The New York herald., 1877-08-25
THE EAST AND WEST ylCTINIZED.
The Mysterious Gessner in
Court.
SPRAGUE'S BRIEF STATEMENT
Arraignment of the st. Louis Bono
Manipulators.
WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THEM |?


Court was yesterday the OF unusual excitement,
and seldom arc many detectives congregated within
tts precincts graced the place the occasion IN
question. Four forgers, their keepers counsel,
friends and 'pals" all crowded into the little space
and completely filed It that the Justice had diff
Guilty in making his way TO the bench. While the ex
aminatons going in the anteroom IN officer
brought in another orger and arraigned him at the
bar outside "Forgin' TO be gittn fashionable
The fly men are havin' hot time Of it this sum-
msr, remarked an officer Of the court squad as tho
new was brou ,ht up
GEssNER COURT.
The first case called by Justice Duffy was that of
Gessner the man whom jayne, the detective has had
locked up in the Filth Avenue Hotel for many days
past private prisoner Gessner had been brought
before Justice Duffy early In the day, and told the ma
iuro Of the charge on which he was arrested "You
charged, said the Justice with being the leader
Of gang OF forgers who have OF late been operating
in different States, and as the charge is very grave
one will call you for examination at three O'Clock,
and In tho meantime remand you back
TO Police Headquarters" F" Shortly before tho
hour named Assistant District Attorney Lyon
made his appearance in the examination room, whore
he was joined shortly by handsome black haired
woman VINO seemed very nervous and took seat in
a far corner The lady did not speak to any one but
with much interest and now and then made inquiries
OF her friend. At three O'Clock Allan Pinkerton and
Field and O'Connor the detectives from the District
Attorneys Office, filed into the room with their prison
srs, who charged with forging ST. Louis
county bonds Tho lady in the corner seemed
much disappointed when the last man of this party
entered. and began TO cry. Allan Pinkertop, when
asked, said the woman in the corner was Gessnor's
wife, She closely veled but her great black eyes
shone out through the disguise, and massive coil of
Jet black hair was exposed beneath the back Of her
aunty Danicnef hat. Her patient watching was soon
rewarded, for her husband followed the Fields aud
D'Connor party few minutes later into the room.
The crowd dense tnat hardly standing room
was to be had After few minutes consultation with
the Assistant District Attorney.
THE
Justice Duffy called The OF Gessner, and the pris
walked up to tho bar An adjournment OF the case
was asked for and NO objection being made the JUS
tice set the further hearing until Thursday next,
ut eleven O'Clock A. N. Gessner seemed ANXIOUS not
70 be sent TO the Tombs and informed Mr. James
piivor one Of his counsel Mr.. Waldron, another of
his legal advisers asked that tho prisoner be commit
Jed to Police Headquarters, aud that his trunk, which
s present locked up the Fifth Avenue Hotcl be
pent TO him. Justice Duffy said he would commit
Tho prisoner to the Tombs and that Scr
trunk. Gessner seemed much disappointed at
this decision, and one Of his friends ejaculsted
'Oh hell" when he heard it The anxiety about that
trunk was thought to more than desire for
clean linen and change OF clothes. The detectives
proiessed to think that the trunk contained docu
ments OF importance to the case, but the unmisak-
able signs Of disappointment by Gessner's friends
when it was found that Sergeant Kealy wus to take
charge Of It, would indicate that 1t might be incon
vencnt to them to have the trunk opened. The W.T.
rcsses whose aidavits the warrant for Gessner's
person was issued did not appear in court but the
following the sworn statements. Van Tine Is
teller in the Third National Bank and Thompson is
said 10 be quondam 'pal' OF Gessner. who has
turned states evidence In order to eudo punishment
Tor his own crookedness
THE AFPIDAvITs.
City and County Of Nen Fork, ssWis Van Tine. Of No.
BIS West street dsposos the
9Th OF Dccemoer 1876, IN tue city and couaty OF New
Mnsow, Laaier Co., arm dolns ba.inss.in
s asco an %
ss S.
=, The The Third Third \, National Bank Of Nsw Y0r.
thousand nine hundred and sixtyeght dollars
a!ss !isss.ses ssas' u.s. wlNsLow. LANlER co.,
to said Third National Bank paid to the
q ehsSs to be
That dspOnsnt s wen sequsnst with the haadwrsins Of
sneek Is the signature OF said firm deponept
s,ersd said check and prays and
dealt with aSe0,snS to S Law: a2a MILLS vAs 7 Tine S.
ms-P. q. DUFvr. Justice.
The affidavit of Thompson ls more valuable than the
above for In II the aiant charges that Gessner madc
q confession to him.
aid eo.ny y Ses IorI ..Jo o:eph NJ Thompson, q said
Gs..nss and being issses as ooys
SIs & s ri
forged paper Tor several last pas,; after the
known talked Gessner about the same and he told
me that he ogether WITH other persons aa fixed" said
The wSd 50 s m G .a I s @s ns
Of the drawers OF the ehssK that the 'dxedn !.
well understood among persons engaged in making and
S.ssrRs ,sfs'd paper to mean the
Sworn before me, this 22d day OF August, ls77-P. g.
AN INTERVIEW WITH aEssSKR.
Shortly after Gessner put In coil on the third
tier OF the Tombs prison a HERALD reporter called
upon him in order to learn something Of the irregu-
arties with which his case according to his riends,
has been conducted Gessner is not by any meaus
handsome man. He 10 about thrtyeight years OF age,
OF medium height ana weighs about one hundred and
sixty-uve pounds HIS heai IS entirely bald, his wbis-
kcrs, which are OF dark rod hue, are worn full ex-
ccpt al the chin which Is close shavcn He
has nothing of the criminal IN his appear
nnce, and as he spoke he seemed moro
ike a business man In easy circumstances than u
prisoner Tor felony. His varied experiences AZ u lcgs
htor IN the Minnesota Assembly, AS Lieutenant
eoonel in the New York regiments and in other pup
lie capacities has developed Tor him this even deport
mont Before the reporter had time TO say anything
Mr.. Gessner said, II cannot speak to you this
Mar OF mine have been advised by my counsel to
Keep silent, and you know man In my position must
DO what he Is told"
The reporter said he had already heard from counsel
That Gessner would not talk about his own case but
had called In tho hope that something might be learned
Df tho manner in which Jayne had acted.
II would prefer at present 10 say nothing about
that"
as 1t true that while in Jayne's custody you lost
some moneys" asked the reporter
swell, yes, they took 5000 iron me In Chicago, aud
have not received one cent OF II yet notwitn-
uanding that have often asked. | cannot now 70
into the particulars, and hope you will excuse me
for the present ut least"
The reporter Withdrew and Gessncr back to his
damp cell
NOTE FROM sPRAGUE ALIAS WESTON
HERALD reporter received word In the afternoon
that Mr. Spraguc alias Weston the mysterious forger
had some information which he wished TO make pub
lie Tne reporter proceeded to the Filth Avenue
Hotel ana saw Sprague who was In room No. los
From him the following note, IN pencil was
Aer the Third National Bank of Chicago denied having
nything with the arrests finally agreed with them
ID come ON here without requisition never have
.sksSed osms and believe In letting NO guilty