The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-11
Another Astounding Development
Of Crime.
SEQUEL TO THE TORPEDO.

SINGULAR CONsPlkACN TO MURDER NIX. foSIENs II
PRESENT CLAIMS AGAINST HIS PRoPERTY-ENrRA-
ORDINARY FRAUD OF GENERAL JAMES AIRING ron
BENNETT ON JOHN ANTHoN-rHE PROCTOR MORT
GAGE, AND HIS sUDpEN DEATH.
We notified the public, at the time OF our arrest
OF Samuel Drury, the Powder Flend, that we had
development in reserve, that would equal the nor
ror OF the !" Internal Machine, and prove an ava
lanche TO those no were endeavoring 10 work up
against us in the Drurys favor In this, as In every
thing else, we prepared To keep our word, and
while we do II, we are also prepared 20 furnish
the Tombs that when 1t sells itself against us in
the future, IL must always go into the bargain on
the calculation that we never relax our vigilance,
and always understand every thing we undertake
With this preliminary, we will now proceed TO our
task and request that patience from the reader,
that Will enable HIM TO appreciate all the minuti9
of the account.
AS The mystery opens a broader scene, and
involves some persons whom we have not yet IN
PRODUCED, we shall be obliged to commence our
lation in a method that will make II plain.
THE coNsPIRAToRs.
There have lived for the lasl few years upon Long
Island, four individuals, oI most extraordinary
character, who by, "a chance as singular as Their
genus. have become 10 ii great extent conductive
with one another. The names OF these persons
are Samuel Drury, known To our readers for his
terrible attempt on Mr. Warner's life Joseph c.
Ashley, now under IND cine nj tor passing counter
felt notes manufactured by Drury William alias
Zone Eyed Thompson" the chemist, and James
Arlington Bennett, otherwise General Bennett, OF
The Mormon Legion.
The first Of these characters, most OF our read
ers already know, Is EnglishmaD by birth, about
foiy.hve years of age, add possessor OF large for
tune, acquired by long OF crimes OF the most
atrocious character. He resided Astoria, l.. l.,
in fine mansion, built by himsslt, over the ruins
OF former house which he burned down 10 de-
fraud the underwriters. This building surround
ed by out-houses, IN some OF which he carried on
the various processes ot coming and counterfetlng,
and IN others slowed his piunder, the shape OF
stolen goods. His first efirnce within, our know
LEDGE "a al m IN "A mrr
by charging lime kiln with powder; his second
was the firing OF his house for the insurance; his
third, plan 10 murder young man at Astoria:
who refused 10 pe,Jure himself in his Defence and
his fourth. the attempt To destroy The family OF
Thomas Warner, of Il CITY Hall Place, by an In
feTnal machine, on The 4h OF May last. His other
offences will appear in another category. Such Is
SAMUEL Dury, the first OF the above quartette.
JOSEPH c. ASHLEY.
Joseph G. Ashley the second party named, re-
sides in Brockkn, In a fine house, at No, Colon
ade Row, which he claims TO own a title most
slngulaIlv procured. he was formerly journey
man bookbmder; bsequenily kept fruit store
near Washington Market; and more latterly, he
has, in sort at spirli Of re taatloo tor his numer
GUS arrests taken Ia the pracIIce OF the law. Ash
ley first attracts our attention during the period
while he was IN the iru,t business. AT that time,
the widow OF a sea captain, who owned a house IN
Grand street, OF this c'ty, f, sick, and Ashley be-
came visitor 10 her bedside. Being protesting
Christian he prayed tor her, but. despite his unc
tion she died upon his hands, and left hun an exc
cutor OF her affairs. Ia short Tune, by some sort
Of magic, he became possessor of me property IN
fee. The daughters OF the deceased widow made
some resistance, but they smpietons,
their case ieh through, aud Ashley, confirmed in
his title, disposed of The property, and put The pro-
ceeds in his pocket.
