The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-31
Arrest or WhslssaIe swindler IN BOs-
tOn-Eus 4exiean OporatiOns-Sketch 81
His Lac,

| A trihe of excitement was contributed to tht
usual dohs fHrniemts condhsp Of Boston, yester
man named Henry N. Watson, better known il
Boston and New York BY the sonbrsqxet Of" Go
| vernon Dor." The Governor is a swindler, un
doubtsdly deep swindler, but we doubt if the pre-
stances In the case, as we gather them from vari
GUS sources, are as follows =
Watson is sort Of American Dazzle, and his
adventures, detailed m iull would fill two vo-
hume novel. He is web known in New York, and
left that city for California, about one year since. He
arrived In San Francisco IN thirty-sx days from the
time he left New York, and became proprietor
OF large eating house and monte bank. He
remained in San Francisco for some months coin
ing money by his business, but finally left and went
down the Pacific coast to San Bias, where the
cholera was raging to fearful extent. BY the aid
Of an East Indian receipt he cured large num-
Der OF the afflicted, and then proceeded to the city
of Mexico, where he formed the acquaintance Of
Col. Ramsey, Hon X. 2. Letcher, the American
Minister. President Arista, and several others.
Among his acquaintances was young man, named
William b. Rakey, clerk in the banking house of
Zachetorey & Co., one of the largest banking
houses in the city. Baker is an EDglishman-s
played monte with him, and introduced him to his
Spanish mistress, Aurora De Luce, (the light
the morAing) From Bakers own assertions, it
appears that he was the nucleus around which con
he was stripped of AL his money. Watson told
Baker that he was owner Of considerable property,
and the two agreed to establish banking house
and hotel at Vera Cruz for the benefit OF CaIifor-
mans.
1t was necessary for this arrangement that the
pair should proceed to Vera Cruz, and thither they
repaired BY the dItge~cia, accompanied by Colonel
Ramsey. When they arrived at the " City OF the
True Cross" there was more gambling. and Baker
says that he paid to Watson the sum Of 81, ,3i5 re-
ceiying as an equivalent, draft on Messrs. How.
land I;a = A%sp,nwa % payable a, New New Orleans, and
Mexico. Watson says that he gave this draft 10
shield another person, and that he tWatson) never
received a cent from Baker. Before leaving Vera
house should be opened at Vera Cruz-that Watson
should 90 20 New York, and afterwards meet Ba-
ker at New Orleans. Baker was given letter Of
credit on Richard Frost" New Orleans, for ten
bury It's, perhaps, unnecessary to say, that this
letter OF credit was not worth s'one red cent" aud
so MIR. Baker found, when he arrived at New Or
leans. Watson also offered to give Baker another
letter OF credit for $4,000 more on an imaginary
sister, who owned plantation up the Mississippi,
but the clerk refused to take it, saying that $40 900
was enough. Before they left Vera Cruz, Baker
made over @ to Watson large quantity Of cochineal
which Watson sold at that place.
Baker now found himself in Vera Cruz, without
money or friends, ond, with atson, embarked on
Spanish schooner bound 10 Havana. Oa the pas
sage Watson Obtained from Baker three diamond
studs, gold watch, and valuable cloak Baker
has told three different stories about the manner in
which Watson obtained this property. First, he
said that it was stolen from him the city of Mex
CO; second, at Vera Cruz; third that on the pas
sage from Vera Cruz 10 Havana, he sold the arti-
cles 10 Watson, and that Watson agreed to pay him
when they arrived at Havana. Watson says, in
reference TO the watch that at the city of Mexico
Bakers mistress took il from his (Baker's) pocket,
and dashed il upon the floor of the yosada or
hotel where they had lodgings Baker immed diately
atked Watson what he would give him for il
yours" Baker answered, and inquired "what will
you give me for the chain T. Another hundred
dollars" said w and gave the clerk note for
table, where Watson won the note Of Baker The
cloak, which is OF blue cloth, richly trimmed and
lined with velvet, valued at $50. Watson says he
bought Of young lturbide, nephew OF the Emperor
The studs he says he bought of Baker, and won the
money back the same as the watch.
The pair proceeded 10 Havana, where they rode
out in potsates, visited the Tacon, and enjoyed
Governor went up to New York city, on the
Georgia, and Baker proceeded to New Orleans.
The Governor arrived safely in New York, madc
his appearance in public, wore the cloak and the
diamonds, visited the theatres and other places %
public resort, and, as he is Of good address and
very vouble in conversation, he attracted conslde-
rable attention. When in New York previously
he dabblrd somewhat in politics, and consequently
was acquainted with the leaders of the democratic
party. After renlaIRing in New York for two or
three weeks he came TO Boston, and coon made
quite large eirle Of acqulntances among the boys
ABOUT aS Town, as ne was ncnly dressed, taikatlye,
one week ago last Saturday, and remained there
four days, during which time the writer OF these
lines saw him frequently on Broadway, in the
theatres, etc. We state this to show how ridicu-
lous is the statement in the .Jowuai of yesterday,
that "the story OF the robbery was seon current in
NEW y ofk, and that city became too warm for the
comfort ofihe prisoner, and he came to Boston"
Many officers In New York, and all the detec.
tive police in Boston knew that they could arrest
him al any time, but he Is not accused OF any
CRIME In this country, and 4 was not known In
New York that he was anything but gambler.
About two weeks since the young man Baker
arrived in New York, and ii is said that he was
sent there by officer Youennes, Of New Orleans,
with letter TO A. M. g. smith, OF the independ-
en-, police of that city. Baker then went before
Justice b. w. Osborn, and made affidavit that
Watson had stolen from him gold watch, and
other valuable articles. Ca the Strength of this
affidavit, the Justice issued a warrant, which was
placed In the hands of A. M g. Smith, who ar
rived in this cry early esterday morning. The
warrant was handed 10 officer Starkweather, who
proceeded 20 the Pemberion House, where Wat
son lodged. The gay decever'' was politely re-
quested TO walk to the Marshals office. Remark
ing that t was a reasonable request, and that It
would not "set him back any" Watson complied.
He held a levee there yesterday, ami was VISITED
by large number OF people. He avowed his en-
tire innocence, and said that Baker got into meet
Of gamblers al Mexico, and was well plucked. tie
did net deny that he was one Of the party. The
young man Baker was also at the office, and ap.
peared much more frightened than Watson. who
IL is said that he has money, and has bought land
in New York, but nothing was found ON him
but very superb wardrobe, the studs, a
very valuable diamond ring, and the cloak. He
was told that he would be taken back TO Mexico
20 be tried, but he laughed at the idea. The rob
berry is charged TO have been committed on the
20th OF November, 1850 wbt he sailed from Vera
Cruz on the 18th of that month"; and Baker ac-
knowledged yesterday before witnesses thta !. was
a sale, not robbery. The charge Of swindliag by
the forged draft on Howland & Aspnwall, L s
said, Will amount TO nothing, as the drast was not
signed by Wsison's name, and ii Baker saw ft 20
accept Il, IL was his misfortune. The whole az
fair, then, turns on the grand larceny chsrge--f
the larceny was committed on board q the vesasf
IL was robbery on the high seas, and Justice o.
born has no right 10 grant warrant tor his arroai.
But the New York lawyers will straghtsn the
matter out lie will 90 to New York by the two
and half o'clock train to-day, IA company with
Smith and Baker. Last night be remained Ia cue.
tody of officer S.arkwesther, with whom be wise
Cd the various places Of public amusernsnt, sad
alcuf n bofel