The New York herald., 1866-02-27
How They were Traced and
Recovered.
A NASSAU STREET BROKER ARRESTED.
SPENCE PzTTzs I'm CUSTODY
Interesting Examination Before
Justice Bowling.

States vetwenty coupon bonds 70 the amount OF three
thousand dollars before Justice Bowling for exam.
nation yesterday The facts as developed by the In
vestgaton show that In July, 1868, there stolen
from Lewis sonneborn, Of 2o17 Amber street. Phadel-
phia three thousand dollars worth Of United States
coupon bonds which he had but few moments previous
purchased Of Jay Cook Co. their Office in Philadelphia
Every exeron used by Mr. 8. toward the recovery
of his money but without avail Advertisements were
published and legal advice procured J. Warren Couston,
attorney counsellor at law took the matter In hand
and his advice Mr. Sonneborn wrote to the Treasury
Department relative TO the stolen bonds After the lapse
OF time clue obtained which led to the con-
cusion that the bonds portion thereof were In the
possession Of L. s. Lawrence Co., brokers, No. 164
Nassau street, New York city. Messrs Sonneborn and
Coulson came TO this city, procured the assistance OF
police officers, and finally through the arrest of Mr. L.
s. recovered portion OF the stolen bonds as
"a shown In the testimony given before Justice Dowlng
AT the examination yesterday Assistant United States
District Attorney Courtney appeared on behalf OF the
Treasury Department and Mr.. Sonneborn. Counsellor
Chambers for Iawra & Co. Spencer Pettis was in
custody the court charged with having dispos OF
the bonds to the parties from whom Lawrence Co.
procured them VIM. +. Howe appeared for Petis
The first witness called Lewis soDneborn, who
gave his testimony follows-In 1858 purchas cd
some five twenty coupon bonds paid for them In Juno
and received them in July from Jay Cooke & Co there
six of thcm tho numbers were "a up to "a
inclusive they were taken from my possession about
do not know by whom they taken since they we're
taken from me- have endeavored to learn their where
abouts the two bonds shown me here are, think, the
ones stolen from me.
Mr. Courtney State If there has been any alteration
In them.
Mr. Howe-I would like to ask the Court If my client
Is charged with stealing these bondst
Mr.. Courtnev-Who does the gentleman appear forS
Mr.. Howe-I appear for Mr.. Pets
Mr.. Couriney-I am not examining Mr. Petts
MIR Howe-Mr. Petts brought here th morning
TO answer complaints but there is complaint made
81 m M NJ Or w "A
question.
Mr. Howe-Ho asks If these bonds taken from him
altered before he shows that they have been altered
M Courtney-I will put the question in this manner.
Since you purchased those bonds and since the time
they were taken from you have they been altereds
Witness-Yes sir; this eight q two when had
stued 80 that they read Nos "a 500 and "a se4 the
first ntimaton had Of their whereabouts was In the
fall of 1865; received letter from the Treasury De.
parment which stated that the coupons had been paid
from the Treasury here the OF l. = Lawrence
& Co. / have never seen them until to-day, here
Cross examined by MI. HOwe-Will you swear POSI-
tvey those bonds shown here are yours BY nfor-
nation got IRON the Treasury department that tue
coupons from New York. and that they had dupli
cate coupons; believe they mine.
Mr. Howe viii you look at that bond, No. "a, 800.
Judge Dowling-l don't think Mr. Howe there Is any
might as we'll wait until something Is proven Of your
client
Mr. Howe-very WELL sir
J. Warren Couiston was next called and sworn. He
said II reside at No 604 Chestnut street, Philadelphia
was in New York during the present month met Mr..
Lawrence for the first time Friday, the 11h OF Feb
ruary; saw him at his place or business In Nassau
street. called there in company with Mr. Woodbridge,
detective OF the Sixth station both Of US had
versation with I'M present during all the
saon between Mr.. Lawrence and Woodbridge; Mr. Wool
bridge said In substance az folows:-"Mr. Lawrence
detective ] come here official business ;
ia 1863 six fvetwenty coupon bonds were stolen and
brought to New York, and ther numbers changed. We
have ira ed them to your possession and here for the
purpose Of demanding these bonds from you"
Mr. Laurence replied that he hadn't the bonds.
