The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-05
ACCUSED OF BARRATRY.

There are rev names better known In an unen-
viable light among shipping men IN this city taan
that OF Francis lie RoY Norton, ''tne barrator,"
Commander IN the Cuban Navy, spanish secret
service man. &c. and an inmate OF Ludlow street
Jail since Decoration Day.
The frequently changing roles played BY Norton,
OF captain, master, owner, agent, charterer, make
II drlcult to decide m which character he has
gained most evil renown.
Several OF his fraudulent and protested drafts
are now In this city. and suits viii be probably
brought against him on them. Insurance COM
panies In France, Italy and England are also en-
deavoring 90 recover moneys OF which be has de-
irauded them. SPECIAL Treasury Agent Brackett
seized a number OF opas and other precious
stones from Mrs. F. l.. Norton, for alleged
smuggling, when she arrived with her husband
on the steamer City OF Austin last Monday from
Key West.
THE CUBAN PRIvATEER PIONEER.
James Z. Ward a Co., OF Wall street, who have
just arrested Norton, advanced him $4,000 on
mortgage on the schooner Resoute, which vessel
Norton afterward called the Pioneer. The money
Tor the purchase OF this vessel came from the
Cuban agent in this city, Mr.. Mayorgo. The
Pioneer loaded cargo IN this city for Jamaica,
which was duly delivered and for which Norton
received the freight. Norton then sailed for PORT
au Prince and there ran up the lone
star nag OF the IuDan keDuDHC mounted
gun, showed some ammunition he had
on board ana pretended to be prlvateer.
The Pioneer on her return passage was seized by
the United States revenue cutter Moccasln, or
block Island and taken to Newport, r. L.,
where she was seized and sold by the United
States authorities, as Norton doubtless intended
she should be. Norton was subsequently arrested
at the suit or j. z. Ward for obtaining money
under false pretences and locked up some fifty
days when he confessed judgment and was re
leased. Ne then entered the Spanish secret SER
vice. While so employed he engaged Simon Gratz
Phlladel phlan. TO help him, and obtained ''safe
conduct pass" for him from the Spanish Consul
Uriayte to 90 out as a spy on the cuban cxpedi-
ton which Gratz SAID was being fitted cut. Nor
ton and Gratz were in constant communication
with Mcssrs. Craig Webster, the Spanish govern
ment lawyers IN TINS city.
NoRToNis RECENT SwINDLEs,
In March, 1874, Norton and one George McFar-
land obtained possession OF the c yacht Juiietts,
IN her from Stonington, Conn.,, for inc Island OF
Bermuda.
tue Jullette arrived in Bermuda In due course.
and two ladies' Joined the expediffen-viz., Mrs.
Norton and Mrs. Mcfarland. Having taken In
fresh stock OF provisions. they, with pleasure at
the prov and beauty at the helm,n started Tor
Curacoa but put into ST. Thomas Leaving st.
got ne boat Sas dpoppeed and drew upon H. cews
CO. for sSO drew az ap 6f SGa sUTe. 'fn
frm, ana both bills were in due course
OF time returned 10 Curacao protested Before
power OF attorney TO Jesserum Zoou, OF Cura-
Goa. authorizing them 70 sell the vessel II the
THE WRECKED BRrGASrISE FLORENCE
Their next operation was at 81. Tnomas much
they purchased for trlfling sum the British orig
antlne Florence. oil elghy-lour tons burden, nal-
I wfecRe om on Annegada reel '0 near Toroa
and taken TO 81. Thomas by toe wreck
srs; Norton had her registered is. g. s..
Here Norton chartered her 10 a firm in st. Thomas
TO load cargo OF mahogany from 81. Domingo
signed Norton received the equivalent OF 1900,
drawn on Barring Brothers, OF London, as an adj
vance against freight. Inc DRAFT for TINS money
was signed ny Lawrentzen, the captain of the
Florence. The said vessel then proceeded on her
voyage for st. Domingo.
Norton, with money N his pocket, then .'pur-
chased as ne termed ~ tne CONDEMNED Brlt,sn
gave q oil 10 the seller on Barring Brothers, Lon-
don, covered oy a mortgage on sald vessel.
Meanwhile ne had chartered her 10 oao cargo
Of mahogany at ~. Domingo city Tor Genoa. in
proceeded TO ST. Domingo CITY and found that the
Florence had alreaGy got her cargo on board and
Norton instructed her captain to wait for MN on
~ Thomas. The Surprise then loaded her cargo,
ana Norton received an advance bis
freight the sum Of $1,000. He then proceeded. not
TO Genoa, but to his rendezvous with the Florence
ACTS OF BARRATRY
The vessels met and instead or proceeding 10
Genoa and Liverpool respectively they proceeded
Tney stated, upon their arrival there, that they
lad put In through stress OF weather. and placed
their vessels IN the hands OF Churchill DAVIS
THE CARGO OF THE SURPRISE SOLD.
After Re Gays the respec i've cargOes were
advertised Tor sale on the fictitious plea that the
cargo owed certain charges Tor general average.
i III III
Norton received about $500 Tor the mahogany.
The next act Of Norton. was 10 nave the vessel
transferred TO has brothers. name. LamUert Nor
tou who appeared upon the scene at this ilme
THIS arrangement was merely temporary, aud sne
of the vessel, and put UNDER the Danish nag.
Norton then made CHARTER. In November last,
with T. n Il. DE Wooli. OF Halifax, 10 proceed to
1t. Margaret's Bay. Nova scotia. there 70 load a
lumber cargo Tor Liverpool Inc surprise, after
beng repaired. proceeded 10 1t. Margarers Bay
and loaded with about 10000 iees 81 lumuer, and
PROCEEDED, Of course by stress Or weather, not 10
iJyerrool. but 20 Martinique. IN the West Indies
where Norton disposed OF neariy all his cargo TO
the Frenchmen. pockeled the proceeds ana went
TO BARBADOS.
ana transferred the snip back from Olsen aud the
Danish nag TO his own name and the American
nag. Tie brig was then taken 70 Belize, 10 British
honduras where she put under the British
nag, and Mrs. Norton was registered a. her owner,
ana olsen was put In command. Here norton
managed TO make another charter-vlz., 70 load
cargo Of mahogany at sos. a ton Tor London ana
oDtaIped an ADVANCE OF 81 500. she luisned Load
Key West on the 2Tth or April ast. with
vessel leaking. The British governments was
notified that It's nag was icing n0wn BY Norton
on his unseaworthY vessel, and its register was
cancelled The Surprise is now In court at Key
West on account Of advances made her by Sir. J.
!. FelDrig.
A STEP BACK.
Matters, however, did not proceed smoothly at
Yarmouth, n s., with the sale OF tue FlOrenceis
cargo. The owners OF the cargo we're telegrapned
to at Liverpool OF what VAS transpiring, pro-
tested against the sale and procured an order
that the mahogany should be reloaded. which
was done. Meanwhile ugly rumors came that
Mcfarland. the captain, would take the cargo 70
sea and MAKE away with II AZ some other port
The case was then taken before the courts and
tue owners were allowed 10 take possession Of the
cargo.
Tne Florence was then proceeded against by
Churchill DAVIS Co. and sod.
Norton IL also accused OF fraud in reference 10
several otner vessels. Among the people victim
tied by Norton may he mentioned Mr. Jonn swan,
b. smith OF Smith & Chase Mr. Murray, 81 Muir
ray Ferris a Co, /; the late Harvey Barnes, OF New
haven; Joseph Eneas, r. Y. King Marshall \