New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-26
THE ALEXANDER MYSTERY
ygHs. BURKE wAkIsG a STRONG
FIGHT FOR HEB 100000.
Tangible Proof that the Captain ha d
Large Sums OF NJ Oney W hen he BOARDED
with tho 6ardincrs In Hnriem-WhO
Relieved him Of his Money Bag on his
no AL Redf
From the New York Sun of Friday.


Relieved him Of his Money Bag on his
Death Beds
From the New York Sun OF friday
The investigation in the matter of the
property owned by the late Captain Alexan-
der, of New Orleans, was resumed yesterday
before Surrogate Hutchings. The proceed
ings were Instituted on the complaint Of
Mrs. Burke, daughter of the deceased, who
alleges that her father died possessed OF
considerable amount of property, consisting
of bonds and ready money, which she be-
lieves to have been made away with by per-
sons named Gardiner, with whom tue de-
ceased boarded for some time, and In whose
house he died. 1t has been already proved
in evidence that the deceased was III the
habit of keeping his money on his person,
and that it was taken Oft the BODY after
death by the GARDENERS. They, however,
claim that the amount was very small, and
that it had been given to them as present
by the old man very short time previous
to his death. The following testimony Was
taken yesterday.
MIR. William I. Dewey testified that he
knew Captain Alexander. and went to see
him on the sixteenth of March. 1869. and
then urged him to put his bonds in some
place Of security. On the eighteenth OF
January, about ten days before his death.
he saw Captain AleXander's bonds, counted
them, and took a memorandum of S27,3o0,
contained in a bag. There was another
bag, but he did not examine its contents.
He has often written letters for the Captain
to his daughter, always couched III atfec-
tionate terms.
Captain Alexander was very careful
man. and had carried his bonds about him
for some time.
Mr., James II. Winchester, shipbroker and
commission merchant, of Al South street,
testified that Captain Alexander called at
his Office once q week. In December, 1868,
Mr.. Leeds (Mr. Winchesters partner) count.
ed Captain Alexander's bonds in his pres
ence, and they amounted to S45,0OO. Cap
tain Alexander was rather eccentric, and on
being urged to put his bonds in some safe
seposit Vault, said nobody would suspect
him of having any money. Captain Swain
once called on witness and asked him what
he knew about Captain Alexander's estate,
and why Leeds had been making trouble
about it, as he and Mrs. Gardiner were the
rightful heirs.
MIR. Leeds corroborated the testimony OF
the last witness, and added that he had
counted Captain AleXander's bonds 1or MN,
and thought he was worth about S6O,OOO.
In December, 1868, he had s45, 900 in bonds
After the captains death witness went to
see Mrs, Gardiner and when he remarked
that the captain had about $50 600 she
feigned SURPRISE. He then proposed putting
the captains money in come trust company,
but she said that Captain Alexander had
given the money to her, and that she would
Keep it until some ole came who had q bet
ter right than she had. During
the conversation she said that shortly be-
fore the death of Captain Alexander ne was
in distress. and moved his hand across
his breast. and that Mrs. Graft cut money
bag from off his neck, and removed 1t; ne
then fell back and looked at them, while
heavenly smile lit up his countena M as
though he was fully satisfied that the nag
had gone where he wished; witness called t
again with Mr.. Peckham, the special COL
lector appointed by the Surrogate, ana Ga saw
Mr.. Gardiner, but he SAID that Mrs ualu ~
ner knew more about the matter than he
Mr.. C. Randolph Held, broker, testified nee
that MIR. James Graft, in May or June, 1863,
desired him to cell $1,000 bond, which had
been gift to friend of his.
The Investigation was here adjourned
until Saturday morning, at eleven O'CLOCK.