The sun., 1880-08-08
WAS MIR. MANAH4N BLACKMAILEDp
some Curious Allegations Made in o Lawsuit
Against Two Lawyers.


An action is pending in the Superior
Court which is brought by Thomas Manahan
against his former lawyers. Peter W. Ostrnnder
and Edward q. Black. to recover $4,000. which
Mr.. Manahnn alleges he paid at the instigatIon
OF his lawyers. in order to secure the cessation
OF certain criminal proceedings that had been
brought against him in bankruptcy. Mr. Man
nhun was arrested In May. 1878. before his dis
charge in bankruptcy and taken before United
States COmmiSs ioner Osborn. accused on the
nf'idnvit 81 one RYAN. with concealing his as-
sets from his creditors. This criminal charge
dragged along about four months. and there
were numerous adjournmenIs before the Com
missioner. Mr. Manahan employed Messrs.
Ostrnuder and Black to protect his interests
and advise him. He now alleges in his COM
plant on which his suit against his lawyers
and others IL brought that his lawyers con
spired with q. 4. Lockwood md f. A. Weed.
who were engaged to annoy. harass. injure.
ana damage him. He alleges that tho criminal
proceedings ngninst him were gotten UP by
lockwood and Weed to extract m honey by treats
to have him imprisoned: that Lockwood
went TO his friends and relatives and threat
ened that unless he paid $4,000 he would
he thrown into prison; that Ostrander and
Black. his own counsel. advised and persuaded
him to accede to the demand for sc. 900. which he
now believes to have been blackmal. He al
leges that his lawyers represented to both him
and his wife that II would be necessary to pay
tho sum demanded to Lockwood and Weed. as
they formel part of bad and dangerous gang
that were capable of manufacturing case
against him and OF having him sent to prison.
md that 1t was part OF scheme in which Com
missioners Osborn and Bet,s. the United States
Attorney. and others hlgh In office and author
ity were con""rn"d and that the money which
hf. NHHnG In tNn to h.l liutr th,tta
among those parties
Mr.. Mapnhan AYERS that ,ostrander and Black
continued to urge him and his wife and friends
To raise the sum demanded. and nj tine earnest
solicitation OF Ostrander and BIark and con,
,rIry % hiS ,1hbSmrnt ana better l-elnnHp ma
and having implicit confidence In their prnuse
professions Of good faith. and to snve the fnel
inGs OF his wife. which had been wrought upon
by the advice of Ostrnndar and Black. he did
pay to Ostrand,r and Black $500 in cash and
Two notes Tor 81. 900 each. which Ostrand.r and
Back said WIS 10 be paid TO Lockwood and
Weed. About week or ten days after he paid
him were abandoned. and u couple Of months
ait"rward his discharge in bankruptcy was
grunted. Mr.. Manahan does not clnim that nny
uf'irers. but no AYERS that he wa: lad to pny it
upon the prom SO That the proceedings against
him would bc abandoned.
Ga the application Of the defendants. Ostran-
der and Blake. Mr.. Mauahan has hecn exam
in"d before the trial Of tn" suit. and reiterated
under cross-rXaminatl on tho story Of his pay
mrn' of the money. and OF the representations
AMI threats that made him pay il. He d--
scrlb"d how ne went To 0srnnders Office and
gave the roll Of bills into Mr. Ostranders hands:
thnt OStra ld"r told him the money was for
lockwood and Weed who were n bad gang. IN
with Commissioners Belts and Osborn; thar
Belts was wrnk- indrl man. and they thor
Oughlv cOntrosd him: that they would prose-
cute Mnnnlan; md he could not get ont with
out paying $4,000 He depuses that Ostran-
der said II he would pny tn" money they would
stop prosecuting him ut once: Tint they We're in
with the Judges and Dstrict Attorney and,
thourh h" hnd committed no crime, he would
hny"tn uny iGe money to Keep ont OF prison.
Mr. Mnnahnn described in his testimony sew:
ernl orraSlmns when Pc: h'H wife and 'risnd
tinle matters 1.-THE Federal bnidinG. Icny
that Mr.. Oslrander sad. in thu presence of Mrs
Osborn O., and Belts. Mr.. W Lockwood and Mr. WED
were nl Il, together, md al they wanted wns
money. When the last instHllmrnt was paid. on
ton before Commissioner O-born Mr.. Mana
han SAYS the examination was postponed to
stead Of a check which he offered. Even
after $4,000 had been paid. Mr.. Mana
han declares thRt Osirnnder told him that
out Of their share. aud it would Dr necessary tor
H. m to raise some moro in order to get dis
charged from arrest. H. did raise, 800, and
the remainder, Mr.. Mnnnhan AYERS that his
lawyers deceived him ns TO the hnturo OF tho
crinha "hnrgo against him in order In cXtort
m1n"y from him; that il he had known what 1t
was he could have ensily defended himself and
there was no need for MIN 10 pay any money.
=, In their answers to the, complaint. 0slrander.
large roll nl hills which Mr.. Manahnn paid on
Aug, 10. 1873, but they say they dd not count 1t
@ bn he did uot m 1T%s prsuad y" nnd ssy9
pay tna money, but that they both urged him to
tnHe the money and give to Lockwood and
IsHpc J.. Eghert is his counsel nnd the case will
probably be tried in December