The New York herald., 1879-11-23
CHARGED WITH BLACKMAIL.

OLD FRIENDS CONVERTED INTO BITTER FOES
MR. pEAY's ACCUSATIONS AGAINST DE-. THEo-
DoGE sAYRE.
The arrest of Dr. Theodore H. Sayre OF Sixth ave-
nue. and Forty-seventh street. q charge of black
mail brought by Edward Everett Pray created quite
sensation among the intimates of both, and served
TO bring 4 number of onlookers to the Yorkvle po-
lice Court yesterday, whore the case was set down
for examination. When Justice Smith called it the
complainant submitted his affidavit through conn
sci and ex-Judge Fullerton aad Counsellor
Leo Schwab announced their willingness
to proceed III behalf of the defendant.
Mr.. Pray's testimony was as follows :-"In March.
1878, Sayre had a conversation with me: at about
midday went into No. 81 Bro I'd street. the Office of
Warren. Harding & Co. and found him there:
We sat apart; he said You making
money here. Pray; 1 am in awful fix for money.
/ owe three or four thousand dollars; have been
good friend to Won i'll times past and nov you haye
got to help ne;' said to him. Il can't do it, Sayre--
matter how bad l wanted to couldnt:'
he seemed a that and leaning said.
You've got to or I'll maze you; you can afford
to give thousand dollars to keep my mouth
shut; If some men had you i'll their power. as
have, they would squeeze you while you had drop
of blood in you;' told him it useless to talk
that wsy-.my money margin with my bank
any; 1T you think you can frighten me into paying
money said, 'you very much Mistaken he
reflected for awhile and then took piece OF
paper from his pocket. which he spread
before me; 'rhe least you can DO. said
he SIS to sign this note; it was drawn for
thing ever S400. considerably less than the first
he demanded; he said he would take the chances of
being able to collect it when had profit III the
firm; refused pcremptoriy to comply with this. ar
which he flew into rage and said that II did not
sign the note he would go the firm and blacken
N
Choose now, between signing this note or being
driven from decent society," daret him to do MS
worst, and lett him there.
IN A DELICATE POSITION.
II him again, not long atterward: he men
toned OF tie frlu named Mckinney, VINO, he
said, promised to pay the note when had balance;
saw I was in delicate position. and signed it.
during the following April in the reading room OF
the Sturtevant House; 1 lived there and he called
money but you can afford to live at Il first class
hotel then he demanded the payment OF the note;
said would never make myself party to any such
transaction that; he rose and threatened to pub
lish the guests thief and good-for-
nothing. and to drive me out OF the hotel; then he
turned suddenly and asked for only part OF the
face value OF the note. which also refused.
'Did you Sayre thing at the time OF giving
the note?' asked Justice Smith
II did not owe him penny" the complainant
swered promptly, "but he owed nee money" Then
he proceeded with his narrative as follows:-"In
March, 1879 Sayre called me into his drug store and
said 4 hear you are engaged to be married; now.
listen to me. if you do settle this note will go
to General Locke and tell him you betrayed aud
abandoned the young lady you were formerly en-
gagged to-"
Judge Fullerton cross-examned the witness. "In
the spring OF 1876 he entered Sayre's employ AZ
bookkeeper and remained until the autumn of 1877;
witness drew money but not wages; he kept ar ac-
count and charged the money as wages
'Why did you not say something about wages
when you left and signed the edger? was suggested
by Mr.. Schwab.
~ signed the books because believed them to be
correct Sayre said was getting along all right.
and bid me let the account stand"
In reply to other queries he said -"I careless
in recording transactions in the ledger; did not
know why Sayre wanted me to sign it; my impress
sion is that he owed me about $500; married
March 20. 1879; traded with him after his abuse
and after he had the note did offer him stocks as
a collateral security; at the time 1 signed tho
note Sayre said nothing about its being for
a sum due him the books; did
not know the precise amount the note
till Counsellor Schwab sent ine a legal notice when
1 determined to proceed against Sayre crininally;
1 never offered him stock in the Wyandotte Mining
Company. although he asked for it," Pray stated
that he could mention one who was present at
the time Of tho Broad street interview. when Ex-
Judge Fullerton put NJ. l.. Raymond on the stand to
testify that he had been there and had been
moned court to testify by Pray himself.
Ex-Judge Fullerton then moved to dismiss the
| case as Pray's own books showed that the amount
was due to Sayre. The motion denied and the
hearing was set down for Wednesday next.