The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-02-24
BROOKLYN,s GRANT CLUB.
The Patriots who Prosecuted the Dis
tillers-And Cheated the Government
But Played False to Each Other-And
Fannd Themselves ana Othera In q Eix.

but Played False to Each Other-And
Found Themselves and Others In . Fix.
On the 18th Of August, 1868, the premises Of
Mrs Catherine Lahiton, at Bowen and Inlay streets,
South Brooklyn, were seized by the Internal Revs-
nue. onhcers for alleged violation Of the law re-
latng TO the distllation Of whiskcy. Subsequently
stephen Lahiton, the husband, and one Kingston
Innes, his lawyer, attempted to take the property
from the tolls OF the law limos went 10 his friend
J. Hampden Perrin, real estate agent. and Richard
Rowland, lawyer at e37 Court street. who agreed
10 prepare and execute Hen. In the shape OF bond
and mortgage upon the property. Perrin drew II out
having been executed in 1867 and Rowland for cas-
acknowledged It as q notary public The fictitious
mortgage was
ONE vox,
and the mortgage professed 5000 had been paid BY
him TO Mr.. and Mrs. Lahiton. After this Lshiton
began to fear that FoI would not bs able to estsb-
sh the validity OF the mortgage in court so he paid
Rowland taOo TO get an assignment from Fox to one
H. Z. Merrick. Rowland did this, and Merrick re-
eeived cas- on account for holding the mortgage In
trust The $500 paid 10 Rowland was delivered BY
one Noble, and Kingston Innes eventually received
$3.50 OF the amount for his labors on the whole Job
This Noble was present during the assignment, as
sisted In the transaction and knew all about It.
rHH SPURIOUS MORTGAGE
was duly recorded In the Registers ONCE and the
result that when the action against the property
seized was tried In Court only that part Of II consist
ing OF the right ttle and interest OF Mrs Lahiton
WINS condemned. Everything run along smoothly
until short time ago, when the authorities dscov-
cred the fraud. Innes, who was formerly clerk In
the United States Commissioners once In Brook
lyn. began to be alarmed, and afer running about
great deal finally turned informer and made an
davit before Commissioner Shields, detailing the
facts above stated. Then Labiton felt uneasy and
made
CLEAN BREAST OF IT
before Commissioner Newton. Of Brooklyn. Row.
land and the rest Of the gang were thus caught In
tight place, and upon application Of Assistant Dis
their arrest. Rowland, Perrin, and Merrick have
been taken into custody and admitted TO bail In
$4,000 each. The examination will take place to-
morrow. Meantime the ofncers ore In search Of the
remainder OF the accused.
RowLASD's ASrEcEDEsrs
are OF come interest. In the summer Of 1867 he was
a prominent member and onicer OF an organiza-
tion In South Brooklyn known as the Pioneer Grant
Club, which, by the way was the FIRST association in
Brooklyn to present the Generals name In connec-
ton with the Presidency. Grants course, however,
did not please these gentry and the Club finally
disorganized. Some persist In saying that the
jority OF the men composing II were
oYrICB SEEKERS
but seeing that their show was very slim they drop
ped the counterfeied affection for Gen. Grant and
returned to the standard OF the Democracy. or the
two other arrested parties but little Is known.