New-York tribune., 1871-01-11
THE CUBAN BOND ROBBERY
FURTHER INvEsTIGATIoN-THB ocEAs bANh
AGAIN-CoNTRADICToRY TEsrlMoNf'

,,o Co. rocoverinR bonds on grand scale Is SHOWN |
Inv bls beng In possession or In communicated VIZ" w
holders of the bonds belonging to Castiho s
and the Ocean Bank Tho testimony thuS iHi
81 49,, o, ,ho suspicion that this tempting prospect |
hos ured into tho field Of speculation many WHOSE s'a
tion and preyious reputation would forbid the ue" 'a
tbev would engage in transactions from "nou '"oy
could not emerge with clean hands WIN "n"' ' "
band of men, Pectier has been In commuiiioa',o., anu
from whom he obtained the bonds, Is stili u NY -
tale that needs still further unfolding Is ''o .
ton OF tho broker, w. II. WestDrooh' "t" w
cose He seems to have been intimatoiy oon
nected from the first with the afair' anu yo'
has neither been arrested nor subpenaed he "' "
have four places of business two IN Stc9dav
as vary n concting Mr. Bennett and Mr MeNeai
seemed to devote themselves 10 mutaa M onne viii be
Today Peleer, the central figure OF me SCENE d sowo
placed upon the stand in his own defense anu Sonio
light may be of SS 20 eaar being
srnined for the defense testified that the
tSe former by Mt Bennett, as follows Pelleties
said that he could control large sotbority from
stolen sed9SIs+y 9pas oFd OF the That rury 1u and
owners to negotiate for their sale that 1he oohSs b
larger denominations at lower rates than tho smaller
the latter being more easily dsp9Sed v, minority to
act in regard the bonds; at the interview Ms
knowedeed that was %nc o hurry as he was to
have an interview with the President ana Si caIn tbe
no ier OF the far ocean ga rnmember all said was
70 ask them for their written authority; Pelieter
Vancing money to buy more bonds remember asking king
Bennett Peeter being present %1f let them have
money; Bennett answered that knew nm lBennetVi
nothing was said in tins nerEew nr division Of the
profits arrangement was ever made between reneuer
iect with Bennett held after interview with sub
| Treasurer Hillhouse and Detective sampson; .py
nrnas s Sanav acting under instructions from Gen.
iilhouso and Detective sampson Bennett began 3 tae
the dsposon Of the bonds proposed
that the owners should call at my once anu ie t
the dollar on the morning 81 n be- he at nv
nte nsst s5 fsat @ day S With in bonds directly g
the SulTreasury and told Gen. Hillhouse what
had said to me- he sent reaed ef9 sahp'tt to my Office
Bennett came and said he expected Peetler WIN WIN
| arrived / asked him what the bonds could be bought
for: he said 20 per cent which said would be sooo
vions Understandings warned Detectives Sampson and
Moy who waiting in an Oea next da dGof % The tg rs
interview shown list OF stolen bonds the lsl was
bS bSt WSs You dispose Of forged
that the list was official, and had been 9ptaheS ieS
rom supposed pos rdSsy they desired was that should
pay them 20 cents on the dollar, and then Castillo
would be profit Of 10 cents, which was to be equally
divided among Peetier offered to sell the bonds
vice Of sampson it was not stated at The time that
check was drawn that the money was to obtain % other %
owners; did not ask Bennett TO Introduce to any
who TsE'a 3 III he 'RS
money would be glad II he would send him to me
% arrested e Thought SS ne
thing Bennett stated to me that he was detec-
Christian H. Lienthal, Director Of the Ocean Bank,
Washington about Dec. l. Is7O Cox proposed to obtain
the bonds stolen from the Ocean Bank In which told
was disposed to expend any more time money on
the recovery OF my bonds presumed that they had all
ernment after this conversation Peleer called at my
office to arrangements for the purchase of these
sm nUna' he ne stated his terms @ and While % he waited
went to the ocean Bank and saw the President and In
quired him If he still held out the reward he said
that the bonds placed upon his counter he would
pay the reward; told Peeter TO produce one bond TO
any time and would then introduce him to the
President Of the ocean Bank with whom he could trans
act hs business REFUSED 70 ma nave anysnag more to 40
procuring OF those bonds; told Peetier had friend
know il he GelleeD could procure them; he aiterward
met and said that he could was then and am now
a Director Of the Ocean Bank.
Rein j. Bennett and Antonio Pelleter both pleaded
Not guilty to the charge OF felony and Bennett made
with Peletier in Washington, being introduced to him
by gentlemen who stated that he a chemist having
respect this cement he informed that he was about
entering into business n, 0 which %oGld REQUIRE some
to any who could furnish him with
money; that about the lat Of September; I sug
gesod Mr.. McNeal, who had previously asked me to
send him any one who wished TO raise money; took
"Here is Peletier, who wants to do some business with
you, which he viii explain" Peetler went on to say
that he believed he could stolen that had
been taken from different persons, and could this way
return them to the owners and at the same time make
per cent and the owner would be willing pay 40 or so
per cent; McNea said II he had written authority 10
negotiate for these bonds he would furnish him with any
amount of money he might require the profits OF the
McNeal think the stoop in front OF his Office and
he walked with me down the street and inquired what
Veifstion about Peeter said he had gone to e wash
ngton, and, having some business with him, expected
seen him. he (McNeaD had been keeping money in his
Office for him he wished me to inform him OF that fact
Ohio and might not Pelletier; on Saturday Dee g.
srdaa ticket e Ohio S'' %et peeeT to eqy for
the first time since I had seen McNea;
going other person. he me to go to Me
Meals office and say to him that he would be there at
me and asked me TO take seat; after some time we
stepped out, drank some lager and had cigars. and
conversation about the bonds began; Peeter produced
the bonds which had never seen before and which
et! cot know he had IN his possession he said: "I
when can tell the owners where they must come to
redeem them he stated that he Thought he could OBJ
to pay down for them before he could get them he
upon MeSeal drew check, and the detectives coming
in the arrest was made the given for his leav
ing the bonds until Monday that Pelleter did not
want to have them In his possession over Sunday
did not tell Mr McNeal that was detective said
that Ollcer, ana nau often
formation to the Secret Service.
CrosseIamined by Justice Hogan-I first saw McNeal |
about bonds early In November did not state at that
time that knew man who would sell stolen bonds for
from 10 TO rs per cent OF their value that would In
troduce man to him who wanted to raise money on |
bonds; on Dec was Custom-Iouse Inspector: had
made application for leave Of absence to the Collector,
and had been granted to take effect Dec g. WITH Of
course, the understanding that could leave on |
the Sd; did mol say To McNea tnat Pei |
letter would be there with $1,000 in bOnds; 1 |
first introduced Peletier To McNeal about Nov.
20; Peletier did not say what business he wanted
TO do with McNeal he told McNea that the Secretary
tho Treasury and the of the bonds had anhOr