New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-30
HE RECEIVERS STOLEN MONEY
MANY REVELATIONS MADE AT A TRIAL
IN PATERSON
SMITH SUED ON NOTE GIVEN BY zELUFF' "ho"
HE ACCUSED OF STEALING THE MONEY
FROM HIS NORTHUMBERLAND

ACCUSES A JUSTICE.
Patterson Anrll % (SpecaD.-The suit OF THOMAS
Smith against Winfield s. Zeuf and CatherNe
Zeluff for ST. $50 due promlssory "o'e was
tried before Judge Dixon In the fasSa'' y
Circuit Court to-day Revelations OF a se"Sa..o
character astonished court and spectators anu the
case proved highly interesting to the lawyers y"
account OF the nice law points involved
Smith Is a track walker employed by the Lacha
uanna Railroad In April 1885, he lived IN a lonely
stone farmhouse on the Sngac road o'ei'ooN'"s
the Laurel Grove Cemetery, about hVe miles 'o
this city BY being frugal and industrious' "e w
managed to put aside part OF MS Hio"eh'' e''
ings and when In his cups he was wont " oo"s'
that he had 1900 In shining yellow boys hudeh III
a safe Mace On the afternoon Of April ~ TWO men
called at the farmhouse. They were acquA.,
evidently with relatives OF Mrs. Smith, and calied
n deliver n message they were asked to take
drink and managed to drop some drug ih'o Nio
glass OF Mrs Smith She was stupeheu' anu '''o
me, proceeded to ransack the house In an ou
hair trunk in the attic they found N'5" IN sod
coin and $3.50 in bank notes. They got away
with the money though Smith was INFORMED anu
followed them to this city. where all trace was
lost.
Smith Informed the police and offered reward TOT
detection Of the thieves return OF his money
Three weeks later Isaac Bibby. who Is cigar
dealer In Lower Market-st. told Smith that WIN
fell
carried out the job" The Zeufr family lived on
the farm adjoining Smiths house. and Winfield.
though engaged In the GOAL business In this city,
made frequent visits home when he became aware
that Smith kept considerable money IN the mousse
Blbby said he learned OF the plot through Clark
Hn n coal peder. Zeluf he said. had broached
the subject in his coal office. in Taylor-st, and
outlined the scheme to get the money Hi, with
the confederate. overheard by Bibby talking
over the details and chances OF capture. Biboy did
not explain why he did not inform the Authorities
but Smith promised to pay over the reward In
case Zclur was forced to give up the money.
Smith first visited Justice Cocker and secured tho
services Of Constable Coyle. He confronted Heiuil
In his coal office and told him Bibby had "squeaied
Zelufr was much frightened He admitted that ne
had told Hi where the money kept and that
the fellow had said he would shoot any man for Il
dollar. Smith charged him with having DIVIDED inc
money with the thieves and placed Zeluns portion
at 500 ZeuN swore he did not get as much as
that" He begged for a settlement. and asked
Smith 10 remember his mother. The track"aiKer
wanted his money. The three went before Justice
Cocker and Smith agreed that note Endorsed by
Mrs Zeluff with a check for the reward would
soothe his wrath. Mrs Zelun was sent ior anu
to her son from prosecution she sisnea q, a
thirty-day note. check for S9o. mace OUT 10
II was 10 be paid to Bbby for his information;
Prosecutor Ensley drew out these facts ana rested
the FOR the plaintiff 49,
Ward and Rpdyck. FOR the defenSe set up nat ne
~onslderaton and a verdict for the plaintiff would
be against public justice. as smith accorlins 10
Felony Mr. ward asked for nonsuit on th ess
grounds whch denied by Judge DIXON. me
Court holding that IT was matter oil fsct ior the
ZeufY testified that Smith and Coye went into his
office and placed him under Arrest Soyle reau a., a
warran, and smith threatened 70 Kill him II he dld
10, give up the stolen money. They tod MIN Blo.y
had tod all and In any case would charge MIN win
completely in the robbery. In case Of an ndictmen:
he would be sent to State Prison for ten years
When taken before Justice Cocker the Magistrate
Justice Cocker sent his clerk after Mrs. Zeiun and
Informed him that his offence was not SaIiable: re
money Its equivalent or be committed TO prison
The Justice mace out note and niled IN a check
ana Zelufr affixed his signature, no testified. Wnen
his mother arrived greatly excited. she told 70
lndorse the note and keep quiet and there would be
ZeuN charged that after the note signed Jus
tice Cocker told him his expenses must be pad
money he had about him on the table lie ala So
ne .ad. and left sl2 for court expenses
show that zelun had been convicted Of delivering
pince when Justice Cocker was called in rebuttal
@ forced to admit that he had been convicted
& GH n s wRtE did d not ina" pp es on his
docket. Smith and Coye cor pborated him and de-
MED that zeluf received promises Of immunity upon
declared that Zelun had asked him how he was
ss 2 fs had Sack e hf town Money as m his 0'"e
Judge, Dixon charged the jury at length: II
robbery, and went to demand the return OF his
money in good faith the note valid. II the
jury believed however. that threats Of bodily harm
order to regain his liberty. then the Instrument
Illegal. and verdict should be given for the de-
The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff for the
full amount claimed. with interest.