Shortly after this, he figured IN a transaction Of
still more my sieTlOus character In the year 1872,
there died suddenly, at the Carlton House, a
wealthy gentle man, named Proctor. A few days
after his d' attn, there appeared before a commits
siobeT OF deeds In Vail street. two persons one of
whom held IN his hand two mortgages OF buildings
in Collonade row, BIookly ", To the amount OF five
thousand dollars each. These mortgages were
signed William Proctor, the date OF the day
filled up. and everything was ready for the mere
name OF the commissioner. The man VINO held
the mortgages calico hims'lt Roberto DE "a Vacca,
and vi en- ~ commissioner asked the other II he
were Mr.. i octor, and II the name glfe ady 10 the
bond were his signature, he nodded acquiescence.
The MISSIONER then, wuh the customary care
lea sness OF men IN his business, subscribed that he
knew HIM TO be- Mr. Proctor, aud that his sigma
tue hat of his own (proctor's) proper hand
Roberto de Ia Vncca and the spurious Mr.. Proctor
thereupun lei the oh e, and when they got 10
their own Cen, they rubbe d III the date OF the In
strunent, which had been put on merely with glue
water aud back sand, aud lbserod "a date some
weeks Bheac, 10 cobi, rn Ia the period when Proc
tor was alive. Roberto de Ia Nacca then vanished
from the scene, and IN short time Joseph g.
Ashley was found IN possession oi one OF the
housf IN Collonade row Another person, who
had lived in the Carlton House, also in posses
sion OF the other. When, however. the lawyers OF
Mr. Proctor estate ctne To scruiinIze the trans
ted. They saw u Was absurd, that man as rich
as Mr.. Proctor, whuse wealth nearly all IN
ready MEANS and whose habit II was to loan on the
ProTery az others, should auem,f TO RAISE money
un his Cwn. Proceedings we've therefore com
menCed aRainst Ashley iot the restoration vt the
property 10 the hens Oi Mr.. P.'s estate. Ashley,
e course, resisted tins Invasion Of the mortgage
at his trs cd, Roberto de la Nacca but not daring
TO produce The forged paper Ia ceivnd himself, he
resolved 10 desttoy u, M order that he might say
II wac lost, and allow the copy on record 10 sup
My 4 ulaTe TIN. would IA hp,u "A "a slmule
operation with n man OF good character, but the
dlHfeIuiable are Obliged To produce "A special rea-
son for oil questionable scts. Ashley therefore,
with view 10 plausibe disappeafance OF the
original mortgage. secretly lnstIgdted police COM
plant against himself. aud he'd nis house subjected
10 a search When the officers had gone, he made
an ouiCTy that he had been robbed OF valuable
papers, and that the mortgage II Proctor had been
canned of among The rect The result was, that
when the case came on, he was allowed To refer
10 The ~ fitc copy un record and the property re-
NAMED IN his Ioss, scion. Suiis for PERJURY were
subsequently instituttd sgainst hun, but. sustained
hy he sauctliy, and a habh Of praying for all the
sick On his n,ghboThoUd, his character shook
them oil. lie held on the property u last week
but, Encouraged By hs recent indictment for pass
ing counterfeit mubsy. he heIrs renewed their
sui'. end succeeded. the week before last, IA
getting Judgment against IN, un the ground that
Roberto de IA Nacca was fal-e personagc, aud
the Signature oi Proctor forgery Ashley has
ngptsled upon Exceptions, winch position he
rt~ sisrds. This iuap, go worthy Of the honor ot
iuufN 3 acquaintance. bsCrtne confederate with
the PUWosr Friend. and cunJuucive many OF his
plsns. When he lacked ~, sns. DmTy furnished
lien, and when Diury te,d,d AID, Ashley was
alNal ready with somtthIng more Practical than
prayers.
cTNEnAL JANIS ARLINGTON rrySrrr
1htIe came at ehgtn 10 ihr plaus aud pro ecis
of this Iair, thrd petty, quite formidable as
either ot the utter tvo, and gifted with an au-
duCity Ci mnd snu beauIg hat was equal TO
DWy's daring. and to A-hlry's perseverance,
This ran was the pfopittor ct fine estate and
magnificent MANSION, near New Uuclht. l. on
the Bath road, and knOwp tu tame ubdrr no les
title han General James Arlington Bennett. OF the
Mormsn Legion. Tie D. an liishmsn 1T obscure
birth, but, sctustcd BY an Uyer-wtcning vanity,
had INTERCEPTED Arlington between his original
namts, and assumed o. b. ~ noble blood. lie
was formerly teacher Of boon Keeping ~ tins
l.. - INN.