The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-06-13
WRIGHT'S PECULIAR CASE
ARREsrED nERE ON COMPLAINT OF
MT. VERNoN AUTHORITIES.

His Bondsman Surrendered Him-His
Strange Story of Sisters Alleged Per
secuton-Was About to Locate in This
City-TalSen to Mt. Vernon.
John c. Wright was arrested by Ser
geant Cowles at the Bradley house. SIS
State street yesterday afternoon on
complaint of the authorities Of Mount
Vernon. N. Y. and locked up at police
headquarters charged with being a fu-
gitive from Justice Wright was found
at the Bradley house, where he has been
stopping for several days, and although
he claimed his arrest was an outrage
he accompanied the officer quietly to
police headquarters.
Wright was seen in the lookup last
night by Courier" reporter, to whom
he told the following story: II am not
in any sense of the word a fugitive
from justice, nor do 1 suppose that is
the charge. | am unable to tell why !
am arrested except it be on bail piece,
and that is merely conjecture on my
part, My story is as follows:
| This persecution has all been brought
about by my sister, Ella s. Underdonk
| of Mt Vernon, N Y Her name diff
| fers from mine owing to the fact that
when she was child she was adopted
| by a family named Underdonk and took
their name, Some time ago, my sister
and myself were engaged in the grocery
l a9g
with me and my family. She and my
wife did not agree, and after time
| there was quarrel between them.
We decided to separate and I bought
| out my sisters interest in the business.
During the settlement Of the bust
| ness my sister secured Attorney Stew
art w. Cowan OF Mt. Vernon to look
after her interests. After everything
had been settled up, as / supposed, she
demanded $500 more from me, and when
| refused to give it to her brought suit
against me and attached my property.
The case was subsequently decided in
my favor, but so much trouble and no.
toriety had ruined my business and
was compelled to sell out everything
l had for the benefit of my creditors.
Among the latter was the firm of Dill
Ion & Douglass of this city.
About this time the lawyer, Cowan,
got my sister to deed all her property
to some one who is said to be a DR.
Frank w. Wheeler of New Haven. l
went to see him several times about
the matter, and each time he threw me
bodily out Of his office. Finally, ! be-
came exasperated at such treatment,
and wrote him letter in which said
IF you won't meet me on business
grounds ! will meet you as man to
man and fight you This letter was
never mailed and never left my house
until in some way my sister got possess
sion of it and took it to her lawyer,
Cowan.
The latter Immediately had me ar
rested under the laws of New York
charging me with melting to fight a
duel, and 1 was indicted by the grand
jury and bonds fixed at $1,000. The
bonds were given for me by Theodore
Taylor of Mt. Vernon, $500, my wife $500
and John Farrell $500. l also left my
carriage with Taylor. After this my
wife and broke up housekeeping and
my wife went with her four children to
her parents home at Croton lake, while |
/ came here to try to get a new start |
in life. / hadsjust secured employment |
and telegraphed to my wife to come on |
here with the children and the house, |
hold effects, and we would settle here. |
1 secured employment with Bridgeport |
firm, Burritt & Co., and |
was at work for them in this city.
"Now comes what I suppose is the |
real reason for my arrest. My wife took |
the carriage from Taylor as her means |
had become exhausted, and sold it to de-
fray the expense of bringing my family |
and effects to this city, When my
bondaman, Taylor, heard of this l
suppose he became frightened and sur
rendered me. This is of course, only
but / suppose that is the |
real cause of my arrest. My trial in
Mt. Vernon comes off next Monday, and
only this morning l wrote to my attor-
ney asking him to try to have it post
poned so that might have a chance
to earn a little money. To-day I also
received a telegram from my wife to
the effect that she had shipped the
goods and would herself be
here to-day. / have seen DR.. Wheeler
Of this city and he assures me that he
knows nothing about the case, and that
so far as he knew no property had been
decided to him, yet the records at White
Plains shows that it has been decided
o some DR., Wheeler of New Haven. DR..
Wheeler said that somebody must have
either his knowledge or consent"
Wright's wife arrived in the city last
evening and was dumfounded to hear
If her husbands trouble. She went at
once to the lookup, where she remained
with him until the arrival of the officer ,
rom MT. Vernon. The furniture has
also arrived here. and is now at the
freight station.
DR.. Frank II. Wheeler when question
I'd about the matter last night said he
Knew nothing of any property being
leeded to him, and hadn't the slightest
dea in reference to the matter. He did
ay, however, that Wright came to him
md asked him to cash $500 note held /
" him from his sister, as all her prop
rty had been decided to him (Wlheeler) {
7he latter explained that there was {
ome mistake and that he knew abso- !
utely knothing in reference to the mat Z
err
Sergeant. .Beckwith, of the Mt. Vernon {
,O1ica fame came tO this oitv a hOI1t | {