New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-01


THE THREE INVOLVED
FINANCIAL ISsTITU.
TIoNs OPENED.
General Peter J. Claassen. president of re
Sixth National Bank. who is accused Of having
! defrauded that institution Of $i32,46s by ono
Of the most extraordinary processes in the history
! of bank wrecking, was arrested last night by
! United States Deputy Marshals Holmes and Bern
! hardt General Claassen. apparently, has not for
gotten his military tactics, for he dictated ths
terms of his own surrender clevery that hs
was spared the ignominy Of being locked NJ
in Ludlow Street Jail Instead. he was allowed
to spend the night in a comfortable at the
| Astor House.
General CIaassen's confederate. George II.
! Pe the broker, who is accused Of aiding ths
bank president 10 dispose of the banks valuable
securities WAS srraigned before Commissioner
Shields at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. lie
! demanded an examination and bail was fixed az
| $50. O0O He had all day 10 furnish bail, but his
efforts in that direction were futile and az night
/ he was taken back 10 his gloomy quarters IN thc
| Ludlow Street Prison.
General CEassen's arrest involves an interesting
story I'm which the keen powers Of discernmeno
Of the officers Of the law play important part.
showing that United States Marshal is com.
petent TO discriminate between bank-wrecker
who is a gentleman and one who is not. Accord
ing to the classification made by United States
Marshal Jacobus. General Chassen. the bank
president, is a gentleman of refinement, TO whom
the walls Of a prison. even for one night, would
be- an abomination. On the other hand Pell tho
broker and the alleged accompce only, is classed
as one who is by no means a gentleman. and ono
to whom the prison walls and iron bars could
give no offence.
Debating TERMS OF SURRENDER
United States Deputy Marshals Holmes and
Bernhardt spent the afternoon in and near Wall
ST. bur. although General Claassen had sent ont
a personal statement from Kernan's News Agency.
they were unable TO find him. At o'clock Gem
eral Claasscn'S counsel General B. b. Foster, called
M the Office Of United States Marshal John w.
Jacobus and informed that official that his client
had lust heard that warrant had been issued
for his arrest: that General Claassen was willing
to surrender on condition that he should not bo
locked mp in the Ludlow Street Jail, and that he
should he allowed 10 spend the night at the Astor
House Marshal JacObus consulted with Com
missioner Shields and Assistant District-Attorney
Rose. who informed the Marshal that he must use
bis own discretion and shoulder the response
hility. Marshal .Iacohus consented 10 The terms
Of surrender, and General Foster went away much
pleased. Half an hour later Ashley w. Cole man.
ager of Kiernan's News Agency. appeared at tho
Federal Building. escortlu. General Claassen, who
W. for.paii soed under arrest by Deputy Mar
shals Holmes and Bernhardt, who held the war
rant Marshal Jacobus and General Claassen and
the two deputies went at once TO the Astor House,
where al 9 o'clock rooms were engaged for the
night.
Marshal Jacobus said that General Classsen
would be carefully guarded during the night, and
that it would be impossible for him TO escape.
if he had any desire 10 get away General
Claassen, he said, was gentleman and soldier,
upou whom no indignitics should be- heaped be-
fore he had been proved guilty. When asked
why he had Disseminated between Claassen and
Pell. he said that Pe was not a gentleman, but he
,Id not go into the details Of the dehLition OF
what constituted "A gentleman when two or more
officials are arrested for practically the same ot'
fence under criminal warrant lie Was willing,
he said to take the responsibility for having made
tie discrimination. and for the appearance OF
General Claasscn before Commissioner Shields al
y o'clock this morning
EXCUSES FOR THE DELAY.
Mr. Jacobus was asked why General Claassen
had not been arrested before. and replied that
il was because he could not he found. The
marshal explained that the force at his command
was inadequate for the performance of the duties
incident 10 so big a ease as this He had only
three of four available men, he Sald and even 80
small "A number that were unable Ia make
decent living. Some of them only made 81 a
dav. and none of them over ~ p month. Under
such circumstances he thought, some consldera-
ton should he allowed tor slow WORK.
The warrant issued for General CaaSsen's arrest
al 6 o'clock Thursday night was placed IN the
hands of Deputy Marshal John Kennedy. who az
n late hour that night reported 10 Commissioners
Shields that he had becn unable 10 find ClassSen
at his home a Tribune reporter stood IN frons
of General ClaaSsen's house. No. 262 Clnton-ave.
Brooklyn. Thursday night. from $50 until
lO:40 o'clock During that time no one
was seen To enter the house with the exception of
"A servant who bore a note addressed 10 Eenera
Claassen. as she told the reporter. When shs
came out she ACKNOWLEDGED that she had delv-
cred the note TO General Claasscn, who, she said,
had tod her he was very much obliged 10 her.
Al 40 o'clock Dcputy Marshal Kennedy came
down the steps of General ClaaSSenS house, hut
he would have nothing whatever 10 say To the
reporters who spoke To him.
No one who saw General ClaasScn az the Astor
House last night would have taken him for .
prisoner lie walked about the corridors. appar-
entity without restraint, but at all times the depu
ties were within sight OF him Mr. JaCobus told
a Tribune reporter that to make assurance douhly
sure be would stay al the hotel himself for the
night, although he had every confidence IN hs
officers lie spoke hl-hy OF Deputy Bcrnhardt,
who arrested Pc on Thursday. Pell. Mr.. JacObus
said. had offered Bcruhardt $500 II he would not
lock him up tor the night, but let HIM sleep al
hotel under guard. Bcrnhardt refused tie bribe
The Marshal himself. however allowed General
Ciaasscu the sane privilege for nothing II Is
understood that General Claas>en spent most Of
his time IN this city yesterday making arrange
nleutS for the bail that will be required to-day.
PELL BEFORE COMMISSIONER SHIELDS.
George H. Pcll. the broker, who is accused 81
aiding President ClaasScn IN dclrauding tie sixth
National Bank. was taken 10 the Federal Building
at A few minutes before 10 o'clock yesterday
,,n 1cl, 1.lerad nd