Mr. Courney-what else did he sayf
Wiiness-He said he never had the bonds After some
general conversation, unmportant IN It's character
said to Mr. Lawrence "we know that you have these
bonds; they have been traced to your possession" He
replied me, ''You had better take how you
mako assertions Of that kind"
Mr.. ChambeB-wat one moment appear here for
Mr.. l.. s. Lawrence Mr.. Courtney is OF ring evidence
of some conversation between Mr. Lawrence and do
tecve presume upon the return OF a search warrant
you will not suppose the guilt OF any party until
plant against that party has been made Mr.. Courtney
is introducing evidence which indirectly stabs the repu
tation of e bus think this conversation is
improper until proper charge has been made before
proper tribunal We don't like TO have them produce
evidence which casts suspicion upon tho character OF Mr.
Laurence. ! object 10 such evidence. Mr. Lawrence
bo gbi these bonds in good faith and paid their full
value for them.
Justice Dowling-I cannot exclude any testimony ss
to conversation between Mr. Lawrence and the officer
He there on Official busInesa What is It you wish
me to dor
NL Chambcrs-I object to the testimony as to detail
ing the interview with the witness and the detective.
Justice Dowling-I must admit IL
! chop; he Is a banker
Justice Downg-There arc more honest men, guess,
among the junk dealers than among the bankers You
will have opportunity to show the innocence OF your
! client In good time.
Mr.. Courncy-I will say but word or two Inever
Mr. Lawrence before to-day. lie may he honest
There Is evidence In this which shows that
Mr. Lawrence, to the mildest term had knowledge
that these bonds altered aud countcrfeited don't
know that Mr.. Lawrence Is entitled 10 oonsdern
| ton than ordinary people There has been more
crime and more fraud perpetratcd upon the
of lhe nv
bankers aud brokers than any junk men, or even the
inhabitants Of the Five Points. shah show that when
the attention OF Mr. Lawrence called 10 those bonds
he sad he had seem heard known OF them. IL
he had INTENDED " perform his duty he would have
delivered them up. He subsequently admitted that he
had sold some OF them that he knew where 10 fnd
One OF them found In his possession. II
can show these facts Il Is then The duty Of Lawrence
10 produce the testimony and then leave 10 the Court
10 decide.
Justice Dowing-The witness may rcpeat whatever
conversation uansplrcd between Mr. Lawrence and the
Onc r.
witns.s--I replied that understood nv position;
knew what was about or we should not be 70 pos,ye
Dotcctive Woodbridge then said "we, Mr. Lawrence,
we came here for those bonds; viii you deliver them
or Dotf" Er Lawrence then said, "Nell, gentlemen,
acknowledge bought 81, 300 OF theso bonds; sold
thousand and bought them again, and sold another
thousand and know where there Is thousand and
can get u; that "a u you give me chance;
but u you are going TO be ugly about H. can be ugly
duod his search and said he bad unpleasant
duty 10 perform and must do ~ all three walked 10
tho nrerroof safe and a. Mr. Lawrence took out the
papers Mr. Woodbridge stood by me- and We together
examined the papers, opening the papers and handling
them; up 10 this had found of the missing
bonds; then said 10 Mr. Lawrence We know thai you
have these bonds you facilitate matters by pro-
ducing them, and save us . great deal VI trouble;
he opened drawer IN the nrcproof safe and took out
$500 bond and threw " the desk and SAID, This Ia
the only one of the bonds ! have" the number
"a, $50 we looked at u 10 see answered the descnp
ton OF OF altered bonds, aud found that
alteration had been made In the body OF the bond and
also In the coupons attached Mr.. Woodbridge took pos
session Of the bond and continued search through
tho safe without finding any Of the bonds asked Mr.
lawrence he had box In bank; be replied he had
Mr. Woodbridge and myself Accompanied him 70 the Mas
Bank, and brought two boxes 10 bis Office
and examined them, without finding any OF
the bonds; Mr. Woodbridge then took MT Lawrence
into custody and brought him before Justice Bowling;
when Mr. Lawrence produced the bond he said he could
get another $500 bond by Monday Captain Jourdan got
II believe; heard Mr. Lawrence say to Captain Jour
ing four IN all
Cross examined by Nj. Chsmbers-I am an attorney