Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-06-10
EX-MayOr ChahOOn Indicted for
Forgery and for Il Conspiracy
to Defraud. ~

EX-MayOr ChahOOn Indicted for
Forgery and for Il Conspiracy
to DefraUd.
JOHNSON II. SANDS AND R. 8. sANxAY ALSO
INDICTED.
1t has been known for some days that the
grand jury have been investigating case
which promised rare developments, and
which rumor said would disclose ugly things
in regard to ex- Mayo Chahoon and others,
and 1t did not surprise any one when indict-
ments were brought on Saturday afternoon
against Chahoon, list, for forgery and IDLY,
for conspiracy to defraud the State out of
large amount of money; and against John
son IL. Sands, a lawyer of Henrico, and
Richard S. Sanxay, now of Prince George,
but formerly of Richmond, as co-conspira-
tors.
THE STRANGE STORY.
In 1862 Solomon Haunstein, a Swiss.
who kept well known drinking house on
| Seventeenth street, near the Old Market
committed suicide, leaving considerable
property-amounting in real and personal
estate to eight or ten thousand dollars But
leaving no heirs to claim it, Mr.. R. D.
Sanxay, then coroner, was appointed curator
of the estate. The property continued in
his hands until '67, when George Chahoon
entered suit against the estate of the dcceas-
ed upon the following note, drawn in favor
of John W. Thompson, who purported to
have assigned it to VIM Gleason, who, it is
claimed, has since become Lieutenant Gov
ernor of Florida.
johnson FL. Sands appeared as defendant.
A judgment was rendered for the amount,
and a decree entered for the sale of the real
estate. It is alleged, however, that Sands
made no real defence, but simply carried
out an agreement entered into with Chahoon
1t is stated that the property was deoreed to
be sold for ene-third cash, one-third in six
and the remaining third in twelve months.
1t is claimed, however, that every purchaser
paid cash. The purchasers were R. S.
Sanxay, son of the coroner; johnson Ell.
Sands, and Mrs. Mary Wilkinson and W.
D. Porter. The auctioneer was paid his
commissions on the sales, but has never re-
ceived or seen any pass.
THE DECEASED.
Haunstein was Swiss by birth, being
native of the Canton of Lucerne. He came
to Richmond many years ago and served in
the Mexican war with the Virginia regiment
Returning, though shoe maker by trade,
he opened a drinking house where he did a
profitable business. He kept his account
with the Farmers Bank of Virginia, and
had signed his name S. Haunstein invaria-
bly, to checks. The only time he ever
signed it as far as known Solomon Haus-
tein, as alleged in the promisory note, was
when he joined the d.tellows.
Our informant has seen his signature
scores of times, and it was always simply
S. Haunstcin. He was prompt in paying
his debts and was accustomed to loan mon
ey out on interest No one ever heard him
speak of this immense debt, and his most
intimate acquaintance always understood
that he owed nobody.
THE ARREST OF CHAHooN.
As soon as the indictments we're read
bench warrants were issued for the arrest of
all the parties
At a quarter past o'clock Deputy Ser
geants August and Lee appeared in court
with Chahoon. Shortly after the appear
ance of Chahoon, John S. Devlin, United
States Marshal David B. Parker, and other
friends entered and gathered around him
and conned over the different phases of the
case.
Chahoon approached the desk CT the clerk
and asked to see the indictments, and which
were handed him by the clerk, Mr. A
Jinkins He then walked off aside, and
with his friends sitting on either side, pro-
ceeded, in hurried manner to run over
with them the indictments.
Messrs. Sands and Sanxay have not yet
been arrested The former we saw in the
city about dusk Saturday, the latter Mr.
s. is not resident Of the city, but resides
in Prince George county, Va.
The grand jury which found the indict-
ment was impannellod by DR.. Mills.
After which he went up to the bench and
said to Judge Guigon that he was present
to answer his warrant.
Judge Guigon signifed his willingness
to admit him co. to bail in the sum of
$4,000. Messrs Franklin, Stearns, David
B. Parker, Dr. G. H. Mills and Henry l.
Pelouze offered to 60 his bail and were ac-
cepted.
RUMOR.
1t was believed by many that Haunssein,
instead of having committed suicide, was
foully dealt with. He came to his death
by q shot through the head from pistol.
a Coop UNION MAN.-In the United