The New York herald., 1870-05-20
THE GARCNeR-ALEXANDeR WILL CASE.
The Investigation Continued Before surrogsh
Hutchings-More Developments as to the Dis
tribution Of the Money-The Deceased
Sworn to Have Been Worth Sixty Thou.
sand Dollars-A Crowd OF Harpies
and Their Expectations.

The adjourned hearing OF this mysterious case was
continued yesterday morning before Surrogate
HGtchlngs. IL will be remembered that the pro.
ceedngs are instituted by Mrs. Burke the daughter
or captain Alexander, deceased, TO ascertain
whether any OF the money OF which he was said to
have been possessed was unlawfully secreted. The
court room was well hled by those interested In the
Investigation.
TESTIMONY or W. J. DEWEY.
w. J. Dewey was the first witness examined He
testified as foows:--I am an insurance agent ana
broker; the last time saw Captain Alexander before
his death was on the 10th OF March, 1862 when he
came to my Office; saw bonds in his possession on
the 18th OF February; he showed Inc bag which he
took from his person; counted the bonds
ANA took q memorandum; there were $4,000
worth OF bonds; he had also some Crescent
City Scrips 10 what amount do not remember, ana
$500 in confederate money he had previously shown
me the bag there was another bag, but did not see
It's contents; In the habit Of writing letters for
the Captain to mis- daughter; all those letters we're
couched In very afecliona,e terms; Mr.. Alexander
was a very careful man; think lie had kept the
bonds q long time.
On cross-eXamination the witness deposed-I do
not remember that there was anything said about
bonds being In the other bag; the bond mentioned In
| my memorandum was, think. a railroad bond; It
was for $1,000; do not know the exact value OF the
other bond second on the list; there was also vr-
| gina State bona for $1,000; believe the Virginia
| Stale bonds were taken before rhe war.
| TESTIMONY OF }. II. WINCHESTER.
| James ii. Winchester cNamined:-I am ship
| broker in South street; was acquainted with Cap
tan Alexander for year; ] saw him at my Office
diysbeore ms death he was IN the habit OF coming
l there about once week. IN the month Of December
he came there and taking two bags from his neck
! asked Mr.. Leeds to count them; he did ana said
that there were $4,000 OF bonds In the two bags; his
sgnt was very poor his character was rather eccen-
|
| always shabbiiy dressed; asked him why he dir
| not put his money IN the bank, remarking that he
| mlgnt be robbed: he replied bY asking me
| If he looked like man who had money;
he generally spoke OF his daughter as any kind father
| would speak of child that ne loved; know Cap
tain Il. Swaine; in the month of May after the death
Of Captain Alexander swayne came 10 my house
and desired 10 be Informed what knew about Alex
ander's estate; replied "yefy ttle," but that was
aware that he owned lots In New Orleans and that
he carried a number OF bonds about his person. he
sand that Mr. Leeds was making statement about
the properly; he took out piece OF paper and said
'Well, am one or the rRhtiul heirs Of Idr. AeXan
der anu my son Is another.n
TESTIMONY OF HENRY LEEDS.
