The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-04
MIR. Dock Dnped.

ihauGlIhlIh lillCo.
Luther Dock, rich and retired COM
mission and forwarding merchant Of this
city, residing at No. 904 North Broad
street, went over to New York recently
and gave his check for 81, 200 under cir
cumstances, to say the least, peculiar.
There is only one side of the story, but
the plaintif in civil suit to recover the
face of that check, promises to tell an
equally interesting tale. Christian
BneasS appears of record as counsel for
the plaintiff, whose name is V. A. Ryan,
said to be New York merchant. Ryan
brings suit to recover the face of the
check, and his claim being duly filed, an
affidavit Of defense is put i'll by Mr..
Dock, which sets out the following facts:
That he being in New York he met a
young man on Broadway who introduced
himself as A. j. Drexe, Jr., of Philadel-
phia, son Of the banker OF that name III
This city. This young man proceeded TO
relate to Mr.. Dock that only the day be-
fore he had, with his sister, landed in
New York from Havana, and that they
were stopping now at the Windsor Hotel
for little rest before going home. Mr..
Docks story goes on to relate how he
thought he recognized in the face Of the
alleged Mr.. Drexel the family likeness Of
A. j. Drexel, the banker, whom he knew
well, and further, that the young gentle
man was delightful companion, with a
wide range of information and rare CON
versational powers.
The young man said, "Call on me at
the Windsor" and they walked together
until finally the alleged Mr.. Drexel said,
"While in Havana | got some lottery
tickets in the great Havana lottery, one
of which | understand has drawn a prize.
Let's go to the Office and get the money"
Together they went to the Office indi-
Gated, where the so-callcd Mr.. Drexcl
presented his ticket and appeared to
draw a sum of money amounting to
about 800, and was given tickets en-
titling him to further drawing from
certain numbered cards or tickets which
the party in the Office had. He drew
and lost, and lost, and lost some money
from his own pocket and then requested
Mr.. Dock to loan him his check for
$4,000, for which he gave his note in eX-
change, and on which he would immedi-
ately pay the money on his arrival in
Philadelphia.
The check was drawn by l.. Dock on
l.. Dock on the West Philadalphia Ma
tional Bank and endorsed by l.. Dock to
John IL. Green. Having passed into the
hands of its first indorser it passed into
the possession of Mr.. V. A. Ryan, the
client of Mr.. Kneasa. 1t appears that
Mr.. Dock and his friend after this little
transaction separated, and Mr.. Dock
thought the matter over very carefully
and concluded that the whole affair was
the least bit shaky and ought to he inquir-
ed into Therefore he hailed a passing car
and rode up to the Windsor, when the
beieweed clerk assured him that none OF
the Drexel family were stopping there,
not one, and certainly Mr.. Drexel, Jr.,
and Miss Drexel were not of the guests
Mr.. Dock was astonished. That Mr.
Drexei's son, whom he never knew, had
occasion to borrow $4,000 did not sur.
prise Mr.. Dock, but that the so-called
Mr.. DreXel should have deceived him
regarding the hotel was trife too much
and let light into a whole city full oil
darkness and fraud. He at once tele.
graphed his bankers not to honor the
check, in short, stopped its payment.
Mr.. Dock then came back to his North
Broad street home and waited develop
ments. He had not long to wait; the
fast mail brought along his check and il
reached in due course the West Phila
delphia bank where it met with rebuff
and went back to New York bearing the
neatly-stamped and highly-expressive
words in blue ink: Payment stopped.
The question asked as to the response
bility of the indorser's name following
that of Mr.. Dock on the check, John III
Green, finds satisfactory answer, anc
not even Mr.. Dock presumes to say thai
he is good for the money.
The "priyate detective" business at least
in Boston, has received severe blow. Two
! persons in this line of business. Cohen and
Conway. have been arrested. charged with
conspiracy to wreck train OH the Prov
idence Railroad, and to burn the station at
Canton. They have secured, it is said, the
conviction of one man for murder on false
testimony and have procured the arrest OF
parties. on the same kind of testimony, fol-
mutilatng the Andrew statue at bingham.
; They plead jealousy on the part of the regu.
lar police; but the evidence against them is
very strong.
Vermont man has advertised a card In
the paper in his town which reads: Some
8 people have the vulgar habit of calling nit
y Bill; that is not my name, nor any part
it. My name is William Palmer. forgiv,
all past oflenses, but if any person eve
a calls me Bill after the publication of thi