Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-24

! xExoRaaLr ROBBERY.
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The memory Of somewhat remark
able robberv was revived in the trial oil
q suit begun yesterday before Judge
Sedgwick, Of the Superior Court ms
was the theft Of ten one-thousand-dol-
| lar United States coupon bonds, 3d.
600 in currency, and 81 900 in gold, at
balf.past IL o'clock on Saturday eve
ming, August 3. 1878. The robbery
took place at No. 57A Vesey street, and
the bonds and money were the property
of Miss Ellen King. They were taken
from a satchel in closet on the second
story. A paddock was on the closet,
but the hasp had been torn from its
| fastening. All the vigilance OF p" the
finest" with its corps of skilled de-
tectiyes, has been unable to discover
any traces Of the lost money or bonds.
Liberal rewards were advertised, but
the cupidity Of The thief was too strong
TO Weld to any such tempting offers.
Nearly three years later, on April IL,
1881. two Of the stolen bonds were dis
covered to have passed into the posses
sion of Drexel, Morgan & Co. Miss
King brought suit against this firm to
recover the value Of the two bonds.
The answer of Drexel. Morgan & Co. is
that the bonds were sold in open market
in London to Bothwick, Wark & Co.,
who sold them to Mr.. r. NJ. Crowell,
from whom the defendants bought them.
BASIS FOR CLAIMING THE BONDS.
Miss King, in response to questions
Of Mr.. Henry DAILY, her counsel, told
her story to the jury, as given above.
Her brother, John C.. King, testified
that shortly after the robbery hand
bills offering $1,000 reward for the re-
turn Of the bonds and money were dis
tributcd by him among all the leading
bankers and brokers of the city. Mr..
Wright, Of the firm Of Drexel, Morgan
& Co., was also called on the plaintiffs
behalf, but knew nothing about the
bonds in question, and never saw any
bandbills offering a reward for their
return to the owner. This closed the
testimony for the plaintiff, and mo-
ton to dismiss the complaint was then
made by Mr.. Charles E. Tracy, the de-
PENDANTS counsel, which was denied.
Mr.. Richard NJ. Crowell, Wall
street broker, testified that on April
l6, 1881, he bought 100000 worth Of
Government bonds Of /. & S. WOrmser
and sold one half Of them to Drexel,
Morgan & Co. Among these bonds were
Nos. 5,745 and 5,746, the bonds in
question.
Michael Floyd, Jr.. and James
Gunzbena, clerks of Drexel, Morgan
& Co. gave their testimony. The first
had record of two bonds Of the num-
bers stated. and the latter testified that
they came from Bostwick, Wark & Co.
Various dispositions were read from diff
ferent persons in London as to the sale
of the bonds there. The reading Of
these dispositions was not concluded
Nucu tLS IOuit auJouihoN'
A DRAMATIC STORY.
Miss King added further details to
her narrative in subsequent interview
with Herald reporter. Her father and
her mother had sold pickles at No. SO
Vesey street for thirty years. Her bro
Their. John c. King, and herself lived
with the old folks, and helped them in
their business. The money stolen was
the savings Of years. 1t was put into
an old satchel and thrust carelessly into
the closet, as less likely to attract at
tention.
"Why was not all the money put
into Government bonds" asked the re-
porter.
" Because we did not know any bet
ter, | suppose" replied Miss King.
Father was in poor health and thought
he would cross the ocean and travel a
little. He gave me the money and told
me to put sl0, 900 of it in Government
bonds, which | did. On the steamer
he took $1,000 in gold, which he had
in a belt, and insisted on my keeping
it, saying that he might get drowned or
be robbed and then the money would
be lost"
MIsFoRTCNEs WHICH FOLLOWED.
"Is he living now?"
"He died two days after hearing that
the money and bonds had been stolen,
and my poor mother was takep to her
grave few days later. The savings Of
their lives were all gone. 1t is very
hard. Formerly we occupied the whole
house and now we have only the base
ment. Not only is our money gone,
but business is not what it used to be-"
Have you no idea who stole the
money 2"
~ could put my hands on the rob-
Der, but | cannot prove he stole the
money. lie and his family are living
in luxury, and have their gold watches
and chains and diamonds, while my
brother and are living in poverty"
Miss King, Notwithstanding the hum
BILE surroundings Of her life, is wo-
man Of superior intelligence and rather
prepossessing in appearance. She is
about forty years old, and was very
neatly dressed in black.
(By telegraph to the Dispatch.l
Chief-Justice Sedgwick gave averdict
in favor of the defendant, holding that
as the firm had purchased the bonds
Jona.fd for value, the plaintiff could
not recover.
A TELEGRAM A RARITY.