The New York herald., 1876-12-28
THE MEN OF STRAW"
The "Capain" and "Lientenants" Harvested
by the District Attorney.
HOW CRIMINALS ARE LIBERATED
What Influence" and 'Frieno-
ship" are Worth.

tons OF the professional "straw' bondsmen No
matter how mean thief or how desperate an outlaw
appeared at the bar of justice; matter what the
amount of bail was required, in running the
range OF simple larceny up TO manslargher prisoners
somehow other, in the majority OF instances, found
those ready and willing TO help them out of their
trouble, and ''a for friendship, too There were no
mercenary considerations IN the matter OF this signing
bail bonds, rather the gentlemen the District
Attorneys Office failed 10 find anybody who
'took cent? for the favor thus conferred upon
prkpockcts shopliters big thieves and little thieves,
that they might again snun the air OF liberty. or
course It was known that many these bail bonds
were worthless; that they oittimes represented
property all, the property existed bur-
dcned with mortgages that the statements made
false In almost every detail But catch the Villains
in their work found TO be very difficult, strange
il may seem, for seldom did the professional baer
leave his track sufficiently uncovered to enable the
thorit,es to bring him up with the turn that such
rascals require.
"srRAwH
Al last District Attorney Phelps felt that
1nary measures should be taken to stop the further
operations OF these rascas An opportunity pre-
sentcd and the officers engaged in the work earnestly
''went for the naiv vdua charged with giving worth
less bond. That person Alexander Mckenzie oil No
LOCO Third avenue who swoIe that he had lots oi real
estae-in fact, swore to anything requred-and the
result OF his little game four years and six months
in Sing Sing This tho starting wedge, and
ucrved the District Attorneys officers to greater
work. Their war paint was on. and con-
sternaton soon felt IN the ranks OF
the "bogus' basmcn. Arrest after arrest
followed until there six seven lodged IN the
Tombs where they awaiting trial The end
not yet, however as the authorities knew there
vas s at large the fountain head or prime movers in
this nearious business. To capture them was neces
sary else the roo, would be lett while the branches
we're only Topped OF. Fortune favored the officers,
and Tuesday and yesterday there were committed
10 the Tombs to await the action Of the Grand Jury
three OF most notorious straw bondsmen that TINS
city every cursed with, aud Just the men VINO have
worked great mischief In our courts ior years.
srRRlD DING THE NET.
For a long time IL hau known the District
Attorneys Office that one Ronald MacN Nichol was
.brokcri in this business OF furnishing straw ba,
anu IRON his manner of working he had acquired tho
titles OF Captain and "Gcncraln 1t also known
that Theodore +. Stratton was ''eutenant' under
MacNi ichoi, and that they were always working some
vlany. 10 entrap and punish them has long been
the desire OF the prosecuting officials of the county
stranger called at Assis,an, District Attorney Rus
sells residence and advised that Theodore f. Straton
had caused TO be conveyed to him without consd-
Grafton the piece OF property No. 3l East lid street.
which he supposed at the time held title; suisse
qucnty he learned that the equity in II was nothing,
the enoumbrances greater than its iul value
The purpose OF this conveyance was mystery TO
wailzieder. until slrauon desired him TO go
pail for various parties, jnstiying upon said
property, among them woman accused OF shop.
lifting. For this service stralton vonchsaied the
similar cases he had made large The advice OF
Assistant District Attorney Russell TO his visitor was
to go aheadn IN order that the designs oil Stratton
might be more clearly ascertaned. Watztclier did
So AMI IN short time was impor,uned by stratton TO
70 the bail OF George A. Crowint IN n civil action
brought by Isaac W. Miner. in which judgment for
SIS J5O had rendered against Crowiut. THIS time
STATION wanted Wazteder TO Justify ON some Ulster
county property, which he said was worth 5000 900,
when It's real value is only about $500. Objections
being made by Waiizielder as TO the proprety
Of representing himself owner OF houses ana land ne
saw, Siratton went on Crowiu's bond, and the
latter released. Later on 'lieuenant' stratton
desired Mr. Russels informant To sign the bail bond
OF Edward A. Condii in jail the charge of sending
bogus kilograms; but Watzeidcr still objected, and
Condit found another bondsinan All these circun-
stances detailed TO the District Attorney when
waitzielder continued his acquaintance with stra'on
under the directions anu advice OF tnat official
"cAprAISn M'NIcnoL APPEARS.
