The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-14


Mr.. J. A. Bennett had been arrested in New York
on grave criminal charges. The editor of the Ma
tional Police Gazette. MIR. Wilkes, gives minute
account Of all the circumstances which first led him
to suspect Mr.. Bennett Of criminal intimacy with
the Drurys.
The Gazetk couples together the names Of Sam
uel Drury, resident at Astoria, IL. Id Joseph G.
Ashley, resident in Brooklyn, James A. Bennett,
resident at Utrecht, and " One Eyed Thompson
having no fixed residence. II alleges that Mr. Ben
nett on his return from the Mormon expedition in
1885, built the house at Utrecht and shortly after
ward mortgaged it for $4,000 to MIR. John Anthem,
seven per cent. being the rate Of interest Suisse
quently he returned the money to MIR. Anthem,
having procured $4,000 at six per cent interest
from Mr.. James Foster, jr., Of Bond street. The
rate of interest was afterward raised to per
cent. Mr.. Bennett, being still embarrassed, ult-
mately became acquainted with Dury and Ashley,
and involved in their schemes. Mr.. Wilkes says
that when the Drurys were arrested it became cvi-
dent to him that some design frustrated in
which Drury and Bennett were engaged, and this
idea was confirmed when he ascertained that Mr..
Bennett was going to appear in their defence
On the 9th December he received the following
anonymous letter:
''NEw YoRK, December 9th, ls49
RESPECTED SIR A few days ago wrote to his
honor the Mayor, informing him about the attempt
TO murder Mr. Foster; and as my letter TO him may
not have come to hand, and my conscience will not
let me rest until have done all in my power to
save the life Of fellow creature, take the liberty
OF writing TO you about it. dare not give you my
name, but If trouble comes to my poor husband,
who has been very unfortunate, ! viii make myself
known, and hope you will intercedc with Mr.
Woodruff to save him. My husband has become
very poor, having failed in business, and been fora
long time sick, and tempted into crime; but
he Is not one of those that intend to murder Mr..
Foster, although he knows of it. They intend to
kill him, and to show that he owes them large sums
OF money, just as Mr.. Proctor was served long
time ago. write to you also because you have had
one OF the parties taken up and put in prison, which
was in hopes would have broken up the plan; but
1t s not SO, TO my great sorrow, as they have COM
naenced their plan, and say if they stop now they
will be discovered This person is, learn, Mr..
Foster, rich man. and has Office in Wall street.
If wrong my husband in writing this, may God
forgive me for it, for 1 am acting from pure and
as well as any thing else. If you take measures to
save Mr. Foster please state in your paper that the
wishes of Mrs. L. complied with, and relieve
me from the anxiety endure"
He then called upon the mayor, who had received
the letter referred TO- but had laid it aside without
reading, because it was anonymous. Mr.. Foster
was now sent for to the mayors Office, and subse-
quently Mr.. Wilkes had an interview with him at
his residence. We here take up the Gaxette's mar
rativc.
We met him at his residence, and talked over the
affair. 1t plain that the letter to referred to
our arrest of Drury and its ausion to the Proctor
matter called up Ashley in the picture. At length.
after having developed to Mr.. F. the nature of the
connexion between Drury and Ashley, we remarked
that there was third person connected with their
designs, whose name was one Of the secrets Of the
Drury case, and which we would mention on the
condition that it should not be repeated.
"This person." said we, "who is likely TO be q
party to the general design against you. is James
Arlington Bennett"
Mr.. Foster leaned back in his chair, and seemed
astounded. care you sure" said he, after pause,
''that Bennett is one Of themi'
Certainly" was our reply. "Do you know
himi''
eyes, hold mortgage against his property for
six thousand dollars, and lately have had great
deal of trouble to get the interest"
Themystery had opened, and we both saw the whole
subject at glance Our personal mind, however,
travelled to more advantage than Mr.. F.'s. as il
that bore upon joint suspicious with great sig
nifcance. In searching Drury's house, we had
found two second hand gold watches, wrapped ia
piece of letter paper, which bore the memoran-
dunn of"$ 35 To Ashley for Bennet'
We had pursued this item, and learned that Ben
nett, driven for means to meet his insurance, ac-
cording to the conditions of the Foster mortgage
had applied TO Ashley TO raise him 100 on his two
watches Ashley had but sos, but giving that
amount to Bennett, he took the watches TO Drury,
and obtained the other $35 upon them from that
quarter. This circumstance showed the desperate
state of Benefits circumstances, and showed too
that Foster was the phantom which, as in other
cases OF property MURDERS" continually fitted
through the debtors mind, and inspired him TO an
acquittal Of blood.
We left Mr.. Foster with a promise 10 take the
our inquiries had produced fruit, and asked him
If he had any notes out. He answered, "No, not
one in the world" We then acquainted him, to
his great astonishment, with the fact that LAWYER
ma Hal haH In
session note of $500 against him for collection.
This interview between Mr.. Foster and ourselftook
place in the mayors Office, Dec. 18th.
Ashley having desk in Mr.. Byrne's Office, il was
difficult TO communicate without exciting suspi-
cion. This, however, was accomplished, mes
senger from the mayors Office having desired him
TO call there. He at once admitted that he held
note against Mr.. Foster for S960O but that he had
received II under circumstances that excited his
suspicion, and he forbore to present it. Mr.. Ben
nett had inquired Of him whether, If he should re-
ceive, through the post office, note for collection
against wealthy gentleman in the city, given
probably TO get out Of scrape with some female,
he would present and collect itl Mr.. Byrne
piled in the affirmative; and on the 18th Of Novem-
Der received the following letter:
Fox RIVER, near Ottowa, Ill.
"FaAscrs ByRsE, esq.-Sir On the recon-
incubation Of your friend, Mr.. Dorsey, enclose
you the note Of Mr.. Foster, Of New York, for col
lection, together with my measure for a suit Of
black clothes Of the best quality, whicryou will be
30 Kind az TO procure.
"Having, as agent, several tracts OF land in
different States at my disposal, am seldom long
IN the same place; 20 you will please 10 send the
clothes by the best line, to my address, at st.
Louis, Mo.
.'whcn you deduct your cemnission, &C., you
will please 10 dcposite the balance in any Of the
New York banks, and send me the cashiers
ceipt
"As my dealings with Mr.. Foster have been Of
very agreeable character, don't apprchcnd that
you viii have to do than present the note, OF
lodge Il for collection. $4,000.
with great esteem, ] am, sir, your very humble
servant, HENRY INMAN."
$4,000 New YoRK, Nov. s, 1s4s.
Twelve months from date, promise to pay Mr..
Henry 1nman, order, nine thousand six hundred
dollars, value received