Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-08-28
Those Mexican Claim Papers.

1nOSe ncNfcan NI0fm fhTePfS.
WILBUR RrGAINs POSSESSION OF THEM.
Ii was stated in yesterdays STAR that
Judge wylie had released from jail James
VI. wilbur. charged with detention of certain
papers pertaining 20 Mexican claims, on
writ OF habeas corpus. Afterwards Wilbur
applied to Acting Judge Mills, OF the Police
Court, for an order TO get the papers from the
property clerk, and Judge Mills refused TO
give such order until the case vas heard To-
day. Subsequently, Wilbur and his friends,
Mr. Garrett, his counsel, and another man
named Randall, applied to Mr. Herrlck,
property clerk at police head quarters, stat
ing TO him that Wilbur had been released by
Judge Wylie ard claimed the papers. Mr.;
HeTTick thinking 1t was all right delivered
the papers tO Wilbur, who gave receipt Tor
Them. Mr. johnson was informed OF the re-
lease OF The prisoner in the Afternoon, ana at
clerk to see the papers were all safe there and
was utterly astoD1shed to ind that they had
been delivered to Wilbur. He at once APP
piled for another warrant against Wilbur
charging him with stealing the papers, and
placed it in the hands of the detective Off
GERS.
REARREsT OF WILBUR
Wilbur was taken into custody this morn
ing by Lieut.. Vernon, chief of the detective
office He was fodnd in company with his
counsel. and IL did not appear ti.a5 he Was
endesvoring TO make his escape.
MILLIONS IN 1T.
The papers have Dot been recovered. There
seems To he considerable difference of opin-
ion as to the value OF the papers, some OF the
parties interested claiming that they repre-
sert fabulous amount and that they cannot
be replaced; others that they can be repro
duced, although at considerable cost Of mo
ney and time.
THE PROPERTY CLERK RISES TO EXPLAIN.
Mr.. Herrick justlfies his action upon the
order releasing the prisoner and states that
IL has always been Customary to deliver up
any property held by the police upon the
presentation to the properly CLERK OF the or
der of release, when was Done in this case,
This view o. the responsibility of the prop
orty clerk will probably be tested in this
case, a. the principle is one of great import
ance, involving sometimes large amounts
of property. Considerable surprise is eX
pressed ny the detectives and other police
officials az headquarters at the action of the
property clerk, they all expressing the belief
that q positive order from the cont SlOuld
have been Insisted upon by ihat officer be-
fore relHqUishing the custody OF the prop
eTty.
WILBUR IN TIE POLICE COURT AGaIv.
NilbEr was taken into The Police Court,
ard dErlTg The morning hours his counsel
(Messrs. Miller and GaTEetD called up the
case, expressing desire to have a hearing
at Once. Prosecuting Officer Miller 7 mind
Ell counsel for defence that lie could not be
ready for q hearing until Friday. and after
some discussion between defendants cOun-
sci and the court as to the latter making Il
peIemp;ory order that the case be heard on
Friday, which the court declined to 10. tho
bonds were fixed at : I eco for his appea rance
on that day for hearing.
Mr.. VI Her fprOSecGting) stated that this
was 8 new case as far as the court was con-
ceTned, having no connection with the for
mer one. He thought the court above should
have notified the Police Court of its anti1l
in this case. as the officers of that court ha!
takeH the defendant out of the custody Of the
Police Court ard disposed of the ease pend
ing against him, and the Police Court has no
record OF the disposition of the case at all.
Now, new warrant had been sworn ont,
and the defendant i brought in on the charge
of larceny. He intended to take time TO ex-
anime fully into the nature OF the ease be
tore coming to a trial, and he desired sutfi-
cieEt bonds in the case.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
The missing papers are sa Id 10 represent
upwards of lap separate Mexican claims,
their aggregate face value being some
SIT ,OCO,ceO; that Joseph W. Johnson, as attor-
ney for the claimants, got the claims through
the Mexican claims commission on a contin-
gent fee of fifty per cent. on whatever might
be allowed; that subsequently Wilbur intro
himself as a broker authorized by wealthy
firm in New York engaged in stock jObbiug
10 purchase such claims, and in this way got
his confidence; that negotiation was entered
into between these two by which Wilbur was
10 receive fifty per cent of his share of the
claims for the New York firm, or twenty ii We
Per cent of the entire amount for two per
cent. on their face value, Wilbur TO receive
ten per cent. for his services In the tranSac
ton; that during all this time Wilbur did
not disclose to Johnson the name of the New
York firm which he protested 10 represent,
statiTg as a reason that they did not wish 10
be known as dealing in securities OF such
doubtful character; that, to perfect the sale,
Wilbur represented that IL was necessary 10
ms he certified copies OF all the claims. which
WIS done at great trouble and cost at VII
huT's rooms at has boarding house, on Fl
street, by n cops of clerks employed for the
purpose that las week Johnson. becoming
suspicious of his broker. asked for the origi-
pa papers and wilbur declined To deliver
the IN 10 him; tEet, fearing Wilbur INTENDED
10 get away " III them. Johnson procured a
search warrant. on which the papers were
obtained last week, ami Wilbur arrested for
OBTAINING The IN.