The New York herald., 1876-08-20
CHARGE OF BLACKMAIL.
HIGHLY pIsAGIEEABI.E ISSUE BETWEEN TWO
RESPECTABLE MEN.

A HIGHLY DIsAGgEEABI.E ISSUE BETWEEN TWO
RESPECTABLE MEN.
A case of onsderable interest and calculated to
disturb the usual serenity OF social lie at Sea Cl
!. l., to light yesterday before Justice Murray
at the Tombs Police Court The parties concerned
the best circles OF the pleasant little village
just named. the complainant being leader in tho
bay" Methodist Episcopal church OF Sea Clil and
the defendant the Of DR.. Depuy, assistant
editor of the Christian Adrocate few days ago
Mr. David Pyalt, who keeps grocery store
at Sea Cla and who repucd to be
wealthy applied to Justice Murray for a warrant
for the arrest of William r. Depuy for attempting
to backmal him. On the strength OF tho statements
made by Pyati aud the production Of documentary ev
dencc appearing to sustain them, the Court issued
warrant and It was placed in the hands OF Court
onccr Wcbber for execution. The latter proceeded
Long Island on Friday. arrested Depuy and locked
HIM up in the Sixth ward station house. Yesterday
the prisoner taken before Justice Murray
The affidavit OF Mr.. Pyatt begins by stating that Depuy
him some money and no had frequently asked
him for 1t, bui never got paid At last, some tno
early in June, Pyatt threatened Depuy with lc-
gal proceedings If he did not pay up immc-
diatey. On tho 2Sth of the Same month
Mr Pyatt received letter, signed "H NJ. latham,
New York, June %, ls76,' and which he charges
a private detective, and had been employed several
weeks previous to ''sbadow" certain persons Sea
Gin agans. whom suspicion rested, and that he
Pyatt one OF the parties He then goes OF TO say
that after repeated visits 10 Sea C he on The evening
OF Juno !, saw Mr. Pyatt encr the house OF Mrs -,
near the church, leave almost Immediately atcrward,
and return again III fifteen minutes; that he entered
and sat the left side Of the middle room. Mrs -
taxing seat ON bis lap; aud, further, that
he subsequently witnessed improprletes be-
tween them. after which Pyatt left On a
later OCCASION when accompanied by Trend,
he thc write) again witnessed similar actions
on the part OF Pyatt and Mrs The writer, after
reoiting further charges Of misconduct, brings the let
a close as folows:-
81 learned that you was class leader In the
church and one OF its leading mombers; that
you had a family fine cultured daughter. and
that would follow the report that was to make 10 my
employer The effect OF such revelation upon man
OF Mr. IS jealous and hot temper may easily
be guessed The effect upon your we and children
may easily bc guessed, to say nothing OF the elect
upon Mrs -. With these thoughts came un-
other. You are rich; am poor. You can guess tho
rest Now, have already delayed making my report
longer than ought TO- but shall wait a lew days
desire. Should you wish Ia reply must be at once
and to the point work for money, and although my
money. personal interview is not desirable, so you
must say whatever you want to say by mail Yours
"H. W. LATHAM, Station d, Now York"
Mr. Pyatt also states in his affidavit that he is
familiar with the handwriting Of the defendant, and
upon comparing some memoranda IN his possession
written by Mr. Depuy with the letter above referred to
he found the handwriting TO be exactly similar This,
together with the addltlonal facts that Dcpuy had
In conversation separately with joseph W. Iatersha
NJ. d., OF Sea Cn Mr. Clinton. proprietor Of the Sea
Cliff HOTEL and the Rev. Mr.. Lishburn pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal church made similar statements
to those contained IN tho letter, induced Mr. Pyat 10
his arrest Depuy, who is tall, blonde haired
young man, rather good looking, though he admits
owing Mr. Pyatt money, denies the charges made
in his affidavit M toto Mr. John G. Boyd, who APP
peared the prisoners counsel, demanded an
alton, which set down for next Wednesday. Depuy
is meantime under bail appear in the sum OF 000