New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-25
CUSTOM-HOUSE PLUMBER.
MERCHANTS TAXING UP ARMs-sUITs AGAINST
INFORMER JAYNE.

| MERCHANTS TAXING UP ARhS-SUllS huhNol
| INFORMER JAYNE.
The first of plentiful crop of promising
civil and criminal suits against Special Agent ID. e.
JAYNE has been Instituted by service OF complaint In
the name OF Messrs Plat & Boyd OF Nos. 70 and 81
Murray-st for the $4,000 damages for respass
IN Selling their books and papers on July l6, 1875 on
such frivolous pretexs that in order to obtain war
rant Jayne was compelled 20 employ an irresponsible
person to swear to the truth OF the aGidavts. The
seizure made under circumstances Of great violence
and threats the part OF Jayne that he would have
books named in the warrant II he had to call In the
ala of the army and navy OF the United States.
The papers IN the recite that the defendant
aforesaid on July TO- 1s73 with force and &C. at
the store OF the plaintiffs aforesaid. known Nos. 10
and 81 Murray-st, in the City and County OF New York
I'm said district and in which said plaintiffs carried
on a large and profitable business by importing and
selling glass; by himself his agents, and servants with
noise and tumut forcbly and malicousy searched ana
examined said premises, and then and there read and
examined the books aud papers which were the prop
erty OF said plaintiffs and threw and tumbed and tossed
about the same, and there abused the plaintiffs afore
said with their servants. with oaths and threat
euing words and gestures, and also seized,
took, aud carried away divers books and writ
ings papers and letters the property OF said plain
ts and there found and being Of large value to
w.t. OF the value of $4,000, and stayed and continued
upon the said premises long time 10 wit three hours
and during all that time made great noise and dis
turbance therein, and interrupted the aforesaid business
of said plaintiffs whereby and by reason OF which said
several premises they the said plaintiffs suffered great
injury to their aforesaid business and to their good
namo and standing in the business community, and
were hndered aud prevented from selling to divers per-
sons divers goods wares and merchandise, which said
persons would otherwise have bought of them."
These books and papers have been returned to
Patt & Boyd. They have refused to compromise al
though threatened by DistrctAtorney Bliss with in
dicnen on criminal charges for which there are Of
course, grounds; but have repeatedly insisted on
going trial before jury This Jayne does not intend
to allow under any circumstances and hence the long
delay in returning the books Saturday last Stanley
Brown Clark, attorneys for Messrs Platt Boyd land
several other merchants with courage enough TO fight
Jayne) moved the United States District Court be-
fore Judge Bachford for the return of the books and
papers of their clients. and Judge Batchford in ruling
on certain points, denied the right of Bliss and
Jayne 10 detain them longer. They were given
until to-day TO this demand; and on Mon
day, Jayne, Bliss and George Priest. Jaynes
confidential clerk, were coseted most OF the day pre-
pairing an answer to the motion made Saturday. The
preparation OF this answer apparently gives great trou
bio as jayne his return TO the AstOr House, where
he resides when in NewYOrk expressed his annoyance
at the devilish way in which Patt d Boyd were be-
having" The case does not advance to settlement
rapidly az 1t would II Patt & Boyd Lad continued to
tain "Jayne's lawyer" who made his appearance and
offered his services five minutes after thor books
seized in July last.
Two other suits win be begun against Jayne in few
days One VIII be TO recover the infOrmer6 moety in
the Woodruff Robinson case, which Jayne received
while in Washington The real informer in this
was a man named Hayes, who assigned his claim In
trust his lawyers, Dooitle, Davis Lyon who re-
fused consent to Its transfer to Jayne. The sum in
VOWED in this suit is s2lO0. Jayne Is also charged in
this complaint with conspiracy with Hayes aud others
| TO defraud
Suit is also threatened by Messrs Ruius Story & Co
against jayne the 10000 which disappeared
when the firm settled It's with the Government by
the payment OF 100000 OF which only $4,000 was re-
ported by Jayne the Treasury at Washington tho
SUN at which the compromise effected. sIr. Story
has said he will spend another ilOoOoO II necessary in
getting back the $4,000 OF which both heIand the Gov
eminent wee robbed
THE MEETING AT STEINwAY HALL.
The special meeting Of the Chamber of
Commerce. To be held tonight at seinway Hall hear
the report Of the Special Committee OF the Chamber
Revenue Reform the subject OF great interest among
| tho merchants Of New-York and will he largely at
tended. George Opdyke, Fret Vice-President OF the
Chamber of Commerce. Will preside, land win open with
| short address the general subject Of
| moieties and Of the seizure OF books aud papers,
and the special subject OF the of
Phelps, Dodge Co. Nj. Stevens Will read the report
OF the Special Committee. Joseph H. Choate will deliver
an address the general subject VIM Barbour David
A. Wells Jackson s. Schultz and others will also speak
| l.. Il. Cmttenden, Register OF the Treasury under
Secretary Chase, has been invited to address the
meeting, and will give brief history OF the manner In
which tho laws have been perverted 10 the bapet of
] SPECIAL agents aud inf0rmeTe. ....s.