Lieutenant" S,rat,on evidently feeling that there
suspicion lurking in the train OF his intended
tool allowed HIM 10 rest short time, when he made
bold stroke for wazieder's ard lie did not APP
proach him alone but went 10 him in company with
''Captainm MacNichol, who, being introduced in due
form, business coniab commenced
Ill was a pity that MIR. waitzIelicr missing
these magnificent chances to make money SAID
sra.on. "and II he only knew y there was $50 or
$500 a week for him right along.
YES - chimrd IN the Captain, there s nothing To
do but sign your name and well see that the prop
erty III each oil the cases is all .. n :
Other little temptations were thrown out, when
the .'brokers' asked Waiizicldcr II he would aid
them in libcrating IRON the Tomos friend under
char.c OF perjury. "fhs gentleman" SAID they, us
Thomas l.. Burch, and he is not guilty, but II you Will
tien his bond, only Tor $4,000 why, we can make
TINS sum would be gwen waizfeder and the remain
ing $50 nc divided between Straton. MacNchoI anu
third party then unknown Here matters rested
until The next day.
TmE THIRD snRoKKR.r
Tic following day saturday last, when Stratton
again sou ght Wazieder, bringing with HIM Robert N.
Stewart also arrested, to whom lie was introduced.
"Mr Stewart viii fix this thing up at once said STRAIT
ton rubbing his hands gccuily; lust 20 up 10 the
District Attorney oice with hm ana see Mr. RUSSELL
and when the Doud Is signed You can have the money
for the little trouble You have been put 10. MI
Watzfelder assented and Stewart accom- panied MN 10
the District Attorneys Office, where Mr. Russell was
found at his desk >tratton took good care 10
remain behind, but waiting 10: stewards return
at a convenient hotel stewart stated the case to the
Assistant plslrct Attorney. They had come To
pail tor Thomas L. Butch accused of perjury IN giving
straw bond some time before The amount oil
pail was s5 600 With a few preliminary remarks, the
following conversation took place
Assistant District Attorney-How long, Mr. stewart,
have you known Mr. Waitzicldery
stewart Il have known him about one month.
Assistant District Atorncy-Wny does Mr. Waltz
fielder wish 10 on this bond; does he Know Burchy
Stewart-Oh, sir it's personal favor he is doing
for
thought stewart upon being asked about II, was
found to be the identical Harlem tenement house
transferred to him by Sra,on last sumner Mr.. Rus
sell got rid OF the straw bondsmen tor the time by ad
vsing Stewart examine the property himself that
he might DO sure its real value lie said he would
do when the matter Was adjourned until Iuesday,
wmAr rwo DAYS pRorGur AMOUR.
Meanwhile Detectives Fields and % Connor OF the
District Attorneys onice, we're not ,die, ana Mhen
Ste and his would be tool Waziedcr arrived on
Tuesday everything WIS ready Tor thtm, IN iaCt,
there was the biggest Kind OF rod IN pickle for
Stewart and hts conederates Mr. Russell attended 10
the matter began illing out the blank used
In such cases, all the while asking Stewart
oueslons the iattor's were corrohoratve of
his statements oi the saturday previous about Waltz.
felder's acquaintance; thst he was not 10 receive
money for Burch's bail. It being matter OF friend
ship only; that he Siewaru had examined the
premises in Harlem. and they were worth slI.5ou.
In addition he stated that hc hal no connection with
stra,ton matter, nor DID he know anybody else
a, all In the These statements were mace with
bold face aud then, thinking stewart had goao lar
enough Mr. Russell began cross examine him.
This was searchng ana resulted IA Stewart break
ing down and conicssing the whole plot. lie
admitted that his acquaintance Win Waltxieidcr was
OF but two days duration instead OF month"; that no
had IN his pocket si50 which he was TO deposit IN
some convenient place where siraton could get u so