The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-27
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
FOR Additional Oitg Intog,gencs see tYtas Paqs !

wv 0"~"'O't0s wy fNteHlgencs see Fttb Pdqp I
a RECoNvICTIoN OF AN OLD OFFHNnrp
during the gear 1866 the papers of thus citv
bad frequent occasion to notice certain facts
Ielatlye 70 series OF frauds and forgeries. CON
nected principally with the oubiect Of soidiers,
Dounues. A number of persona were involved
ellher Immediately or remotely, in these fraudu,
lent operations, which assumed a some what
etuPendons magnitude. But the leading spirit
OF chlei operator in the infamous affair, W as
ROBERT M. Lee, the son of an attorney of that
name, who resided in Sixth street, above Arch.
and who was well known to great number OF
our cltzens. This young man, even before
these transactions were broupht to Iipht had
acquired a somewhat unenviable reputation
D9t even those who knew him best were aston
sneo at the extent OF his defections as they
were deve oped and exposed.
lie was arrested and brought TO trial IN the
United States District Court for the Eastern
district OF pennsylvania, charged with forgery,
IN the issuing of fraudulent enlistment nanerys'
AT TINS trlal there were forty different charges
against him TO that effect all of which were
snostantated by the clearest and most positive
Pf PfoVIs th ~ was, moreover, shown that by means
oil these frauds the sum of len thousand three
hundred and fifty dollars was paid inio bis
nands. de was convicted and on july Ist
1910, was sentenced to an imprisonment of three
story was told about that time of the man.
ner In which his arrest was elected Detective
Omcers Joshua Taegart and George Smith were
on MS track, and having received information
mat he had entered his fathers residence ON
Sixth street. the house was watched during the
entlre night, but no evidence OF his being there
was uIscoVereo. In the morning the officers
procured ladder and entered the house
through second-story window. They then
prosecuted vigorous search examining every
nook ana corner 10 every room and cupboard,
from the attic to the cellar, without finding the
slightest trace of the culprit. The officers were
conlounded and were about TO depart when
one OF them, having his attention attracted by
crack IN the door of s1debOard or some SINH
lar piece OF furniture was induced to omen the
door, and there found Mr.. Lee, folded up in a
space that would not have been considered
ssunciently spacious to contain person of half
ms physical dimensions
Alter his conviction and imprisonment An
drew johnson, the President of the United
States, actuated, doubtless, by that same gene.
rous senslblllty which induces him daily to
pardon Rebels, iorgers and counterleiters, par
doned this criminal, and set him loose again
upon the community which be had so wantonly
New charges OF fraud and forgeries were. how
ever, preferred against him. and he was again
arrested and tried before the same tribunal. AT
thls tf1al, also, the testimony was conclusive
ana ne was convicted and sentenced to one
years imprisonment.
AT both these trials judge Grier, of the United
9IaLes supreme Court, presided. This learned
Judge tried these cases in consequence of the
conscientious scrupes of Judge Cadwalader
VINO requested TO be excused from that duty on
tne ground that he wished the accused to have
tne benefit OF an unbiased mind. The second
trlal was conducted with knowledge on the
part OF all connected with it, of his having been
paraoned OF his conviction by the President.
Inc second conviction resulted as did the frat
Inc president could not withstand the ire
slsnDle and fascinating influences that were
Drought TO bear in behalf of the prisoner, and
that extraordinary generosity and mapnanimitU
OF soul that prompted the first pardon induced
him to grand second, and once more was the
culprit relieved from CUSTODY
Al, ~ Is no more than just 10 remark that both
,nese ,pardohs were in great measure attri.
omtaDle TO the indomtable and perseyerinp
eIJrCs OF the prisoners wife. She is represented
as woman OF more than ordinary persuasive
powers, ana she lett no means unemployed that
woman can employ to accomplish the release
OF her convicted husband She was almost
nDlqultous, restless sleepess. At all times and
everywhere she was at work Senators Renre
sentatives, judges, jurors-in fact. eyervbody
who had any influence or could in any way be
lnhuenced-Were approached with tears and
Tor even sterner nature than that of our sus-
ceptibe President to have avoided Welding to
the pressure and power of so much beauty,
eloquence, and matrimonial solIcitude.
But Mr.. Lee did not profit by these better les
sons OF experience. The facility with which he
escaped these troubles only made him the more
daring and reckless. He had found friend at
Washington, and he doubtless imagined that he
could in all coming time lean upon him for
impunity and safety For some time he had
disappeared from his old haunts and his old as
soclatlons, and few knew anything of his where
abouts. He has, however, again turned up,
and been detected in the exercise of his peculiar
and fayorite propensities.
In the latter part of the month of September
last, everal iorgeres were committed in Chicago,
illinois. man who gave the name of John
steele was arrested in the act of passing forged
check on the Union National Bank The ac-
count OF this arrest and commitment attracted
the notice OF one OF our detectives who addressed
a letter to a friend In Chicago requesting a
description OF the person calling himself Steele,
The description was sent, and il answered pre-
c1sely to that of Robert NJ Lee. An investIga-
tion was Instituted, which resulted in an acknow-
ledgment on the part of the accused, and John
Steele proves to be Robert M. Lee, the twice
convicted, twice sentenced, twice imprisoned
and twice pardoned forger
Upon his examination Lee affirmed that the
cneck he attempted to pass was received by
him from Colonel Cross (whose name has been
associated with his in most of his former
ransactionsl In payment of a loan to the
Lee, 1t appears from the papers, has again
been tried, convicted, and sentenced to an i'm
prisonment of thirteen years. His wife, il ia
alleged, has lett the city, and gone to Chicago
TO try her extraordinary powers there. Whether
they will have the same effect upon the Gov.
ernor OF Illinois as they had upon the sus
ceptible President of the United States. Is a
question yet to be determined.
The ToRCHLIGHT PARADE LAST NIGHr
There was splendid turnout last night on the
occasion OF the returning of the United States
Hose Company trom Reading. The Company