Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-01-09
mysterious meetings OF the directors Of the
Manhattan Bank.
TRYING TO FIX A PRICE.

TRYING TO FIX PRICE.
When they were through with. the two
lights Of the bar met again. What is the
iigurer asked the representative OF the
respectable gentleman who had a friend
who was acquainted with man who
knew" &c
Il am advised that the bank will give
s15 900 for the return OF the bonds"
well. shall consult my client" And
the two separated for the second time
Other meetings followed. and finally sl25.-
600 was named, and the legal friend OF the
bank" stopped. He had reached his uti-
matum.
MY respectable client, who is friend,
&C.. &c, says that $500 900 is the very least
figure they will consider at ALL"
Further talk l. useless" said the illegal
friend" $500, 900 is an exorbitant figure,
and the bsnk will not pay it," Then. after
pause. as he LEFT the room he said sigrifi-
cantly, "Snme other course will have to be
pursued
The criminal lawyer smiled, too, and he
took his drive In the park that afternoon as
usual and focused his opera glasses on the
stage that evening. As has been his custom,
content TO believe. for his respectable
clients sake, that the friend who had an
acquaintance and so on, held the winning
cards and that the bank must pay the $780,
900 OF close its doors finally. as soon as
sixty days from the time of the robbery
had elapsed.
But that same night Sam Ward. King of
all lobbyists, was sent for and Secretary
Sherman's support was obtained TO spec
iai act OF Congress 10 issue 10 the Manhat-
tan Savings lusiitution duplicates of the
registered bonds that had been stolen.
D. L.
and the entire machinery OF powerful
lobby called into action:
Re il enacted. ETC. That the Secretary Of the
Treasury /. hereby directed to issue duplicates
Of the hercinaiter-descrbed bond, Of the United
States. alleged 10 have been stolen from the
Manhattan Saving. Institution of New York
CITY, on the alIh OF October. ISIS amounting
10 81 .Go0eJ. upon evidence clear and sati.fac-
tory a. him hcing furni .hed that they have not
been assigned, but are -tiil the property Of SAID
Institution. and upon the condition that sun
cient humber OF these duplicate bonjs be issued
10 the Treasurer OF he L nitcd states. Ia trust
for the said Manhattan savings Institution, TO
be by him held for such time as, in the iud,-
ms NJ Of The Secretary Of the Treasury. will Sc
cure the Treasurer Of the United States against
loss.
It's passage IN the Senate appears to have
been a matter easy Of ace ompiis shmeut. for
1t weut through without debate in the first
hour OF business, on Friday. and was sent
10 proper course 10 the House on saturday
senator M"rnll, from the committee On
finance. coached II 10 the Senate But then
the thieves Awoke 10 the necessity OF ac-
ton. tn" movements of the bank had been
quick. silent and decisive. 1t appears that
the people for whom the negotiations were
being made were willing that tho bill
should pass the Senate, and that they would
Fr4gy
the bank how securely tn. game was bag
ged. To do this they would have to put in
operation au opposing lobby. bu, the same
celrrlty of movement that marked the pas
sage Of The bill In the Senate attended il Ia
the House.
JUDGE kkLLEY HELPS TIE THING ALONG
The interest Of Fernando Wood was en-
listed pv the bank people, and Judge Kelley
was evidently advised OF the desire oithc re-
spectacle party. with the ion. chain Of
friends aud the noted criminal lawyer iorhis
counsel. to compromise for he spoke for the
bal, when it wa, iIirly before the House. ln
such unmstaksbe words a. these III the
oil - not passed The managers ofthe iustitu-
ton Viii either have 10 close up the savings
bank, or else negotiate for the purchase Of
the stolen bond, aud thus reward the most
hagrAnt burglary ever pcrpetfatcd. even ia
New York" The bill was then passed, al
though It had a critical moment Just before
the Speaker caught the veterans eve. Tor a
dun ierhead from Michigan" as a leading
member of the lobby Tor the bank ,aid-Mr
Conger-asked. with a world OF interrogA-
ZION lurking back OF the inquiry 1.-THE bond,
were registered. Mt. Wood replied that
they were, aud II something was not done
for the institution Ii must surely tail. The
opposing looUy was marshaled too late TO
be OF effective service, although 1t Is known
that il advance guard recruited In neigh
boring city, skrmished down towa ri th e
Capital only to find that the movement had
been too long delayed and that the savings
Institution held the fort