New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-28
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON
THE COMPROMISE WITH OTTMAN.

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON May 27.-Withn the last day or
two some of The newspapers have contained obscure
allusions to the singular compromise of the "Ott-
man case," which few years ago absorbed public
attention for short time. This case arose from
daring robbery committed at the cash
room of the United States Treasury,
juno 2, 1875. More than year ago
Mr.. Spinner, who Treasurer OF the United
States at the time of the robbery wrote out state
ment of the case for the use of the authorities at
Washington. According to that statement and
other trustworthy data. the history of the case.
from the beginning down to about June last, is
in substance as follows: At about o'clock in the
afternoon Of June 2, 1875, while the packages of
new money remitted TO banks and Others in return
for mutilated notes redeemed being checked
off for delivery to the Adams Express Company 1t
was discovered that there was missing package
of $47,O97 65 intended for the National
Park Bank, Of New-York City. Immediately
q thorough but unsuccessful search for the package
was made. Its contents chiefly 5000 legal
tender notes.
Circumstances made 1t almost certain that tho
theft had been committed by one OF the clerks who
had access TO the packages of money and probably
by one who knew that the notes in this particular
package were not in regular order to numbers
guilty person was obtained until about two months
afterward, when notice was received from the SUI
perntcndent of Police of Washington that resi-
dent of the city had paid out under suspicious cir
cumsances a number of $500 notes at Saratoga,
n. Y. This clew resulted soon afterward
in the arrest of T. W. Brown, Washington gam0-
Ter; w. II. Ottman, a Washington liqnor-seller and
b. B. Haleck a clerk IN the United States Treasu-
rers Office, who at the time of the robbery was en-
gagged IN preparing the money packages for remit
tance. Criminal proceedings were at once begun
against these persons and civil process was nstl-
tutcd for the recovery of the money. Halleck was
indicted, convicted aud sentenced to Imprisonment.
Subsequently new trial was granted, but IIllleck
was discharged before the second trial he testify
ing in the criminal suit against Ottman, who was
indicted and twice tried for the larceny of
$47 O97 50 and for receiving the same knowing
1t TO have been stolen. On both trials
the Jury disagreed. The last trial was IN 1877. after
which time no further proceedings were had. In
the civil suit against Ottman for the recovery OF
the stolen money an attachment was Issued against
his property and judgment executed. the returns
thereof being paid into the court in May. 1877.
after which nothing further done until June
last
After the arrest of Ottman and the Others vari-
Gus sums of money were taken from them Ottman
had made a special deposit of Sl4, 800 n 5000 notes
in an Alexandria bank and this found intact
being no doubt part of the original stolen package.
This with other sums taken from the persons
of Ottman. Brown and IIa!ieck. made a total of
St9525. which was turned over to the Treasurer OF
the United States for sale-keepng pending further
proceedings Besides this sumit appears there were
attached another bank deposit made by Ottman
omouutipg TO SlO, 900 and certain bank stock and
railway shares the estimated value of which was
-. 600 making grand total of T3l ,525 In the
statement of ex-Ireasurer Spinner. before men-
toned 1t is observed that nearly enough money and
property were secured and attached 70 make good
The loss by the robbery that The money recovered
was A portion of the identical money stolen Dy
Halleck and bv HIM turned over 20 MS
acc0mplice. Ottman. and that there could be no
doubt that with proper nearing ana 'l nongss
Jury the result would be the restoration TO the
Treasury OF money clearly its own property ana the
punishment OF the receiver OF tue sloeh money.
These statements were sent 10 the authorities In
Washington in February or March, loo2 On June
3 Iss2 Representative Richard Crowley appeared
upon the scene He held AZ that time commi iSslon
from the Department of Justice as speeai
United states Attorney to prosecute offenders
against the laws of the United states.
According to an account n IIn oanas aas'rrins frns
Buffalo y. Y, 10 Washington on May 20. ana made
the return journey on June T. and charged the eX-
pense OF both Journeys to the United states. Dut'
although Congress was then III session, MI Orow;
ley VINO was q Representative and a $50 special
Assistant United States Attorney, had stu some
spare time at his disposal. He produced at the De-
partment of Justice, OF which he was IN officer.
power of attorney from Ottman, authorizing HIM TO
compromise the claims OF the government AGAINST
him Under this power OF attorney Mr. crowley
rrceived from the proper officer of the United States
the 9.525 which had been on deposit with the
United States Treasurer. together with
a certain deed of trust etc. Under
thc "compromisep $l2,5O0 of the money was
tnid over bv the Department of Justice to Treasurer
t,ltlan The SUN recovered and attached by the
toto .,
coriiuc TO Mr. spinner "a portion of the lden,
tcal money stolen by Halleck and by him turned
over TO his acCOmphcc. Ottman." In other " ords:
nv thls oueer compromise effected by oficero of
The Department of Justice on the one hand and by
another officer OF the same Department, VINO was
also a Congressman on the otner hand, the Chltea
state, gave up So .525 of its own money, whlcn
had been stolen and recovered and III lieu thereon
accepted Sl2, 800 OF the same money.