The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-12
CHARGES OF BLACKMAIL.
AN UNPLEASANT COMPLICATION INTO WHICH
TWO OLD FRIENDS WERE PLUNGED BY THE

AN UNPLEASANT COMPLICATION INTO WHICH
TWO OLD FRIENDS WERE PLUNGED BY THE
MARRIAGE OF ONE or THEM.
A charge of an attempt to levy blackman
brought against DR.. Theodore H. Sayre by u former
clerk and associate named Edward Il. Pray yesterday
before Justice Smith the Yorkville Police Court.
Sayre keeps drag store at Sixth avenue and Forty
sixth and Pray who has married into wealthy
family, is now organizing mining company to work
certain claims Colorado Territory. About thirty
seven years ago both born at Northampton,
Mass. and the children Of intimate neigh
bors grew up together friends. When they
had slowed away such a fund OF intor-
nation as the village school could offer
both made up their minds to leave home and seek
more extended field for their abilities. sayre
to New York. studied medicine, learned the drug
business and became the owner OF a prosperous
establishment Pray had gone to California, and
most of his years were spent in prospecting and lay
ing out claims. About FIVE years ago he New
York penniess and broken down in health and
spirits. with nothing Cleaned from nsyears of toll
but experience and al insight into mining affairs,
which he might make OF avail If the chance offered.
REUNITED.
The two schoomates met and at Sayre's cordial
invitation Pray went to live with him. He still
presses his grateful remembrance of the Kindness
with which he treated there To provide the
waf from the Pacific with employment the druggist
used his influence with the Seventh Avenue and
later with the Third Avenue Railroad Company
to secure him aconductors place Afterward when
he taken i'll with pneumonia he provided HIM
with money to take HIM home, and gave other evil
dences of his generous interest in him. report of
the convaescents engagement to the daughter OF u
wealthy gentleman at Taunton. Mass, soon came to
this city, and followed by the reappearance of
Pray, who tor while discharged the functions of
assistant in Sayres establishment There his services
found to be of considerable value, owing to his
popularity with the customers, and the druggist,
with to this and the prospects OF the others
accession to wealth through his marriage. proposed
Ia me r-ll r.V Var fepl
disposed to conine himself to any such prosac
calling. and ut the time he giving his whole at
tenton to his present wife, the daughter of General
Locke. His suit WAS successful and soon he
nounced to his friend that in view of his impending
marriage with the young lady he would give
the business aid adjust their accounts. Before
leaving he admitted owing Sayre $474. which he had
borrowed from him, but III he had drawn salary
while serving in the store he thought his
account pretty fairly balanced. The druggist,
GENTLY ample and demanded what was due him
once. The pair separated however; but Pray
AYERS that Sayre has been prosecuting him
since, and threatening to make known the contents
of certain love letters he rmerly received unless
he paid $1,000. The sutton could Ill afford to
have such tender topic preached critical q
moment, and. in order to silence the other, he
says he gave him under protest note for $474.
Soon his marriage solenlnized, and in the
of security which he derived from that event he
boldly refused to recognize the note, and told Sayre
TO do his worst To himself of the proper
course to pursue he consulted his lawyer, and was
advised to take tho aggressive and call Sayre to
count for his lnenaces. The latter waived examna-
ton when he taken to the Fifty-seventh Street
Police Court and elected to be tried at the General
suit against Pray for the recovery Of the sum duo