The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-21
DIR. FRANK ABBOTT ACCUSED.
COL PToKKRr skYs MS soN.IN-EAW
STOLE TWO LETTERS,

-"Irs BisokuniI," says the CoIopei-The
Doctor Says II 10 Petty Persecution.
Col Rozel 7. Pickert. President OF the Pickert
Land Grain. and Stock Raising Company.
temporarily stopping at the Savoy Hotel. had
his son-in-law, DR.. Frank Abbott Jr.. OF 40
West Flfty-seventh street. meteorological ex-
pert in the Loomis laboratory. in the York.
Vile Police Court yesterday afternoon TO an
swer a charge OF having stolen, opened, and
Appropriated two letters addressed to Col
Pckert.
Col. Pickerts case was presented by Ben
iamin Yates John d. Townsend appeared for
Or. Abbott Col Pickert alleged that on or
about April TO- 1891. DIR. Abbott entered his
ONCE at 1872 Pearl street. which was in charge
OF one John di Toppo OF 025 Leonard street,
Brooklyn. q partner OF his In the cigarette
manufacturing business. and took the two
letters. He had made frequent demands upon
the Doctor for the letters but although he ad-
mitted having them In his possession. the
Doctor would not give Thorn up.
The case was called in Justice Grady's pri-
vate room. Partner D Toppo testified to DR..
Abbott's taking letters from the of1ce. He
could not say to whom they we're addressed.
An AFFIDAVIT made by Di Toppo on March 10,
1893. in which he swore that DR.. Abbott had
taken letters OF Col. Pickarts and asked him
not to say anything about the matter. was
shown to tho witnesa Dl Toppo admitted that
Col Pickert drew up tho paper and that he
signed IL at the Colon els request
You didn't know then to whom the letters
were addressedT" asked Lawyer Townsend.
mo. sir. but I supposed they were for the
Colonel. as he had asked me to keen letters
that came addressed to the firm or to him per-
sonaly."
benjamin II. Miller OF Hackensack. q
bookkeeper In the employ OF Francis II.
LeGRett & Co.. q nephew Of the COM
plainant. testified that certain letters, two
IN particular. had been shown to him by
DR.. Abbott. He didn't see tho envelopes. but
the letters were addressed. one to Dear
Colonel " and one to Pet" Miller didn't tell
what was in the letters. although he said he
READ them and advised the Doctor to return
them TO Col. Pickert He said the Doctor
showed him q photograph OF one Of the letters
posit vault. The Doctor also said that he pro-
out that Miller was at one time in the colonei's
for the sale Of tea and sstaSlshins agencies
all oyer the country: also that both he and
sasions. charged with violating the lottery
laws of the States In which they were oper-
.ToL Picker. then took the stand. He is a
tall, Rood-lookin9 man OF perhaps 30 years.
sters rom f Dr. H66opt TSe ' bossor Tad
.d99itted estting, them from his otiifs. but
TO Tow he was assod II he lid not formerly
ssa ns1s Of Gi sSinR %e o,
that man nan II i.had, he would never have run
Further ausst.onlns. el.cltod the Fact that
Col; Hskert had visited DR.: Abbott's residence
and gone through the rooms. The Colonel ex.
planned that he had an appointment to meet
reaching tho house, he was notified that they
bad left tho city, Hearing some one moving
he said So he called a policeman. who sum
moned locksmith. who rem owed the fasten-
ings from the door and entered. He merely
followed the policeman around. and did not
ing hs GossS and ala
when you pawned them9" queried Mr..
No, Sir" was the Indignant response. DO
you suppose that Abbott would go away and
.wp FS %at %as o Ris re
mot 4 he had supposed that you were going
What d oes this m cum 2" shouted the Colonel.
II means" responded Mr. Townsend. that
Dr. Abbott believes that you saw those watches
What Is the purpOrt of all this'" inter-
II want to show the Court what kind OF
man this is that brings this charge against my
es rn ssd se had heard enough
along that iine and nd. after T little more test
M mS%ei TO the cur eomp.n
the ground that no case t hat been made out:
Gel Piekert stterward said that the case In
During The late war was In the South. and
once when the Confederate soldiers were paid
OF they RECEIVED = good many Mexican SILVER
and had them N cited into iine sIlyerware. This,
together with furniture. brio brac. 3c. OF
posed TO me to Feiinaulsh the letters in qnes-
This win not do. 1t is blackmsil"
DE; Abbott and his wiieiwere loath 70 speak
sSsr heass % west fftt a 'I Street.
sssutions which were the eeitimste SEQUEL
EEs s% Mr. S SS51s whSG lbs astIs
From the fact that our rqrt 0, the story
was not told IN court said Or. Abbott, IL
Justice Grady decide that Il q necessary We
been tod that Col FicEsft has said that he
ssSos s th believe ri 6s si 'Sss SR
possession Of the letters OF his which he wants.
They were given to me BY his wife little while
~ He has made my life miserable she said.
and / feel that he viii attempt to do YOU
some injury, Take these and keep them for
The two letters which Col. PIekert accuses
Ene OF stealing were among these | got them
from hts once at the request OF his Wife and
delivered them to her unopened. They were
addressed to Mr. Bronson.
He made his wife's life unhappy and drove
his daughter and me into our secret marriage.
Although We were engaged, he would let ma
call but twice week and stay only until O3O
o'clock.
Then he threatened to give up his house
and move to Dakota, and We got married. lie
gave us a fonr-dRY at home Afterward. how
ever. and at that time We got the silver; 1t was
gil tableware, and he gave 1t TO my wife for =
wedding present
After his wifs's death at the Barrett House
In APRIL 1892, he began suit against me In
the Surrogate's Court for some OF his wife'a
property, but he abandoned the suit Since
hen no has claimed that almost everything
Ia my house Is his. and has demanded
H. He claims the plano he gave my wife when
she was girl, says have 81 600 worth OF
diamonds belonging TO him. $500 worth OF
china, and even the beds.
Il have not seen him since a short time
kiter his wife's death but he has sent letters