The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-25
THE COURTS.
How Criminals Go IN
whipped OF Justice.
RAIDING STRAW BAIL GIyERS.
Reforms That Are Very Much
Wanted.
Arrangements and Pleas in the
Crooked Whiskey Suits.

great many people no doubt surprised by the
statement Of United States District Attorney Bliss be-
fore the Congressional Investigating Committee on
Tuesday in relation to straw bail He declared that
furnishing bonds for the release OF offenders has now
become business. and that man in Chambers street
keeps largo safe fQ Of deeds Of water lots property
heavily cncumbcred In distant States, occasionally
OF property at all bogus deeds OF good real estate
which tho party presenting says havc not yet boon
stered. and all OF thom very ingenlously executed
These he rents sells persons desiring TO raise ball.
and IL Is often difficult matter TO detect them. Tho
business, Mr.. Bliss said, proves extensive and
muncratvc that some ono has now started shop in
opposition to tho Chambers street man
1t rs we'll known TO criminal lawyers and detectives
that there In this city class persons who furnish
straw bail tho police who have no deods or
bonds, bogus or otherwise, but whose whole stock In
trade consists Of impacabe cheek" and the ability 10
swear sspowerfu strong.n There Is o barroom near
the city HALL where these people most do congrcgate
and for the price OF few drinks the friends OF prs
swear he Is worth any amount Of money and Will give
bonds any sum required. These people seem TO be
intimately acquainted with the topography Of tho town.
and tell without hesitation the precise location Of
any number OF eligible brown stone front houses and
6no building sites, which they perhaps never but
once, although they swear volubly as to the date
which hey purchased them, and evolve from their
inner consciousness the whole history Of the property
Phelps IS determined to mako things hot for these lei
lows, and extreme circumspection Is now observed in
releasing CRIMINALS on bonds
An old named Alexander p. Mckenzie who IL
said TO have made straw bail giving profession for
many years, was arrested At No LOIS Third avenue
yesterday by Detectives O'Connor and Field, or the
District Attorneys Office. The particular charge
which Mckenzie was arrested grow out OF little trans
before Judge Morgan at the Washington Place
Police Court, the LIST Of February last Arthur
SeItz, employs Of the Domestic Sewing Machine
Company on the oath OF January drew from the Bank
OF the Metropolis, corner OF Broadway and Sixteenth
street, the OF 81 500 While he stood in the bank
counting the snatched from his hands by
ono Henry wilson, OF No las West Twenty
Sez managed catch tho thief before hc reached the
door, and Wilson, finding himself captured, very skill
fully concealed portion OF the money and handed the
rest back TO Setz with the remark Here, take your
money and don't make fussv The ruse did not
work, however, and he was given into custody and
locked up On the 1st OF February he was arragned
before Justice Morgan, the Washington Place Police
Court and applied for release bail The Court fixed
the sum at $4,000. and Mckenzie appeared and fur
nishcd bonds in the required. lie swore that he
owner OF plot OF ground on the north side OF
Eighty fourth street, between Fourth and Madison
avenues worth &c. OO Tho questions relating as TO
how he into possession Of 1t answered sat-
isactoriy the bonds were accepted and the prisoner
released When the time for the trial arrived Wilson
failed to appear His bondsman was then called for
feted and District Attorney Phelps had the title -
tho property Eighty fourth street examined when
II was found that Mckenzie had never owned inch
OF IT, The detectives called then at the place had
gwen as his residence but he was not found till last
night when he found at the place stated above and
arrested on bench warrant Tho prisoner was COM
mittod to the Tombs without bail