The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-05
THE VAN sAUN FORGERY.

A Little Light MS Ia tho Whereabouts OF
the Checl--A Settlement Made for Re
turn OF $50, OGO-The Prisoners Mother
On the Stand.
The very peculiar case OF Albert Van Sann, the
forger, came up for examination before Judge Dow
ling at the TOmhs Police Court yesterday morning.
The usual number Of persons were present, incud-
ing the Assistant District Attorney ana Van Saun's
mother and wife. Mr. John L. Parsons, promi-
nent lawyer Of this city, was the first witness
called 1t being the intention of the District At
tOrney to prove the whereabouts OF the
much desired check. Mr.. Parsons said
he had had the instrument In his
possession; obtained it from Mr.. G. b. Nash some
months since; 1t came into my possession for safe
keeping, under the arrangement that should pro-
duce it when desired; some time after, about
month later, believe, my client, who was In
terested In the case, requested to allow her to
take some papers,
INCLUDING THE CHECK,
promising to return it again; allowed her to take
them, and the matter passed from my mind
entirely until yesterday morning; came down
from Albany during the night, and about eight in
omnibus read the HERALD and saw what was
published about this case; this called to my mind
my possession, and could not remember whether
or not they had been returned; went directly to
the house Of my client, in Great Jones street; my
client Ia the sister OF Mrs. Van Saun, who is the
mother OF Albert Van Saun;
NEVER SAW VAN sAUN
or his mother until yesterday morning; learned
from my client that the papers wished had been
returned to my office. but mat the check she had
incautousy allowed her sister to takc ana had not
as yet received IL back the only paper gave my
client, other than the check, was an assignment OF
about twcDty-sevcn thousand dollars: the paper,
believed, transferred whatever pecuniary interest
there was tn my client, and was drawn by i. II.
Smith; as 10 the check expected it would come
mcnt Twin send to tho District Attorney, and viii
make OF every effort to obtain the check, which
will be disposed OF In a like manner should be sue
cesslul In getting H.; my interviews with Mr. Nash
ran through considerable time, and during the
interval learned that could
GET BACK THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
in gOld-that is my client could both she and then
thought we should inform Mr.. Nash, who was acting
for the parties who had lost the money, of this
5000; procured the return OF these gold certii-
Gates, less the amount OF this payment; 1t was also
understood that II could bring about this arrange
ment Mr.. Nasll's clients should pay my Office ex
pcnse or charge, which they did; wish to state In
addition. that when my client received the check
and other papers from me we both understood that
1t was for a very brief interval OF time.
Mrs. :. Van Saun, mother OF the prisoner, was
next called: sne testified as follows am tue
sons AZ his client; l decline to state when re-
ceived the check OF c. NJ Harris & Co. from my sis
ter After
DISCUSSION BETWEEN COUNSEL.
and the Judge as to why the witness would not an
SWer, Mrs. van Sauu said she ala not remember
ever having received any check from her sister;
decline to state whether or not ever saw the
check; have seen number OF checks in the pos
session Of my sister which were said to have come
from Mr. Parsons; IL was during the winter that
saw them; decline to say whether or not my sister
gave me the 500, 600 check do not know where the
check now is. At this point the witness, who il .
lady of perhaps sixty years OF age, seemed TO fear
that she would In some way inlure her SON. and
therefore declined to answer the questions.
somewhat lengthy discussion arose between conn
sci and the District Attorney in relation to whether
or not the answers, II given, would tend TO
criminate or degrade the witness. At the
conclusion of this, however, the lady said
the answers would not have tendency to
crminate her, but because she was the mother Of
the accused she thought II best not to answer. Mr.
Sullivan here said he would not press the question
last put, but would put another. He accordingly
asked her what she did with the check, but the Wit
ness promptly replied that she had never admitted
having the check In her possession; do not know
whether or not the check Is now in existence.
Judge bowling said that were the witness q man,
or even not she Is the mother OF the prisoner he,
most assurcdy, would send her to the House OF De-
tention u cOntumaclous witness. For the present.
however, he would allow her to go to her home
Other witnesses being absent Mr.. sullivan moved
an adjournment until Monday morning, at ten
o'clock. The motion was granted