The New York herald., 1878-02-08
THE COURTS.
A Chapter in the Record ofa
Special Detective.
HUSBANDS AND WIVES.
Love Fostered in the Emerald Isle and
Blasted in America.

case involving considerable interest as showing
the manner in which tho criminal oasses congregate
and lay their plans is now being tried before Juago
Lawrence and Jury in Supreme Court, Circuit. Part
Siegmund Otto Is the plaintiff and the Bank OF
British North America the defendant Mr. Quo
CLAIMS that during the past eighteen he has been
acting M private detective in this city. and US a
cover to this employment has carried on the business
Of u silk merchant In the early part OF 1876 he
that he had been employed by the police authorities
OF PhiiadclphiA detect persons who wore counter
fciting bonds and securities OF various corpora
lions OF city, aud that while thus engaged he dis
covered largo gang OF counterlctcrs this city,
among whom he con.rived 10 place Two OF his own
men as apparent allics, who, being unsupported by
the gang, iurDished him with Information as 10 all
their movements and planz In this way, on october
Of that year, ho learned that O letter Of credit for
$500, which had short time before been
ISIS ued by the Bank Of British North
rou and these counterleits be presented
simultaneously at tie dlerent branches OF the bank
IN this country, there being branches IN many OF Tho
States aud II tho Canadas ana ST. John, Now Bruns.
wick Alter acquiring this Information Mr Otto stated,
that he went TO the bank in this CITY upd had
an Interview with tue manager otner officers OF
the bank. The information that he thcn
thcm TO- activity ana they took hs advice us 70 now
TO act. Ho nended them TO telegraph all their
agencies Immediately und warn them Of the
danger, anu direct them to arrest all parties
within day or two eight persons were arrested ana
subsequently, con victed Several interviews took
place between Mr.. Olto Mr.. Wnliam Z. Barrett, who
then counsel oil the bank, and the manager. Mr..
Otto says that he was very ANXIOUS 10 proceed with
TINS matter and and convict The principals and
the whole guhg IN fact; but that when he anded
compe nsatiVn not only refused but was gwen
understand by the managcr that n ho cared about
was his own bunk, ana that his bank safe lie
hau further need ol bls SERVICES and AS tor
arresng Inc guilty parties no DID no. care anything
ubout that. Fceling that his services were vi some
value he brought SUIT against the bank, and, as
Messra Townsend and Weed appearing us his counsel
ana kedield and Hill appearing for tho bank.
Alter the opcnIng Ot the by Mr..
Weed, recitng the facts substantially as given
ness und corroboralcd the story. ho was
subjected TO lengthy and rgid cross.examlnation by
Mr.. Hill. but dd not vary his original narrative.
Police superintendent walng and cx.Police C0mms-
interview between tho manager OF the bank, Mr. Bar
re Mr. QUO auu one or Two others, ut Police Head
quarters, IN which Mr. Barrett admitted that Mr..
Otto hud saved the bank very large sum
ofmoney Detsctive THUS confirmed Mr. Otto in rc-
gard 10 several interviews had Wy the latter win the
manager Of the bunk and hts counsel. aud he win
Captains Mount and Petty spoke in the nighest terms
of Mr.. Otto skllIod detective. Messrs. Isolin,
Haas fwate and Orlando L. stewart aso testified ID
his skill as detective Mr. Lcvon, a private dctcc-
tive, considered hs services rendered 10 the bank
us worth $4,000. Hero the plaintiffs counsel
rested, and Nj. Hill then opened ior tho
ience. Tho bank defends on the ground thai what
O.to did simply whnt any good citizen would feel
himself bound do without consideration, but In re-
ality That ne did nothing, AS the same day that
Otto called tho bank received Information from
oil ts agencies thut suspicious letter Of credit had
been presented and asking whether II was right, aud
that tho sending OF kilograms 10 all other
agencies. The trial will be resumed Monday, TO.
day being short cause day.