on the
promised day of payment was ml-siDg Adjudged
criminal and outlaw, he has been living at Cars
Gas Ind Jamacs, in dirgrace, and Of late years in
psvrry, such as to have received charity from his
former creditors In SAINT isRc. He Is also connect-
ed with some OF the high blood OF old Spain, VINO,
II IL ehio, are strongly interested restoring him
The removal OF the former American Consul,
and The appolntmsnt at talented and honorable
gentle mau, Mr.. Sewall, as successor, had given
much satisfaction; but he has been there some
seven or eight months waiting Tor PERMISSION to
act and without any reason assigned for the delay
by the authorities.
On the I'D, nm order was issued e. enforce strict
quarantine on all vessels from New York and Lii
v.rpoo', whether direct or from other ports The
reason assigned WINS that the cholera had broken
out on board an emigrant ship.