The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-01-21
The James Arlington Bennett Affair.

"A nfs
astounding Developments Of Fraud IN Nehg York-SuD
posed Conspiracy to Murder, etc.
We yesterday noticed the arrest of James Airing
ton Bennett, at New York. on the charge of for.
gerry. The New York Tribune gives the following
notice of Bennett and summary of the offence
charged against him
The astounding developments of fraud and con-
spracy now breaking upon the public have created
the most intense excitement, and one hardly knows
but he may see his most intimate friends involved
IN the meshes OF justice at any moment The case
OF Drury, nothing OF which has yet been legally de-
veloped, still lies like an incubus upon the public
mind-that OF Joseph G. Ashley is hardly less i'm
portant-when another bomb explodes at the Tombs
and as the smoke clears away, we behold, to our
utter astonshment the widely known Mormon Gen
eral, James Arlington Bennett indicted by the grand
jury Tor heavy forgery.
This man was the proprietor of fine estate and
magnificent mansion, near New Utrecht, L. l., on
the Bath round. He is an Irishman of obscure
birth but had lnteTjected Arlington" between his
original names, and assumed to be of noble blood
He was formerly teacher of book keeping in this
city, but at the time of the Mormon exodus from
this quarter, he took up his staff and turned his feet
towards the Canaan at Nauvoo.
James Arlington Bennett remained sufficiently
long among the Mormon community to prove his
shrewdneSs, for he became General. He returned
TO this quarter in 1885, or thereabouts covered with
his Mormon honors, and put up the mansion at New
Utrecht. N 10 one doubted his honesty while the
style of his living raised him above SUSPICION, by its
evidence OF the abundance of his means His ex.
ravagan habits, however, disposed of his sur
plus funds, and he forced to mortgage his pro.
perty to supply his wants He pitched upon John
Anthon, wealthy lawyer, Of this city for this tran
saction, and obtained from him loan of $4,000 on
his house and grounds, at per cent. Sometime
after this, however, Jas. Foster Jr, wealthy gen.
teman of 10 Bond street, overbd Mr. Anthem, and
offered to loan Bennett at the rate of per cent
Bennett then left Anthon and gave a mortgage tc
Mr. Foster for $4,000, but laterly Mr.. Foster raised
ms interest to per cent, whereupon Bennett
threatened to leave him.
These loans, however, did not relieve Bennett
and 1t was while he was thus foundering in his pc
cunlary embarrassments that he fell in with Drury
ana Ashley, and became party to many of the
plans Bennett, however, had an advantage ovel
the other two lie lived in good odor with the
Worlu' ana none would have dreamed OF looking un.
deIneath his prlncely style for the figure of feon
1t would appear from the account pubIishedin in tn,
rS Tolce Iazette, that with the help of One -EyeC
Thompson, Drury Ashley, and perhaps others
Bennett has been for long time living by the mos
unfair means, which has finally resulted in his be
ing arreStea on charge o forging note of $1,000
on Count Foster. The circumstances of the susni
clon and arrest are curious, and seem to be Sc
quence Of the arrest OF Drury for the torpedo bus
ness. Ia the course of the Investigations which
| led 70 Benefits arrest, developments were made
which point strongly toward a premeditated mur
der OF Foster by some of the persons who are nov
in the hands of the law.
There are other stories of transfer and retransfe
OF property between Bennett and his son, by which
the former got $4,000 from Mr. Anthon on mort
| gage OF the premises; that to make Mr.. Anthon be-
heve the reconveyance to be all right, One -EyeC
! Thompson personated Benefits son, the latter be
ing minor and unable to make legal transfer o
! the property that account
Altogether this is one of the most intricate anc
important cases, in connection with the Drury anC
Ashley operations, that have ever claimed public
attention, Bennett has been committed 10 prisOI
in default Of $4,000 bail