The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-17
THE SHOOTING STAR FRAUD.
"A SUIT hGfTNST 7HE EvECUTORs ON
OfKES IMES'S EsTITE
The Insurance on N steamer that WINS Intcn-
uonmiiy kcd-rnriners In ~ srccula-
tive Business In New Orleans Failing Ont.

The Insurance on N steamer that wn. Intcn-
uonniiy Wreckcd-rnriuers In "a Srcculo.
tive Business In New Orleans Failing Out.
Boston, April 16.-Thc trial Of the case OF
William NJ. Han against the executors Of tho
Onkcs AmCs estate began to-day before Judge
Soulc Of the supreme Judicial Court in Taun-
ton. Mr.. Hall first took tho stand. anil his di-
rect examination developed the following story:
just after the war A. s. Mansfield and Pctcr
Butler did large speculative business in New
Orleans on capital furnished by Oakcs Amcs.
Tho steamer Shooting Star. purchased at a cost
OF s22,jOO. was insured 10y them in ten Boston
companies for 100000. payable TO Amcs. Her
cargo was Insured by three New York COM
pnnics for $4,000. payable to Mansfield The
steamer was cast away. and the New York COM
pnnies paid their loss without question Tho
Boston companies sent HILL to New Orleans to
Investigate and he reported against payment.
compromise was made. however, and Amcs
got $4,000.
Hall became possessed Of afliavits, among
othcrs that Of Capt. McKcigc. going to show
that the vessel had been Intentionally wrecked:
and hc proposed to the Boston Offices to recover
for them the money paid Amcs for $4,000.
Tho proposition was accepted and the money
was ultimately paid back. Before this was
done Hall sold his claim upon 1t tp Peter Bgtlcr
for $4,000. and male nm agreement to prose-
cut' the claim for him. He then turned his at
tention to the New York insurance companies.
but Amcs prevailed upon him to let the matter
rest and devote himself to Mansfield. who.
Amcs said had chcat'd him out Of n million
dollars or moro. lie promised Hall ten pcr
cont On all the monoy he could s1uccz, ont of
Mansfield up to sZJn.OOn. contract to this
effect was drawn by Mr.. Merrill and signed by
Amcs and Hall in February, 1868. but 1t niys-
t"riou~y Disappeared IN September, lA6o. DUR
D. q a mot 81 a.
Hal was at New Orleans on this business
part OF thr tipo in charge of the case dcyoting
himself to- to iho fiyil pro,css wjlile ilell was
gascG Hall rccciyrd letters from Amcs. dated
Tnb. 2G ,A ArriI II. Api,I -. Nay 20. May 25; and
Jun" \ all urging the necessity of great di-
g'n q an activity in cooking up the case
.agi .nsi Mopsleld. The following, ar, among
pay anything. and will 70 into bankruptcy
lenying property in his wilc's nnmci Yen
%KccTD at G Work AID s eI JG'' ali S cTenc You
CAM; fuch by it tll you see Morrill, Mans
i.ld did ru' much Of his propory into other
through Nrrrill. moro than s2jO.On0. A d'po-
ston hy ], bort Pluinm"r which WIS put in as.
sgrtel t@ Merrill admitted 10 him the receipt
When Hall returned from NV Orleans. he
c,-s of tnc ol ration. In May 1870. saw Amcs
aei in by appointment in New York. Amcs
! Nf"N 10 advance money 10 pros ''ute AlhnS-
| fl .d crimiunlly. but ll wanted the old aG-
count spGlr Il tirst IL" on rcd 10 take ;2joO0
IN Union Pacific bonds. but Amcs had none
which werr not hypothteatel; nor would he
give Il not, sayin.; that he th,r had all
no could ,ake care Of Just let the account
run. anl he would pay interest on It ms II il were
| uuote. In ths fall they would get osrth"r with
| Merrill and ilN II. But 1t W. not fixed. and
| Amcs and Merrill are dead. The claim. which
| Is for s2loDO. with interest since May I. 1870
was heard by commissioners about two yeara
| ago and ds,llowed.
| Tho cross -cXamnation brought out the fac
| that Hall was paid $50 LAY, or total of about
| $4,000. during all the timc he WIS on the case
| The payment wps Op the Butler contract. how.
| cv0r, hut was made by Merrill, OH the part Of
| Amcs. wi o had endorsed IT. 1t also appeared
| TINT. from thc tine of the conference. In 1870
| to May. 1873. when both Amos and Merrill wcrs
| q ad ihr present claim was not presented
! Han said tins was because be- had not been In
! position to prosecute it. and he had never Hskcd
| ior Interest The manuscript copy Of pamph-
! let, dctHling his coHue. .tlnn with tn Shooting
! star ca7c WAS synt to Amcs hy Han. in May.
| 1870. inst after tho conl"ron"r. and with III
| sugg '-tinn thai. II he would send a check TO
| llHlis son, i might not ho advisable IL publish
! the pamphlet. AWns said something about
| h.H '.fnaii. ana refused to hAy" ANYTHING to dG
Wun lt IA' crosse sNauinal!un VIII Dee con-
tuu"l AMI the case probably completed to-
/ marrow.