Evening journal., 1896-11-24
TIE PRICE OF FRAUDS
Stephen a. buttons Extensive
Swindling Operations.
WIND WAS Ills ONLY CAPITAL.
SearIy Succeeded In Getting 5000, 900
From Havemeyer and Tried to Fleece
the state-Got 100000 From Twom-

NEW YORK, Nov. 24.-The operations
ff stephen A. Dutton, who is now on trial
In part ] of the court of general sessions,
charged with having swindled Mrs Mary
Alice Godfrey and her daughter, Lily Alys
Godfrey, of Washington out of property i'm
that city worth 500, 200, turn ont to have
excelled in magnitude anything attempted
by the big swindlers' syndicate, with
which he operated in at least one transac-
ton.
Dutt1n came 60 this city from Chemung |
county about four years ago and intro
duccd himself TO the business world here |
ns the owner Of large tracts of timber land |
there, in which he declared Senator David |
B. Hill was also interested. He also de- |
clared that Senator Hill had been his coun- |
sci many ycnrs ago before the latter came |
into political prominence.
About the time that Dutton came here |
work was commenced on building the
docks and warehouses of the Brooklyn
Dock and Warehouse company mt the foot
Of Iwenty-nfth and Twenty sixth streets,
South Brooklyn. He secured contracts TO
furnish some Of the material for this work,
and when hewa not paid he filed "a mcch-
anic lien against the property, which. he
afterward brought suit in the supreme
court of Kings county TO foreclose. Dur
ing the progress Of this suit he contracted
to buy up all the outstanding claims
against the company except one for $3.50,
600, which was held by the Holland Trust
company, as representative Of the bond
holders. He got Judgment and the sher-
in sold the property. He bought 1t in, but
decree Of the court provided that before
the deed to the property was delivered the
claim Of the Holland Trust company must
be cancelled.
Hsttie Green Drew Out.
Dutton then entered into "A contract with
the Holland Trust company to cancel the
Indebtedness within "a certain time He
failed to do So and the time was extended
but he defaulted again, and he never en-
tered into possession of the property,
which is still held by the Holland Trust
company. He did have partial possession
for n short time, but he was promptly dis
possessed
Armed with tho court decree, however,
/ he has ever since been trying to mortgage
| the Brooklyn property for 5000, 600, repre-
senting that he still held an equity in it
and intended O. pay off the claim of the
/ Holland Trust company.
Hettie Green agreed TO loan him $780,
600. but discovered the deception in time
and drew out of the transaction. II. o.
Havemeyer agreed TO loan of 5000, 600,
and actually deposited "A check for 500 OoO
in the Office of his counsel, William II.
Stayton. Mr. Stayton, however made an
investigation Of Dutton's standing and
the deal was called off.
Dutton succeeded, on the strength of the
| Haveneyer transaction, in obtaining $40,
600 from Horatio y. Twombloy, who died
q few months ago He represented TO Mr..
Twombley that ne needed the money to
satisfy some small claims against the
BROOKLYN property which intaricred with
his title, and that when these encum-
branccs were removed the Havemcycr loan
would be completed
Mr.. Twomblcy advanced the $40, 600, re-
ceiving as security "a mortgage on the dock
property, e. which DuttOn had no title.
Not cent of the money was applied to
paying of judgments CT clearing up the
title to the Brooklyn property The check
found its way into the bank account of
Henry DAILY, Jr.. who received 81, 600 of it
for legal services rendered to Dutton, and
the remainder went into buttons private
purse.
Tried 20 swindle the State.
The most daring Of all Dutton's schemes
was an attempt 20 swindle Attorney Gen
eral Hancock ard the state insurance dc
partment. The Commercial Alliance In
surancc company. i'm which Dutton had
acquired an interest was in the hands OF
"a receiver and on the verge Of dissolution
Dutton went to the attorney general and
offered to execute TO the superintendent OF
insurance a mortgage for $500, 600 on the
Brooklyn dock property, on which he pro
pcsad that the state of New York rai5'
funds to be applied u settling up the trOu
blcs of the insurance company. The no
torncy general Investigated Dutton's tith
TO the property and rcfucd to have amy
, thing TO do with the deal.
o Dutt1n claims the ownership Of tho "a
D nous Blodgctt claim" I'm iha city %
D. Washirrton. which is S mething like III
d Ancke JAMS claim in New IcrS. To cov,r
{ half the ground on which Washington il
q built. and if valid would ho worth unto,
{ millions Lawyers however, regard it %
c absolutely valreess Dutton dcclare6 tha
{ he secured the ,ilc to this claim in cv
s change for "a tract of phosphate land u
Florida.
Dutt0n about two years ago became ac
ouaintcd with John Scott who, with hi
y vile and son, owned the Scctt Coal ar'
l. Ice company, which occupied the lot al
/ ready mentioned, at One Hundred an'
li Ih.rsv-seventh street and the Harlem
i, river The lot is the property of the Gran
g estate. of which j. Sergeant Cram, former
il lv a dock commissioner, is executor Dut
lt ton bought the business Of the Scott Goa
r ANA Ice company, giving in exchange
he mcrtracc on the Blodgott claim for $50
st 600 He ran the business for less than
+ week. during which time he obtained
new lease OF the lot from the Cram estate
Thcn ne moved the horses, wagons an
an TIE ether property Of the company
si New Jersey and disposed cf them there.
y' Dutton has also swindled many bank
20 and individuals. Among them are Oh
T. FRANKLIN National bank, $1,000; Isaac \
y biircr. s8,50G Brood street Nation'
y bark Of Newark, ~ j., s3, 800; Waterbur
4, Lumber comrany, unknown amounts ~
y ward b. Levi. q Air. Sterling and thir
:, man. Who each bought 333 shares Of Il
~ Scott stock for $500.
Remains OF Rev. Horace Kelley
Tv,-,- nr--- Nov 0l-A pantlema