Henry Leeds was next examined He testified
MY place OF business IS at No. 2s South street;
knew Captain Alexander for fifteen or sixteen years;
last saw him fifteen or twenty days prior to his
death III my o1ice; he was m the habit Of coming 10
me have hts honds counted; the last occasion was
In February March, 1869; he had then IN his pos
| session $1,000 OF new California bonds which he
| had just purchased; do not remember whether
counted the other bonds on that occasion; he took
those bonds from OF two bags which he carried
around mis- neck the previous visit he had $4,000
OF Brooklyn Water bonds; altogether he had $4,000
| 10 bonds; subsequently lie mad about 500 600 In
| gross amount OF bonds; he showed me gold and
| currency at different tines on one occasion he had
| announced IN the Herald, and at once teiegraphed
10 Airs. Burke; afterwards went to Mrs. Gardner's
house and saw Mrs. Gardner to whom ! spoke 10
he had at his death was given to her; told her ne
had SIC, 900 in bonds; she said she had found bag
| but had not examined Its contents; that was on
Saturday afternoon. when Captain Alexander was
lying in the house dead; Mrs. Gardner said she sup
l tnfrfG
Idea OF putting the money Into some trust
company; she refused to do so on the
it to her. Mrs. Gran, who present, said that
Captain Alexander seemed to feel uneasy and placed
his hand his breast and they examined the place
and found the bag his breast; they then Cut the
bag from his neck; have written letters at the cap
n's dictation to his daughter they were affections
Cross-exammed-I knew Captain Alexander since
10 ne r, nad oo n1 IN
lyn Water bonds, besides others purchased at IateI
| period ne had also some virgnias, some railroad
bonds guaranteed by tile state Of Missouri, Lousi
ana bonds, some Crescent City scrip and
Insurance scrip oo the scrip was not in
neous stock ana some Confederate money; am GER
tain thai the $4,000 Brooklyn Water bonds which
when went to Mrs. Gardner she spoke OF Captain
Alexander having mentioned that when he dicd
| they would have whatever they found about him:
she added that when Captain Alexander died a most
| heavenly smile came over his face and he fell back
in the bed; think that remarked 10 Mrs. Gardner
that would give $40 900 for the effects; when
suggested putting the property into the hands Of
Judge Beebe she said she had confidence IN him. but
she refused to give the things up; when l counted
the Brooklyn Water and California bonds did moi
examine the other securities, but am positive he
4 had S6O, 900 in securities.
In reply to Mr.. Redeld the witness stated that he
Z | went TO Mrs. Gardners house second time when
: | saw MIR. Gardner, whom told that had come Ia
about the securities; he Gardner) said that Mrs
Gardner knew more about the property than he
. promised to leave them comfortable when he died.
e TESTIMONY or G.. X. HELDE,
| and Mrs. GraT four years; In the month OF March
1859, he told witness that friend had bond to sci
and asked him to sell it: he SAID the bond gr
. | to his friend who did not wish to have his nam
known witness declined to sell the bond, which wa
) | q government for 81 1000.
TESTIMONY OF RICHARD swAYNE
: Richard swayne was the next witness examined
4 He testified that he resided III Lafayette avenue
Brooklyn; lived in New Orleans and left there ior
New York in 1866 during the war he was the agent
: | for Captain Alexander In New Orleans; was Ms
ro oST' 1n May lsp n las. "a"
Gardners house, at l27th street; knew he resided
there by letter ne received from him 1850; never
: | visited Captain Alexander at the Gardners' h0us
e | until the occasion mentioned went there on
It friendly vis had frequently written letters to Cap
u tain Alexander to certain post office asking hin
to meet the witness at the Astor House, he met hin
q at the Astor House frequently.
v Mr.. jackson objected To the examination Of Car
/. I tain Swayne except In reference to whether an
Il ! property had been concealed.
Surrogate Hutchings overruled the objection o
the ground that 1t the duty OF the Court to gal
n all the Information possible regarding the
o | ment OF property. III Captain Swayne had II
r | property belonging to the administrator he Oug
not to object 10 any question which he asked OF him
Examination resumed-From the time saw Cap
q | tain Alexander at Feds store did not know hi
, residence until March, 1859 when went 10 the GgI
dners' in 1859 the first person saw was q servant
= did not see Captain Alexander that day, but me
him the day following; had a note to deliver {,
him; had the note for SIX or seven months; hat
lt no particular reason for going TO the Gardners 4
Inquire OF Captain Alexander; during the interview
- with Captain Alexander we walked out together
q | we talked about his property: he owned bonds II
Il 1880; l never had any conversation witt
| him regarding his investments; have ha
- u conversation with the Gardners since Car
e ! tain AleXander's death; l knew that Can
r | tain Alexander was a man OF fortune: did no
,t know that he carried bonds about his person. Gard
r. ner asked me how much thought he had and
s said about S50000 they did not say anything abou
the bags OF bonds they cut from his neck Mrs. Gard
u ner asked me II had come TO her In her dstrcs.
If as Mrs. Burke was suing her Tor her fathers nrC
t | perty; NAV have told Mr. Winchester that ha
been one OF the heirs OF Captain Alexander under
) viii which had been DESTROYED.