Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-30
Creait Mobilier Operations In Alexan-
AriA.

No Pent up Utica contracts the powers of
hcssrs. Ames, Alley & Co.. and a case now
pending in the courts of Virginia shows that
they have found time tOdabble in some notable
real estate transactions in that ancient burgh
The case Is an ejectment suit brought by w. N.
MCyeigh against Judge Underwood in the cor
Porsti0n court of Alexandria, to recover pos
scssiOn OF his residence in that city, SO long oc-
cuPied by Underwood. There Is some curious
'dinS IN the evidence. 1t was testified to by
aneiS Dane, OF Boston, that he and other
'TeditoTs OF Mr. Mcyeigh, after the passage of
the cOnfscation law, attached his property to
prevent the government from cOniiscatingfs
'"at they afterwards sold these judgments to
Aiity. Ames and others. because, As he saws:
We were assured by Judge Underwood, and
~ Alley and Ames, then members of Congress
Tom HaSsachIsetts, that the coniscation Sales
NrTe valid and binding. and that our attach
l"cnts were Of no value; that the coniiscation
~oEd be susts ned by the court. and we thought
Uf'tcT the circumstances that IL was necessary
tuF us To- save ourselves BY accepting their off,r
u hHy our judgments, which was a small
'ho.i!.i ih con parlSOn To the value of the prop
city. The parties above mentioned said that in
9h.y Tailed on the confseation title they would
TAI BACK on the attachment title, and they were
wiling TO Pay US something for oar Judgment
snd lien In Mr.. 4 mes words, he wanted these
Judgments to plaster over the property"
Dane testifes, further, that when the sale
TOOK place John b. Alley, Cakes Ames and
'fmuei hOoptr were present, and that the
parties interested in tie confiscation sales were
inc same persons who were interested in all the
purchases at the attachment sales; that these
parties were Judge Underwood, or his wife,
r j. Underwood, his son. John Underwood.
u. ). marshal, and William A. Duncan DEPUTY
marshal, John b. Alley, Oakes Ames and
samuel Hooper; that the property worth $1,000
brought about 81 900 at the attachment sale;
and that previous to the sale under the con-
fscstiOn Judge Underwood told "a, that this
was the first case in which property had been
ooniiscated in fee simpJe, and that Mr. Within
soioeitor of the War Department, had eompli-
niented him on that decision
John T. BaldeTstone, of Baltimore. another
cfeditcr, testified that the attachment sales did
mot take place until two hours after the time
advertised, in order to give time for the trans
Ter of Judgment claims to Alley, Ames * Co.
After that the sale took pla CO. but no bell was
Fung 0r any effort made to attract bidders He
.ays
Prior to the sale, Mr.. Alley insisted that we
saOu!d not bid against him. The prnnertx w..
mostly bid in BY Mr.. Alley. made some bids
~ ms suggestion, and he would bid over me-
MI Alley managed the bidding I'm the settle
went ~ our sale 10 Mr.. Alley and Others 4 over
heard Ny Alley and Mr.. Duncan agree to pro-
pOftIOnately share the risk of a note to be given
purchase
burCan was the deputy marshal and witness
understood him at the tim, to be Interested i'm
the purchase of the property, and the house al
lacrht to Mr. McNcigh's residence was allotted
II him." Judge Underwood was at the tim,
Judge of the United States district court for the
state at Virginia, under Whose decree the CON
hscatiOn sales aforesaid had been made,
The following question aItI answer followed.
%. Did or not the said Judge L Underwood ar
some one Tor him, purchase a dweIIing-hou-e
i1T himself or Mrs Underwood AZ said contis,a-
ti0n sales, and n 80 what had the said not. TN.
risk OF which Was shared by Alley and duncan
q" iO with the matter?
y. seine one did buy the house formerly occu-
pied -! Mr. McNeigh for Mrs. Underwood AT TN,
c"ih>cation sale, and 4 have been informed
,iusige Underwood and his family havecontjnue,I
to &c cGpN the house from about that tim. until
w PRESENT. subsequently To the confiseatI,n
.aie- when We sold our judgments u AI,.y
Ames and others, ami the settlement. were TO
te matte by them. 1 heard the conversation
above spoken OF, that thew Alley and Duncan1
were 10 share the risk a note 10 be. given tha,u
by Judge Underwood for his interest IN oar
iva gueats.'
The testimony proceed. to show how the
in>attate Alley proceeded to bid for dwelling
houses, warehouses, and wharves. getting them
Knocked OF % him literally a. cheap a. dirt
McNeigh. in his suit 10 recover hi property.
got a verdict IN his favor, with damages for
mesac profits to the amount OF - .asI; but the
defendants have taken the case to the Court or
Appeals. where il will doubtless be further ven
aiatei, 10 the edihcatiOn OF an a.lmiring world