Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-10-15
tFrom the Musical Critic and Trade Review.l
The Burdett-Estey Organ Case.
New and Startling Revelations.

CHARGES or FRAUD AND CORRUPTION AND
BLACKMAIL-ARREsT OF RILEY BURDETT's
PARTNER AND MANAGER IN THE cAsE-H1s
INDICTMENT by THE GRAND JUBY-IN JAIL
AWAITING TRIAL
Ever since the decision in this famous csse have
been trying to get at the in side history Of the Affair."
50 that we might place the true animus before our
readers The recent astounding revelations at Brat
tleboro, w. concerning the stealing Of the First Ma
tional Bank Of that town by it's president, his flight
and his arrest, have come at a time when we have
about concluded our Investigations and afford us an
opportunity Of exposing the whole matter. This we
propose to do in series Of articles which commend
TO the consideration Of the trade.
In this the nrst article, we shall merely outline
some Of the principal features Of the case, and give
an account Of affairs as they stand with sas NJ.
Waite, the Brattleboro bank robber
Before we have finished this series Of articles, we
expect to expose such of corruption has not
been brought into public light in many day.
Silas NJ ate Absconded last June having defalcat
ed In the manage en OF the Brattleboro bank to the
extent Of about half million Of dollars. Unti Tues
day sept 2lst, when he arrested In Omaha, Neb.,
at the house Of lis brothor-iu-aw, Truman Buell. by
Special Detective W. II. Shields waite had succeeded
in ng his tracks well that suspicion OF his
wherea bouts entertain cd except by few Of the
blood no unds Of the law the popular suppCsOn be.
ing that be had fed to Europe.
Waite was brought back TO Brattleboro Friday
morning, Sept Gath. He returned Grimm under
the United States laws, and will undoubtedly be tried
in the United States court. He freely admitted TO the
detectives on his way east that he took the money
from the bank, but profeGsed determination to make
stout fight against conviction, on the ground that he
never spilled dollar Of the money for his bene-
| At, This is an absurd plea He said that the FIRST
money be took S26 600, which he gave his brother
to establish coElyard in Chicago, from which he
81
hre wiped this out, however and the investment
total loss. He also claimed to have furnished the
money for the Burde organ works, and to have sunk
the whole half million in ways similar to these. He
protested to have taken only $500 away with him. The
detectives say that large sums Of money tels-
grAphed him, and it is known that he purchased cat
tie ranch during his stay in the west where 1t is prob
able he 1pceted to remain for the rest Of his lfe
thinking that decided effort would be made TO cap
| ture him.
twill be remembered that in the trial Of the Bur-
dett patent case, the defendant was able TO make q
ompleie answer to every claim Of infringement Of
the patent 1t admitted by Burdett, his coun-
sci, and by experts and this only ghinsaid de-
MED by scheme connected by Burdett, or likely,
by his partner and intimate friend, slas NJ Waite the
bank forger when the idea was hit upon Of charging
the defendants with forging the exhibit and the testi-
mony with which they CHE dofendAntsl expected to
meet this case.
II - CnATktu ny tue eNlutLce tnht TAnfIlreu upon
the trial that one Motes o. Nichols who had already
testified in favor Of the defendants had after
wards attempted to bsckmRil one Of the defendants
to the tune Of $1,000, threatening that In case the
money not paid he would go to the plaintiff
and as this defendant Jacob Estey) did not blaet
mail worth cent, he (Niclols at once went to Bur
detts partner, the forser Waite who bought him up
and, with his aid, ooncoettd and attempted TO carry
| out a scheme to ruin Ettey.
These parties, according to the testimony in The
case, secured the exhibits on which EEtey depended
to win this suit. These exhibits sent Burdett
lawyer in New Yerk on the plea that they need
ed in taking testimony, and while there were mutila
ed and prepared for Burdets neudish scheme to not
only Emirch Estty hut prepare the way for piratea
| att Aek on the entire organ trade.
An examination Of the testimony IN this case show
hat sllas NJ. Waite brbed Moses o. Nichols, by tn,
| payment Of money in Brattleboro, VI; that c. C
CONVERSE the president q the Burdett Organ Co.
| met Nichols at the Union Square Hotel, New York
aid Lie bin, aud also laid him additional money
and in the trial Of the case the counsel for Burdet
while strongly admitting the complete answer Of the
organs which had been put in evidence by the defend
| ant s. had simply this reply to make That the de
fendAn IT, q their wuosstF bad forged these cIhil
it's and hat, but for their forgery the honest Mr.
Waite and his partner, Mr.. Berdeit, would secure
| their just dues.
We hav here simply outlined 4 single one Of th,
many eItrao rdinary points in this case and in subsc
| Quent articles shall go deeper into details.