The New York herald., 1879-03-01
A STRANGE STORY.
HOW THE SEARCH FOR CANADIAN PRoDIaAI
LED TWO MEN TO PRISON.


LED TWO MEN TO PRISON.
Until November last James Coyne. Montreal con-
tractor. lived in that city with his wife and two
children. During the year preceding that date he
had met With poor success and determined to
to this city to better his condition He left his wife
and little at home. the former having sufficient
funds Of her own to keep them from want. The day
before Christmas last Coynes wife bore her third child
and she wrote to her husband to return to her and
live as best they could upon her means This he felt
proud to do, he continued here in the hope Of
one day returning to his Canadian home with o we'll
filled purse. 1t not long before he met several
Young men whom he had known in Montreal,
among them Berthelot, a Of highly
respectable parents; Thomas Seery, a dry goods
clerk, and Robert Campbell. an adopted son Of
Thomas Workman. well known citizen of Mont
real. Young Cambell, fine looking young fellow.
had been in the army. but discharged about
year ago. owing to some physical disability An affair
Of the heart in which he Off second best
red about the same time, and fit Of melancholia
drove him away from his adopted parents house.
Their love for him was great, and they spared no
effort expense in searching for him.
ILL REQUITED LOVE-
Learning that he was in Now York, they sent Ber-
thelot here after him, with plenty of money and a
commission at any hazard to return with Campbell
to Montreal.
Berthelot was not long in finding Campbell. but
the latter would not consent to return. The two
about the same age and OF congenal tastes, so
they spent great deal of time together Borthelot
all the while endeavoring to persuade young Camp
bell to return with him TO Montreal. Berthelots
supply of money gave out. and he COM
peiled to write to Mr. Workman for more This
necesstated explanation Of his movements, so he
pretended that he haa not found Campbell but was
earnestly ut work in search of him, and needed the
funds to foowup certain CLOVIS he had got The money
freely, ana Berthelot and Campbell travelled
from city city, enjoying themselves together. the
former and again reporting progress to Mr..
Workman of his labors. The latter was not alto
gether trustful Of HIS friend Berthelot and fearing
that he might betray him and cause his arrest and
return to Canada, sought to enlist In the United
States army. This he tried to do twice. but was
jected on the same grounds upon which he was dis
charged from his Canadian regiment He succeeded
finally i'll being taken in cavalry regiment in Bal
timore recruiting Office and bade Bertheot goodby.
POVERTY LEADS CRIME
The latter returned to New York. where he met
Coyne and Secry, to whom he related the story Of
his travels with Campbell and how Campbell had
left him to join the army He then left for Montreal
to report the unsuccessful Termination OF his long
search Times in New York went hard with Coyno
and Seery who kept mp companionship, and they
planned scheme to make some money. They wero
familiar with the deception carried on by Ber-
thclot and young Campbell and determined to turn
their knowledge pecuniary advantage. Accordingly.
sent to Mr.. Workman, Montreal. notifying him
that Campbell in this city and in need Of money:
The welcomed in Montreal and brought,
back the day the following telegram. addressed
to X. Campbell. No. l,265 broadway
Call at express office No. IS Brosdwsy FSnds .he,s to
This telegram was delivered to Coyne and acting
upon it, he called the next day at the express office
tor the purpose of getting the money. Alfred IL.
Roach. to whom he applied, was not satisfied OF his
identity, and declined to pay $40 which had
rived for Campbell. Coyne persisted in his demand
for 1t, and invited Roach To send to No. 353 West
Thirty NTH street; where he Coyne resided and sat
isfy himself the correctness his representations.
Martin II. Ward. messenger in the employ OF tho
express company, sent to the house with the
package, and there Coyne showed him passport aud
an army discharge the name OF Campbell. Tic
following letter accompanied the package and
written official note paper of the Montreal
Office OF the expire $ company
MONTREAL. Canada Feb. 5, 1879.
r. C. LIVINGSTON ESQ. =
Please pay ncosed So TO r. Campbell tail young
twenty six years old, light compile xon light
mustache about six high iIc will apply for with
telegraph from T. Workman, ESD, of Montreal lie has
telegraph.d Mrs Workman tor IL. II he ALI
these particulars he will be q, n Yours, truly, -
The messenger read the letter and that it was
good description Of Coyne; So becoming convinced
duplicate receipt the back of the leter and tee
gram. In due the transfer of the receipts to
Montreal laid bare the fraud, but in the meantime
Coync had divided the money with Secry. the author
Of the forged letter. Coyne arrested on Thurs
day and yesterday called up for examination
before Justice Flammer at the Jefferson Market Police
Court. II guilty of the charge" was all he had
to in response to the questions OF the Court Tho
rest of the story he told to the reporters who ques
toned him while he waiting to go to his cell. ft
Is given for what IL is worth, may be entirely
the suggestion that Coync may know moro OF tho
whereabouts of young Campbell than he cares to
tell, and places him in the army q convenient
method OF accounting for his absence.