The New York herald., 1872-10-27
EUGENE LAGRAVE.
The Alleged Colossal Swindler
Gagged at Last.
How he Was Tracked to the Pyrenees BY New
York Detective-His Arrest and Arrival-His
Career-How He Swindled New York Mer-
chants to the Tune Of 1000, ,000-
The Bail Put ct $4,000.
HIS ADVENTURES IN EUROPE

ewindler, arrived In this city yesterday by the
steamship Washington, OF the French Transatlantic
Company. He was escorted by Detective Mooney,
who has been after him for the past nve months.
1t win probably be remembered by the readers Of
the HERALD that Lagrave is the man who 1t said,
succeeded in defraudng several Of our most promi-
nent dry goods firms Of an amount stated to be over
$e00,0O0 The plan Of his operations was not q new
one, but stin possessed the merit Of being effec-
tual With man named Otis he established him
self in the retail dry goods business on Broadway.
This was about two years ago. He fitted up mag
nincent store, employed
A NUMBER OF CLERKS,
and Immediately started out to obtain credit. He
went to some Of the most prominent wholesale
houses In this city, and by his representations ana
manners or his good address induced them to give
him the usual credit allowed good houses BY
carefully considered plan he gave references from
one house to another and by this means obtained
LARGE QUANTITIES OF GOODS.
He always represented himself to be merchant In
frst rate standing, and went to such houses as
Stewart Co., H. B. Claim Co., Jafrray Co., 8.
B. Chittenden. &C., and succeeded in getting
credits for six and nine months in the
usual way. So matters went on, and La
grave continued to add up his bills until
they reached an aggregate, it is said, OF some
thing between six hundred thousand and one
million dollars. In the meanwhile, during the
period when he was obtaining these goods with
out question being raised, they were being
rapidly sent out West, where they were auctioned
on at great sacrifice, but, OF course, bringing
picion was cast upon the firm Of Lagrave Otis,
naturally this manner OF disposing OF the newly
bought goods was quite unknown to the houses with
which ne did business. They supposed very natur-
TRADER IN GOOD CIRCUMSTANCES,
implicit @ trust in his representations. When the
credits were up he still succeeded in so managing
matters that the bills were put on from week to
week and month to month. while, in the mean
time, he was obtaining more goods At length the
storm burst, and by comparing notes the dry
goods merchants found that the same game was
on certain day the Sheriff
MADE DESCENT
upon the store of Lagr8ve d Otis. It was too
late-the bird had flown, and, more than that, they
found that the store, which was supposed to be
thing. This opened their eyes, and they procured
warrants OF arrest against Lagrave; but still too
This was T the M last W trick this aegen great swndler
played in this city. But he was already known to
the police, and 1t seems all the more extraordinary
A METHOD OF swINDLING
wa was allowed him when already he was vas man man Of
partner in a loan once in Broadway, which had
obtained an unenviable notoriety IN this city.
Several times the partners were arrested on
and the stolen goods were found In their posses
sion.. He also got in trouble from having been
found with some stolen bonds In his possession,
the receiving OF which was never adequately ac-
counted for An insurance company In Broadway
made the charge against him Of having endeavored
TO negotiate these bonds with them, but in some
manner or other, though the charges were
CLEARLY PROVEN,
The matter was never prosecuted and Lagrave
was allowed to 60 free. Several other charges
were also brought against this great swindler, but
BY some happy knack Of intuition he succeeded in
private character was sso
an intrigue with one Miss Bird, OF Twenty-frst
street. He married her and was divorced from
her before as he states) he had any marital con-
cause OF the divorce and his infdellty. Miss Bird
subsequently married to another person. The
arair at the time created great scandal, but was
hushed up Mr.. Lagraves next marriage was to
Miss Beaes, OF this city. This affair also
ENDED MOST sCANDALOUsLY.
He is said to have treated her In q most cruel
and detestable manner, and, after having finally
inveiged her from her home, led her most miser-
able NE length her parents insisted sas upon him
New York as sophia schmetterer. she had been
great prima donna, who brought her up until she
chose her own path through life. Sophia appeared
some time after 1t was subsequently to this that
Lagrave met her, and both at Long Branch and In
this city carried on
with the married woman, which almost drove her
husband to despair. This matter ended up by the
elopement Of sophia with Lagrave This was his
last appearance in this city, when he started for
Canada as was supposed, after his swindles on the
detective Mooney and one OF the private detec
fives we're despatched after the swindler. He
travelled to Canada, to England and to Belgium,
ing was to follow the swinder by his trunks, which
Mooney followed from hotel to hotel In all parts
down % europe e e asea pace m tse
South OF France where the detective finally dis
covered him. At this time he possessed not only
extradtion from the authorities in France, signed
with the proper signatures OF A. Thiers, President
Emile lie Tnrier, R secretary; General % Notmann for
the Minister OF the Interior, and s. Guillemain.
This document is now In the hands OF Judson Jar
accordance with the treaty Of February "a. is45,
between the United States and France.
When Detective Mooney arrived
HE FOUND LAGRAvE
1uxurtating with Sophia Schmetterer. whom he
claims to have married. Mooney thought he could
panied by the Prefect OF the town and seven gen.
darmes. Lagrave surrendered himself without q
murmur, and was finally shipped on board the
AS stated, be arrived here yesterday. Three
deputy sherins.Erb, Gale and Curry1had
night, as It was suspected the bench
warrant could not have retained the
on board, and arrested Mr. Iagrave on dve diGer-
ent counts. Lagrave was conducted to the District
Attorneys ONCE, where Mr.. Garv1n stated that the
man had better be held ON q civil suit as he
doubted the efficacy OF
THE CRIMINAL ARREST,
which was on charge OF burglary. What this
charge Is has not yet been discovered. Mr.. Judson
Jarvis subsequently conducted the prisoner to the
Sherif1s office, where he was held dur
sng the day. The following caveats were
entered against him on orders OF the supreme
Court :-Dannebaum vs.. Lagrave; bail, $l9,6O0.
Vanderh0ef VS.. Lagrave; bail $4,000. Linnermann
VS.. Lagraye; bail $4,000. Duden VS. Lagrave; bail
$4,000 Aunmordt w. Lagrave; bail $5, 200 On
these several counts which he was unwilling to fill,
the accused was conveyed to Ludlow Street Jail by
Deputy Shertffs Erb and Gale.
reporter OF the HERALD endeavored to
INTERVIEW THE ACCUSED,
but he stated that he did not desire to make any
statement Of his case. When the trial came on he
raid his case would appear in very different light
from what 10 did at present. Lagrave was well
dressed looked well, and did not appear cast down
by his arrest. His wife remains In France.
Eugene Lagravc Caught I'm the Pyre-
nees-His Castle i'm spafn-A Long Run
and a Game Detective.