The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-05
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS COURT.
Alleged BlackmailjHg Case.
Before Commissioner Osborn.

Before Commissioner Osborn
The United States vs. j. H. Lawrence and Lloyd
Fleid.-Th defendants are charged with having
while acting as keepers under a paper signed by
Alfred Daggett, Deputy Collector OF the Second dis
Irct Illegally exacted the sum Of 500 from Francis
GOttsberger.
Mr.. A. q. Purdy appeared for the government,
and the accused were defended by Mr. Harlan.
Francis GOttsberger, swOrn-I am a wholesale
liquor dealer and grocer at 1914 West street; ON the
25th Of February was In an eating house getting
lunch, corner Of West Broadway and Worth street;
the defendants made their appearance there; Field
stepped up to me and said he mad authority seize
81 the 0oector read par Of the papeT on1
read that part OF 1t to take possession my stock
a. asa West street for some alleged violation OF the
Deputy Collector, ana was dated 9th OF February;
Field told me they mad been down at my place; he
also took me aside alone on bench, and SAID to me-
esther TINS thing, can be settled" or "You had
better sette it'' | told him was doing small
business and could not pay money; l thought In
my own mind would offer 500, and did; he then
walked away from me and consulted with Law
renee; after q few moments they stepped up to me-
remaining where was; one OF them said, MAKE
1t $780," and Lawrence said, Eyes, you mad bet
ter make 1t $100;' so l told him to come down TO
the store and would give MIN check dated Satur
day, March 2, 1872; and dld give him a cnecK Tor
500 on the irving National Bank; let 1t blank,
and Field saiu, 'Make 1t payable TO bearer;- Field
sand to me. I'VE have been sent down mere TO see If
there was any cause for seizure and we shall report
nothing about the trans action.
CrOss-examlned-In mad seen Lawrence once before
IN my store 10 give me messages he had been in
my store before, In January, as keeper; Lawrence
came TO the store with paper. telling me the store
was under seizure; Mr.. Cassemeyer, q deputy col
lectOr looked at my books once, and said my bus-
ness would have to be investigated 1 was charged
with not having my transactions written M; they
were written up on other books, but not the gov
eminent book; that was the whole OF the cnarge
there was an order In the paper to seize my place
Counsel for defendants offered to produce the
paper, but counsel for government objected on the
ground that the paper was not handed in when he
called for 1t.
The Commissioner allowed the paper to he put In.
The witness replied that that was not the paper
the defendants had shown him; 1t had Deen written
IN red Ink.
The Commissioner observed that the paper n w
produced had been written In red ink.
The witness said that when Field told him he
would settle the matter he (wltness) had IDEA
that he owed the government 81. because mis- place.
written up had been released; Mr.. Cassemeyer told
me that the matter could be settled for 5000: Mr..
Daggett referred me to Nr. Cassemeyer, and Mr..
Cassemeyer referred me To Mr.. Daggett; could get
aired DagRett Deputy Collector Second district,
opposed that the paper produced signed by
him, dated February 27 Il authorized the defend
anus 70 go anu seize the place OF Mr.. Gottsberger;
gave the paper to Mr. Lawrence; ana not give
them any other paper bearing my signature but the
one bearing date February 81.
the complaint, on the ground that they were depu-
tZed TO seize the goods OF GOtts6erger and having
under tne paper, made no SEIZURE but merely acted
as Keepers OF property selzeu BY the Collector, the
paper became lifeess instrument, utterly invalid.
IN reply 10 the Commissioner Mr.. Daggett SAID
ne considered that Gottsberger's place was under
SEIZURE al the time he sent the defendants there to
Keep the property
Mr.. Purdy having been heard in reply.
Ine commissioner denied the motion to dismiss
eno put the accused upon their defence.