The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-24
HISTORY OF THE CASE.

| second, though an old, Credit Mobier case, in
| which Cakes Ames, John B. Alley, Samuel Hooper
and John O. Underwood figure as principals has
been before the Court OF Appeals OF this ate, and
a more scandalous transaction can scarcely be
found on record. In 1861 MI. william n. Mcyeigh
OF Alexandria, in this State, who was
president OF bank and over sixty years
OF age, sought and obtained permission
from the United States military officials then in
possession OF that city to go to his family in Cu
pepper county. This permission was readily
granted, because Mr.. Mcveigh was noncom-
Blatant by reason OF his age. He left in Alexandria
property In real estate including his residence
valued at s75,0O0 and consisting chiefly OF ware.
houses and commission houses on the wharf. Soon
after the formation OF the loyal State OF Virginia
with the capital at Alexandria, John q. Under
wood was appointed United States District Judge
TOR the State. At the same time Cakes Ames, John
Il. Alley and Samuel Hooper were members OF
Congress from Massachusetts. 1t occurred to these
patriots, in conjunction with Underwood, that
Mcveighs property would be nice little thing to
get hold o! without paying for it; and with this III
tention, they accordingly
FORMED A RING.
Underwood, being the District Judge, was made
the tool, and for his share, which was Mcveigh's
residence, he confscated the whole property, and
without more ado took possession of the house
and went to live In II before even the ordinary
| legal forms were complied with. Two gentle
actions for long period, residing in Baltimore and
Boston, hearing Of this outrage, came to Alexan-
a and IN rar II pss to
erty to the amount OF $1,000 Under
these judgments the property was sold, and
| the Hon. Hoax Ames himself and the Hon. John b.
Alley bid in the whole property, worth $4,000 for
SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.
! In this way they had acquired double title to
| the property, which had previously been divided
among them. first under the confiscation by Under
! wood and afterwards by its sale under execution.
| At the close OF the war Mr.. McVeigh who had in
Cured none OF the pains or penalties OF conisca-
nv 10 rnr hn ar ia n In ha ant rnl
suit to recover his property obtained by its pres
ent owners in such fraudulent and illegal man.
ner The case was carried by the corporation to
the Supreme Court, where a decision was rendered
setting aside the outrageous proceedings OF
AMES, ALLEY, UNDERWOOD & CO.,
which said "a different result would be blot on
jurisprudence and civilization. We cannot
hesitate to doubt on the subject; II would be con-
and OF the right OF the administration OF justice.
The Judgment is reversed" The connscation
scheme thus being disposed OF Ames, Alley Tn
derwOOd Co. then held McNeighs property pur-
chased under such monstrous and ignominlous
circumstances, as the appended evidence will show.
The case was next carried before the Circuit
Court OF Alexandria, where u decision in McVeighs
favor was rendered, but Ames, Alley, Underwood
* Co. having obtained O
TITLE AT LAW,
and the deeds OF the property being regularly re-
corded and filled In their names, were now deter
mined to put Mr.. Mcveigh to all the trouble and
expense in their power before he again could come
They appealed to the highest tribunal or this state.
Mr.. Mcvelgh IN the meantime was barely able to
reaIZe u subsistence Tor himself ana family by q
retail business in this city.
EVIDENCE IN THE SUIT.
The following are the revelations made in the
form OF the evidence above referred to-
John Balderson, being duly sworn said-I reside n
the city Of Baltimore, in Maryland and am merchant
doing business there am member OF the rm OF Bal
derson Ward Co. have known Mr.. McVeigh person.
av about six years; Mr. Ames first met In the Spring
OF 1864 Mr. Alley have known for ten years; as mem
Francis Dane Co., kimbal Robinson Co, the last
two being Boston firms also agent for the Asauc Bank
Of salem, Mass, had certain and claims against
O. A. Baldwin Co., Of Ale xandria, Of which arm Mr. Nc
Weigh partner went with these claims TO Alex
andria, learned that Mr. Mcveigh In Richmond OF
somewhere In Virginia beyond our lnes this some
in the Spring Summer Of 1868 placed the mat
ter In the hands OF Mr. Beach, attorne -ataw VINO
afcrward instituted suit upon them against Baldwin
Co.; he advised us subsequently that he had obtained
judgments thereupon, and that attachments had been
issued against the property Of Mcvegh, or portion of
II nothing further was done about them until learned
that
THE PRoPERy HAD BKRx SEIZED
by the United states Marshal under the act
and was advertised To- be sold hereunder upon
that fact started for Washington and TO OBJ
Tain postponeme Of the sae called upon Mr. Alley
IN relation to " in the months OF January and Feb
fSary, u ~; MT Alley promised any assistance
vent 70 Aesandria saw Mr. Beach, who advised that the
decree q conhscaton made by Judge Underwood was
against the fee simple OF the estate and could not be
tanned alter the lapse Of few months, having c smed
Il mt AktAt kA