The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-17
THE BOND FORGERIES.
Continuation of the Trial of An
drew l.. Roberts.
SPENCE PETTUS' WEALTH IN BONDS.
A Professional Burglar on Blowers"
and "Squealers."


Mr. Robert Murray, who was United States Mar
shall from 1851 1865 testified that he arrested
engraver Olmstead for counterteting in connection
with the case OF Nelse Stuart. The arrest was
made in February 1857, and Stuart was con-
victed in the Brooklyn District Court. olmstead
was In jail for seven weeks, but was finally DIS
charged, as 1t was found impossible TO make out
case against him.
Mr.. Portius p Roberts, a Spectator, testified
that he was the frst man to discover the Tor.
geries he innocently negotiated a 'lot" OF the
bonds for Mr.. Seymour, alias steve Raymond, and
also for Mr.. Williamson; he subsequently dis
covered
THAT THE BONDS WE'RE FORGED
and gave the Information to Detective McDougaI;
he undertook for himself to discover the details OF
the forgeries; Raymond put the frst lot OF forged
bonds In the market; he knew OF his own knowl-
edge that large number OF forged bonds were put
on the market; the witness, E. s. Noyst and N.
Askins went to Allentown, Pa, to have Edward
Hall, who was charged with the forgeries, ar
rested; they brought him to Jersey City; Pinker-
ton there met them, and In a voice which was loud
enough to be overheard by Hall, said, ''Why you
can't bring Hall to New York II you have not the
papers," this forced them to take Hall before
local magistrate, aud Pnkerton then went over to
the District Attorney and brought a letter from
him asking the magistrate to hold him; the
magistrate, however, decided that he could not DO
SO and he was discharged.
Mr.. A. Naltner, real estate dealer, of Indian
apolis, swore that he knew "Spence" Pettus since
November, 1872; he made his acquaintance at
that time at Taylor's Hotel; Colonel Wood
INTRODUCED HIM TO PEITus,
with view to the transaction OF certain real es-
tate business; he offered the witness 500 900 Lynes
county Gowa) bonds, 100000 Central and Erie
m Mnvt hnndo md do In
Virginia; he sent the Lynes county bonds west,
and received word that they were worthless; he
then made up his mind to have nothing to do with
the other bonds; as to Mrs. Pettus she used pro-
fame language In regard to Roberts, and swore
that she would send him to State Prison; she
said on March %, 1874, that she would send this
clique of American Jews and Billy Wood too to the
Penitentlary.
Mr. A. Naltner was cross-examined by District
Attorney Phelps. 1t was in February, 1873 when
ne offered to bail spence" Pettus If he would put
up 500 600 bonds with him: the bail was fixed at
$4,000; the bonds which were offered to him were
''too cheap" and the extremely low price made
fused to say, in answer to the question Of the Dis
trct Attorney tnat his suspicion as to the genuine
ness OF the bonds was the main reason for his not
buying them; he was willing to take the bonds
AS SECURITY FOR BAILING PETTUS,
although ne suspected the bonds not TO be genuine;
he went once to Boston, where Pettus was tried;
he did not see Pettus but supposed he was In jail;
he was stopping at the Park Hotel.
United States Assistant District Attorney Purdy
said one OF the jurors was quite severe on him
yesterday for not going on with the case later in
Judge Brady expressed his regret that any juror
should have made any communication to one Of the
Ex-Mayor Hall-Your Honor, that communica-
ton was made across the table in open court.
| Judge Brady don't care whether it was or was
| not. Any communication which the jurors wish
| to make in this case must be addressed to me and
|
District Attorney, said he never told Mrs. Pettus
that he had negotiated bonds Tor Roberts, he
letters which he received from Pettus; when he
said that he had the letters Mrs. Pettus said,
That's lie and ne replied, You're lady !"
IN THE CASE OF ROBERTS;
he never mentioned the name OF Roberts in the
conversation which he held with her.
| EX-Mayor Hall re-examined the witness. He
said it was true that he was German, and that his
knowledge of En0lsh was so imperfect that he
thought in German and translated his thoughts
into English: he had property worth from sso0,ooo
Ex-Mayor Hall said tnat the District Attorney
had tried to make the jury believe that this man
was an adventurer. which was perfectly unpre-
cedented line OF examination for prosecuting at
torney
Ex-MayOr Hall replied that when a man had
painted great picture the world called 1t UMPIRE
Judge Brady smiling) oh ! II you meant it In
complimentary sense
Ex-Mayor Hail. always speak in q compliment
tary sense OF a gentleman. tDistrct Attorney
Phelps blushed) When kcome to speak OF Mrs.
Pettus in my summing up IT will probably not be
few minutes later the District Attorne called
attention to the fact that he had never enforced
the rule that only one counsel
SHOULD CROss-EXAMINE A WITNESS.
In this case all the three counsel examined the
Ex- Mavor Hall-Well, we think three counsel
necessary to meet the unprecedented yea! ana
loud laughter IN "a which Mr. Phelps joined
Ex-Mayor Hall asked the witness II he did not
desire to bail Pettus for the purpose Of using him
as q witness in an insurance case IN which he was
interested, and he replied In the Affirmative.
United States Assistant District Attorney Purdv
called witness by the name OF "Daniel Davis' and
requested Judge Brady to oe satisfied If his real
name would be kept from the public and condded
alone to the Judge and the District Attorney. He
said this man Whose real name was not Dav1s)
was professional burglar but tried 10 live now as
an honest man, and that Il his real name were
published he would probably have to leave his
present place OF residence.
The witness said that he had known olmstead,
with dies for making United States coins; Ohm.
stead had hardened burglars tools for him Tor
United states Assistant District Attorney Purdy
said he would show
THAT oLMsrEAD PERJuRED HIMSELF
in saying that he never made counterfeit Die.
lie would prove by this witness that Omstead had
such die, that he hardened the burglars tools
Tor Davis and shared In the proceeds OF the rob-
berries.
Davis went on to say that Omstead never re-
fused TO harden any tools for him, and charged
him 81 apiece.
Mr.. Purdy said Omstead swore that he hardened
one set OF tools for Davis, but refused to harden
any more alter he had found out that Davis was a
burglar. He wonid show that Omstead actually
concocted robberes. Judge Brady, however, did
not allow this line OF examination.
In his crosse Examination by the District Attor-
ney, the witness said he lived by his wits; he was
now living on ms money which he got by his wits.
Mr.. Pheips-now many wits have your laugh
teri
Mr.. Davis-I don't know II that Is q proper ques-
tion for yOu TO ask. Q.aughter.)
Elk. Recorder Smith asked the Judge TO instruct
the witness TO his rights. He was not compelled
to answer any questions tending TO criminate HIM
self or to degrade MIN.
The Judge so instructed Davis.
The District Attorney asked him about the place
where he got certain tools FROM and Davis said:--
Must blow on man here; must make stool
pigeon OF myseffn tLaughter.)