The New York herald., 1877-11-01
J. S. OTIS IN JAIL.

vur PARTNER OF LAGRAvE, THE GREAT DRY
,.s swrSpLEn, CAPTURED IN NEW
nr-ursroRY or THE FIRM AND ITS
OPERATIONS.
J.cob 8 otis VINO will be remembered as having
nesn n member Of the nrm OF Lagravo Co., which
s,.,ualed some afty New York mercantile firms sew
eral years ago out OF over Ssoo,ooo, was
arrested in ns city yesterday Lagrave Co. obtained
extensive credit from tho leading firms OF the city,
including stewart Co., Clanin Co. and Others ana
when they had ned their house, which was located
on broadway near Broome street, with hnc STOCK
thew sent the goods 10 Philadelphia and sold them az
auction, receiving large sums OF money III
this way. When their rascality was discoverea
the men Lagrave and Otis ned ana were
followed by detectives. The former was hnaiy ar
rested IN France, and In 1872 was brought 10 tn's
country but was released on account OF deiect IN
the Extradtion treaty. The pursuit OF Lasrave oy
Now York detective and his capture form one OF tno
most interesting pages In detective history
ous was never captured, and. IL IS said,
had returned to this city determined 10
spend his days in his native land, even u
In prison. Indictments have long ago been found
against Otis for committing burglary and conspir-
Ing to dcfraud his creditors For the former offence
be was arrested yesterday When visited al Ludlow
Street jail by HERALD reporter late last night he re-
fused to make any statement
HISTORY OF FIRM.
Iagravc, tho former partner OF OTIS, man ABOUT
forty years OF age, possessed all the requisites
Of an accomplished swindler, aud withai an air
of such gcntlemany interest that our most
prominent merchants, generally pretty shrewd
and sharp meh, were completely guled by
is protcnsons and his elegance, though already his
crimes had been manifold when he began the opera
hov, led IN
IN n curious eptome of the cold, calculating VII
lain who sacrifices all TO seli-intercst. He
has been married three times and discarded
his first wife because he fell in love with the second
who was supposed TO have money. In short time
he exhausted all his second wie's dowry and then
turned hts attention to getting third. He courtcd
for some time the wiic of another and succeeded
finally In making leave her husband and fly away
with him. her husband consenting to divorce. His
own wtc Was lott IN misery pehnd. When Lagravc
began business in New York no hired store
Broadway and fitted II up in u gorgeous manner He
bought bill OF goods at Stewards, representing
himself a newly established merchant, with large
Western trade For these he paid cash, and OF course
inspired confidence. When no rc-cntered the store
few days aerward he found he could get all tho goods
he wanted at months In this wny he went to other
largo dry goods houses. giving hts note At SIX months
IN each These goods were sent West 10 Chicago
and other towns and there auctioned OF. In about
Owe months ne nad up account OF over 100000
HIS trick was discovered and Iagrave took flight for
Canada. of all the property he had received not
5000 worth renamed in the store on this charge
ne atcrwurd arrested in France, but, stated,
escaped through tcchnical,y in the cxtraditon law
osls. who now In ia has several orders OF arrest
against him for being accessory these irrcgu-
lartics OF iAgravc. During tho occupancy OF the
store on Broadway he committed burglary, and it is
on this charge ne arrested yesterday.