The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-05
A Well.KnOwn Cotton Buyer En-
beetles $40. 900.
His Declarations Extend over Two
Years. but He is at Last
Detected.

For long time afterwards the firm were
highly pleased with Mr. Benachi's mode OF
carrying on their business, and entrusted him
at various times with large amounts of money,
which he was instructed TO keep on hand for
the purpose of purchasing cotton for them
whenever he was ordered SO to do. About
two months ago Mr.. Benachi transferred his
buciness to his father
This strange conduct on the part of young
Benachi gave Massr5. Ralli Bros. good reason
to believe that he had embezzled the money
entrusted to him to buy cotton, which
amounted to upwards of forty thousand dol
lars, and accordingly sent Mr.. Charles Lies
feldt as an expert to this city, to examine into
the affairs of the firm.
Mr. Liesfeldt arrived here a few days ago,
and Immediately after his arrival presented
himself, with the necessary credentials from
Messrs Bali Brothers appointing him then
special agent in this city, and went to work at
the books of the firm, examining into their
affairs. His labors were partially closed on
Thursday, when it was discovered that Mr..
Benachi was short over forty thousand dol,
lars.
The books were balanced up in a fraudu-
lent manner, SO as to deceive and lull any one
but an experienced accountant. Mr. Lies
feldt as soon as he discovered fraud, acting
under instructions of the firm, imm ediately re.
paired to the First Municipal Police Court,
L. kl,of ell oAS vii
Personally appeared before me, W. L..
Evans, Judge of the First Municipal Police
Court of the city of New Orleans, Charles
Liesfeldt, who having been duly sworn, doth
depose and say that Pandia N. Benachi, who
resides in the city of New Orleans and parish
of Orleans, has been, during upwards of two
years preceding this date. employed by the
commercial firm, Ralli Brothers, Of New
| York, as their clerk in this city of New Or
| leans, for the purpose of purchasing cotton
for the said firm, upon orders received by him
! from them.
| That the said RalIi Brothers placed in the
hands of the said Pandia N. Benachi various
| sums of money at various times during the
said two years and before, consisting in legal
currency of the United States, to be applied
| to the said purchase when ordered by them.
| That the said Panda N. Benachi did, in the
First District of New Orleans, wrongfully use
and dispose of and embezzle the said moneys,
| up to the amount and value of at least SAC, 900
in the legal currency of the United States, and
apply the same to his own use and bene-
fit to the injury and loss of the said Rail-
Brothers, and refused to return unto the said
Rail- Brothers the sums thus embezzled.
That the sffiant is informed of the above
facts from personal knowledge and from in
spection of the books OF the said firm in the
hands of said Benachi in this city, and that
the affiant is in the employ of the said Ralli
Brothers, and is their special agent in all mat
ters connected with the investigation OF the
charge herein presented.
&c. LIEsFELDT.
day of December, 1875. w. l.. EVANS,
Judge of the First Municipal Police Court OF
the city of New Orleans.
Another affidavit, similar in form, was made
against Mr.. Chas. L. Garbici, the book
keeper of Mr.. Benachi, charging him with
being an accessory before and after the fact,
in conducting the keeping of the books of
said firm by making false and disguised en-.
tries in manner to lull the said firm of
Ralli Brothers into mistaken security.
Warrants were issued on the above affida-
Wits, and the two accused were arrested Friday
evening by Officers Myers and Walsh and
locked up In the Contral OLatlOn. IQey were
brought up stairs Saturday and placed in
the dock of the First Municipal Police Court.
Hon. N. B. Benachi and Mr.. D. G. Labatt ap-
peared as counsel for the accused.
The attorneys state that the whole matter is
a civil suit, and has nothing to do with GRIM
inal prosecution, and that the aft davit was
made out on a dispatch received from the
London firm; and further, even if the firm
had ordered the arrest and criminal prosecu-
ton of Mr.. Bsnachi, the book-keeper could
not be arrested, as he was simply a clerk in
the employ of Mr.. Benachi, and acting under
his Instructions.
Messrs. Benachi & Garbici refused to give
any statement, but said they were innocent Of
the charges made against them.
Mr.. L esfeldt was interviewed at the Office Of
Benachi, at the corner of Perdido ard Carroll
streets, where he was still engaged lookingover
the papers and books of the firm, but refused
to give any statement in reference to the affair
further than what is stipulated in his affidavit.
The accused were arraigned, pleaded not
guilty, and were released on $4,000 bonds each
for their appearance.
While the new COnpreSs will douhtlesS be