The New York herald., 1871-01-05
THE $4,000 BOND ROBBERY,
Full Investigation Into This Myss
teri0us Affair.
Judge Bartly, Of Washington, and the Ex-
Lieutenant Governor Of Maryland.

tered bond preferred by M. Castillo, Of Lozyagos
against Captain Pelleter, of Washington, and q
man named Bennett, was reopened Yesterday before
Judge Hogan, at the Tombs AS stated previously
in the HERALD. Mr.. Casullo Spanish Cuban, was
robbed OF registered United States bonds to the
amount OF $50, 900 some time ago, and so well waS
the robbery effected that the thieves got clean
away with the property. The loser communicated
witn the oiicers Of the Treasury Department. giving
them the numbers and amounts OF the bonds, and
II was owning to the secrecy and vigilance OF these
officers that the bonds In question were re0ognlzed
as being part Of the stolen property From the evil
dence given at preliminary examination on the
part OF the prosecution iG was shown that
Captain Peleter and Mr. Bennett had offered
these bonds for sale to broker In this,
city, and that the broker, knowing the property to
be part OF that mentioned In the notification from
the Treasury caused the of these two gentle
men being in unlawful possession and at the
same time attempting to dispose ofthem as bona ade
bonds OF their own. 1t was, moreover attempted
to be shown that, Notwithstanding the assertioN
or Captain Peletler to the contrary, M,
Castillo had never authorized him 10 transact
any business OF such or any nature Oh
his behalf. At that examination 1t was sought to
prove that Castillo had given such authority to Pei
etier, and that when he was invited to be present
at the ST. Nicholas Hotel occasion they offered
to secure to HIM Casto the possession OF the pro-
perty II he would pay down certain sum OF
money for recovering 1t. Castillo refused to-
part with any money for such q purpose, on
the ground that he considered he would be-
assisting the thieves; he did not know any Of the
parties who was prvy to the proposit on and there
fore declined to enter into the arrangements
JUDGE BARTLEY'S TIE EsTIMONY
Yesterday the Witnesses tor the defendants were
Thomas w. BARLEY Of Washington, an ex-judge
ana formerly partner In frm OF lawyers at Wash
ington stated that he formed the ac ,uaintance OF
Pelietier twr years ago, when he came to his flrm
for counsel reuustng them to assist HIM IN his bus
On the U sd ae to a
quaintance OF broker w.eo desired to know II he
could make arrangements L. IaAe eoul up or redeem
stolen United States regstere,. Donds Ior tneir
owners, or get the Treasury Depart pent 70 cancel
the bonds and issue duplicates TO tho owners AT
one OF the interviews with Captain 1s1eser sseo ne
Spanish Cuban and from a Mr.. Lawrence aHd tief
Ocean Bank. He gave Peeuer advice In the ma&serS
PELLErrER SECUTED THE IDEA 4
OF acting for any other persons than the owners OF
the stolen property. At one OF the last interviews
there was no other idea entertained tnan the aiding
or the owners 10 recover their property and to give
NO assistance to the thieves. lie did not instruct
Ex.LIEuTENANr GOVERNOR cox's EVIDENCE.
Christopher G. Cox. OF Washington, ard ex-Lieus
acquainted with the two defendants, Peletier and
Bennett Calling at Judge Bartleys office, In Wash.
III,
attention was invited to a statement made by An
tonic Pelletier that he had been approached while
| in New York by broker. who mad offered. for
tnfing compensation, to recover certain
stolen governments bonds for the owners. 1t
was remarked by the Judge that in MS opinion 1t
was fair subject Tor investigation If the statement
was correct that the bonds could be recovered for
the benefit OF the owners, and that If by their ex.
press consent and authority 1t was perfectly fair
and legal transaction. Chief Justice Casey con-
Cured fully In that opinion He consented to CO..
operate with Judge Barsley in the proposed inyes.
These ODQiOns
THE STATEMENT OF PELLETiER HIMSELF, -
at the time, that he had consulted both the Secfe.
tary and Solicitor OF the Treasury, both or whom
approved OF the recovery OF the bonds for the own
ers. Having concluded some private business in
New York he proceeded in accordance with tho
suggestion and concurrence OF Judge Barley. to
investigate the truthfuness or Mr.. Peeter's state
ment. He made no cOnceaiment OF his object but
discussed the subject fully and frankly with num-
Der OF
THE LEADING CITIZENS OF NEW YORK,
ana declared emphatically, while willing to aid tho
owners in the recovery OF their lawful property,
1t was not without tue further hope that the effort
might lead ultimately to the detection ana sum-
mary punishment OF the offenders. The day after
his arrival IN New York Pc letter introduced HIM to,
a broker by the name OF WestDrook who he repre-
sented as the same party who had offered to recover
the bonds. sample bond OF the denomination
900 bearing the name OF Carlos del Castillo OF
Loyzago was exhibited bond now shown being the
same) Having thus ascertaned the reliability OF
the information ami the fact tnat the bonds were re-
coverabe, he abruptly closed the interview refusing
to have anything to do with the special bond until
ne was convinced hati was the desire of the owner
TO do So The afternoon Of the same day PelIeuer
informed him that he
(PELLErIER) HAD SEEN CASTILLO,
who expressed desire 10 recover his bonds and
offered compensation for the same At the same
time ne Indicated desire 70 see cox on fol-
rowing morning at half-past ten O'clock at ST.
Nicholas Hotel. Castillo failed to call ct the hour
specined , 1t was suggested by Peetier that as he
CastlloI was old and feebe-possibIy not
able TO meet them up town-it might be Well tc
walk down to his office IN Nassau street. This thew
did. Upon being introduced to Mr.. Castillo a con.
n
between Peletler and Castillo IN Spanish. which he
he n1s q. tne Of which
aerstand his position: that ne had nothing to do
with this matter except as the friend authorized
recover ss, hi; j lost , bonds wanted some one
upon renecton he had concluded not to nav nHs anv
money for the procuring Of the bonds; that he was
mitted mis- affairs to the police he ddn. wish to IN
seriere Ihen turning to Pelleter. Castillo said he
snouid De obliged to him he could get his bond for
his connectlon win the whole matter. He Gsa Te
Judge BARLEY, and his conduct met with the Judges
further than that received through the public press
he met Peletier on his arrival in New york al the
He saw Westbrook, the broker. at the same no,ei
but could not ascertain his place OF business and
though @ Westerook said he could recover the bonds
or from whom he could recover them.
He saw Westbrook week afterwards, just previous
to Mr. Pelletlers arrest and saw the bond dentifed
by Castillo In Westbrooks possession at the Custom
House. He had previously
SEEN TWO $500 BONDS IN PELLETTER's POSSESSION
IN Washington at Judge Bartey's ofnce bur he
could not say that those shown (by Judge Hogan
were the same. He did not know when Pelletier
came in possession OF the $4,000 bond. nor wonn
Westbrook let him know how he came by IL.
He never knew or saw Castillo before. He WIS not in
trodnced, as had been stated, us Governor or Mis-
souri,. but as Lieutenant Governor OF Maryland.
Eli +. norton lawyer, stated that ne knew
CasIliio perectly, ana III conversation with HIM
about the $4,000 bond few DAYS after Peletier ana
Bennett had been arrested. He said Castillo was In
cned 10 SKIP the matter over too lightly, ana when
he Norton, told Castillo that he had been under tha
Impression that he had consented to give compen-
sation Tor the recovery OF his bonds and that suc
an arrangement had been.made with Pellerier: Cas-
tillo stated most emphaticay that he had not con-
sented to give any compensation for the restoration