Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-11-09
LOCAL NEWS.

CHARGE OF FALSE PRErENsEs.--This morn
ing, James Columbus Seitz was before Justice
HoIlingshead, at Police Headquarters, to an
swer a warrant served by detectives Claryo e
and McDevitt, issued on the oath OF Mr.. J ohm
7. Mitchell, charging him with obtaining with
in the past six weeks q quantity of goods.
the firm Of Harper & Mitchell. Mr.. Phillips
for the prosecution, and c1r. Norris for the
= Nv. Mitchell testified that Seirz purchased a
mother would see that they were paid for He
represented that he had a claim, and promised
from day to day as he made purchases He
finally asked the amount Of his bill, and was
answered thatIt was about 500, and he prom
ised to pay the next day, but failed to do So
Subsequently he applied for more credit, and
stated that Col. Lon was going with him to the
paymaster's office to obtain the money on claim
The letter purperted TO be from Col. Long, (the
be credited for a new silk dress, and upon the
representations made by him with tue letter,
witness consented for Ito be cut of and de-
liysred 70 seftx Next m9rning he found that
charged on the book against the defendant
Witness had been 70 the Paymaster's, Quarter
masters and War Department, but found no
record Of any such claim as the defendant said
he had. He also called on Col. Long and as.
certained that he had not written the letter re.
ferred to. He stated to witness that the claim
was for about el,6O0 for travelling expenses,
having been In the army, from which he was
discharged on the plains. He represented that
the claim had been allowed. and he would get
the money shortly. He stated that he wished
the dress to give to his sister. Witness first
refused to give him the dress, and the accused
presented the letter purporting to he from Col
Long, from which 1t appeared the claim re.
ferred to was perfectly reliable one. 1t was
on the strength OF the letter that he gave him
credit for the dress.
On cross. examination, witness said the &C.
count was about 500, and il was made during
the month Of October Witness allowed him
credit without any letter being shown At first.
Witness, on examining the warrant, said there
was mistake about II, as he had not claimed
thar he obtained the goods bought pre- vious to
dollars worth he considered were obtained BY
false pretences. Witness had not been offered
the amount Of his account. The letter shown
him was written In lax; he might be mistaken
as to the contents. 1t was signed '.Ool. Long,"
and he would most emphatically say he was
imposed upon by IT,. Witness had never pre-
sented his bill for payment +. +ss
counsel, he did not ask in references to insn-
rutng civil suit, to which MI. Phillips OBJ
jected. After, discussion by the counsel, the
Justice sustained the objection.
By Mr.. Mitchell.-Witness never authorised
the accnsed to take the parcel. =,
BY the Justice.-The g00ds sold before the
silk were sold upon asimpie credit The credit
Grifan's was simply one OF favor. r,,. +.
Col. a. x, long testified thai be is acquainted
with the accused. hut never wrote him or any
man letter IN reference to claim. He signed
an application Sor tAe discharge OF the brother
of the accused from service.
On crOss.examination witness stated that he
never signed his name as "Col. Long"