The New York herald., 1875-11-10
Ex-Deputy Collector Des
Anges Convicted.
Arrest Of Judgment and Pris-
oner Remanded.
MEMENTO OF HENRY w. GENET.
Settling in the Courts a Bet
on His Trial.

charged with conspiracy to deraud the government Of
revenue by smuggling silks at an undervaluaton was
,ontnued yesterday before Judge Benedict and jury
United States District Attorney Bliss resumed his
closing argument for the governpent He claimed
that the most OF the entries made by Charles l. Law
renee of importations OF silks made before Des
Anges as Deputy Collector; that alleged conspra-
tors presented powers Of attorney from importers
using fictitious names; that during the years
1874 from thirty to forty invoices Of silks
In seven and eight lots invoiced and each
invoice one of the cases contained cotton goods or
hosiery and that on each invoice the selected by
Des Anges to DO sent TO public store for apprasement
representing the balance of the invoice the case or
cotton goods He insisted further that Des Anges, as
the Deputy Collector might have accidentally sent that
from two invoices but that he could have
so done in the OF all the invoices was more than
any would believe
Mr. Matthew'S counsel for the defence, said that Des
Anges had had ample opportunity TO escape since the
charges were made against him. and that he had not
attempted take advantage of his opportunities was,
he contended, evidence OF his innocence. He con-
tlnued his argument at great length.
The District Attorney in response, said that Des
Anges was implicitly trusted by the government
that even after the frauds detected, there
suspicion entertained that he was implicated in the
conspiracy; that he was consulted by the government
urged to his best endeavors all further
importations by Lawrence but he considered himself
safe that he even wrote to Lawrence the letter
placed in evidence:-
No further communication, verbally in writing You
followed, am Let everything to the devil Ex
the future
Which was captured on the person of Lawrence when
he arrested at Queenstown by the English deec
tiyes Des Anges never dreamed of the discovery Of
this letter. that it would be produced in evidence
against him.
Judge Benedict charged the jury eaboratey review
ing the testimony saying, in the course Of his remarks.
that from the evidence the jury could not but find that
there had been conspiracy TO defaud the government
by smuggling silk at an undcrvaluaton and IL became
their duty TO determine whether not the defendant
was party to that conspiracy. His Honor re-
ferred to the Hartley invoices OF eight cases each,
"a which IN every instapee the one containing
also to the shipment of eight by the steamship
Bremen, in which three cases left and sent
by the Donau the three left being all silk, which Des
Angcs marked on the invoice 8 Examination waived
and they were sent, in bond to Canada The boldness
OF fraud he charged showed that some arrangements
had been made with officers of the Custom House
for the designation of the public He
charged further that if in the minds Of the ury the
evidence showed that Dcs Anges concerned in the
conspiracy they must convict him, but that the fact
must be borne in mind that there had been
no evidence adduced that any money had been
paid to Des Anges. He also charged that as
deputy collector IL was his duty to designate to
60 TO public store. That there evidence that
any direction to mark certain for public store had
been given 70 Des Anges by Lawrence, Graan, Ball. or
any else.
At the conclusion or tho Judges charge the Jury re-
tired and, after absence of minutes returned
into court and rendered verdict OF guilty The jury
1t was ascertaned, unanimous the first ballot.
Counsel for the defence moved for Of judg-
ment The motion will be argued on Saturday next
The extreme penalty that be enforced is years.
imprsonmeDtand fine Of from 81, 900 to $4,000, or
one or both. Tho prisoner was then remanded for
sentence
SKETCH OF THE PRISONER
Deputy Collector Robert Bruce Des Anges is a native
of the south Of England and man of excellent educa-
tion and great conversational powers He for
merly in the English army paymaster's clerk, but
owing to deficiency Of f1 200 in his accounts he
forced TO take TO flight TO the United States He landed
here in 1861, at the commencement Of the civh war;
and entered the federal army. After tmo he
placed IN command Of some colored troops and showed
considerable intelligence and bravery 50 much so that
he attracted the attention of General n. r Banks,
10 whose staff he was subsequently attached, with
the title Of colonel. AT the close Of tho
on Gene raj Banks recommendation he obtained
position in the Naval Office Of the Boston Custom
House. but which position, II is alleged through
scandal, he had to resign Provided with recon-
mendations from General Banks he to this city,
where he was appointed Inspector Of Customs Subse.
quenty TO this he duty at the Barge Office as
bookkeeper with the rank OF inspector. Owing TO in
1uence being brought to bear in his favor he was ap
pointed chief clerk OF the third division IN
the Custom House on March is, ISL
on the I'd Of April, 1872, he was ap-
Ing only chief clerks pay. When Deputy Collector
James appointed Postmaster his place Oiled by
Dcs Anges the date o his appointment being 10th Sep
tember 1873. The information Of his misdeeds in Eng
land have been obtained at the War Office in London
through United States Minister Schenck. Tho amount
OF his defalcaon to the English Army was
made good by his relatives His father disowned
Dcs Anges on account Of his marriage The prisoner
claimed connection here with several Eng
lsh families but these claims said TO be unauthor
ized. He has brother residing in London, artist,
and another residing in Illinois Dcs Anges home was
out at Planheld ~ j., where he possessed property
worth about 000 From all accounts he sold HIM
self very cheapy to Lawrence, Graf and others, who
committing frauds on tho government, relying
upon future benefits
BETTING ON GENET'S TRIAL.
Before Judge spnudIng and jury, in the Marine
Court yesterday, there tried Of peculiar
tercst in relation to the criminal trial of Henry w.
Genet The suit was brought by John Halloran to
cover from Charles H. Mcdicus the of 81, 600 and
interest The plaintiffs claim and his testimony TO the
same effect was that while the trial OF Henry w. Genet
was pending he was introduced to the defendant in
the Court House by John X. Foley; that the
following day they met by accident Sweeney's Hotel,
when the conversation turned on the probability Of
Genets convection the defendant expressing his belief
that the result would be acqatta and Halloran that
there would be conviction. Medicus energetic IN
his opinion of conviction, and Halioran equally
so; that he offered 70 bet 81, 900 to 50 that
the result would be a conviction. The bet was
taken, and the defendant permitted TO hold the
stakes When verdict OF conviction rendered tho
plaintiff called defendant to receive the bets and
defendant put HIM of from time to time, until he was
forced to commence the present suit. The claim of
defendant and his story that his partner, Mr.. Val
entine Schuyler the Genet Jury; that Haloran
sought Introduction 10 him; that he asked him wit
ness) II anything could be done, and he replied No;
that he could not approach his partner any such
subject as tnat that again they met at Sweeneys and
Haloran offered to make the bet Of $1,000 TO So that
there would be conviction, but defendant remarked
that no was not betting man and left On the follow
ing day he again at Sweeneys and Halloran took
seat beside him and submitted receipt that he had
received from Fitzpatrick $1,000 for
services TO be rendered.; that he refused 10
sign this receipt, and Halloran then tore IL up and
said he would make II n,the form Of bet Of 81 900 TO
S. and forced the money into his hands. Under this
alleged state of facts it is claimed by defendant that
Halorans act attempt 10 corrupt Mr. schnyder,
his twtness1 partner, TO cause disagreement OF the
jury and being SUCH he not liable for the return oil
the money; that he IL willing TO dispose Of y according
10 the judgment Of the Court and If there be no such
judgment he wishes dispose Of It 70 some charitable
institution
John X Foley testified that he introduced Halloran
TO Medcus; had a conversation with Halloran about
one OF the Jurors SAID he knew schuyler, and HALO
ran asked him see defendant and have him use his
influence with schuyler his partner, to have him 80
for an acqulttal
The is still trial. and will probably occupy all
Of to-day.
DECISIONS.
SUPREME coURT-cHAMBERs.
BY Judge Donohuc.
Fletcher va Clark. Philina va Vaughn. Whalcn VS..