The evening times., 1898-08-13
LOST HIS CLIENTS MONEY.
Sylvanun Cobb BOyntOn Is in n New
York Jail

New York. Aug. 1S.-Gen. Sylvanus
Cobb Boynton. a promoter and lawyer
well known in Washington. has been in
Ludlow Street Jail since last Monday.
under a judgment amounting to slo,s2oss,
obtained against him by Miss Camille
Serre, a relative by marriage. He was
arrested at the Park Avenue Hotel
where he had been staying ever since
the death of his wife, two years ago.
Miss Serre, in the action she brought
against Gen. Boynton, alleged that she
had given him $500 in 1852 to invest for
her in bonds and mortgages. but that ne
had used the money in bond speculation
and had lost it. She sued to recover
and after a trial lasting several hours,
was awarded sl0,s20.SS. Sixty days We're
given to Gen. Boynton to meet the
Judgment, and then a body execution was
issued against him.
Gen. Boynton, when seen at the Jail
last evening, said that the suit was
brought because of<family troubles. He
said that his son. Henry D. Boynton. a
lawyer of this city, had married niece
of the plaintiff in the action against
him.
1.-TWO years ago." said Gen. Boynton
my son obtained a divorce in Ohio,
where he had residence, on the ground of
incompatibility of temper. In 1882 before
my son was married. l was attorney for
Miss Serre, who was woman of large
means. / drew her will, and in other
matters attended to her business. AS was
most natural, she finally asked me to
find investment for some of her money
where she would get more than per
cent interest.
nt onr 10 inv I,a~
but finally foreclosed a mortgage for her,
and with some other money she sent me
invested in bond and mortgage paying
per cent. / then learned that the bonds
of the Baton Rouge and New Orleans
Railroad could be purchased for g. and
was offered a lot of fifty $1,000 bonds.
Adding $4,000 of my own money to hers,
1 purchased the bonds on the advice Of
Judge Dillon.
1.-The bonds began to depreciate in val
ue owing to suits against the road, and
finally, when sold them, the net price
/ realized was $3.50. Sorry for Miss
Sierre, 1 paid her per cent interest on
her Investment until 1892, when, as my
financial affairs had become badly mixed,
was forced to stop payment. She never
suggested suing to recover the amount
invested until after my son sued his wife
for divorce, and then this action was
begun. 1 had given her receipt for the
money she sent me. and it was upon that
that she began the suit. I made the best
defense could, but the case was decided
against me.
Il could have paid this judgment, as I
have many friends who have offered to
come to my relief. but refused, as I
propose to remain in the jail until the
time limit of six months is up, when I,
shall be free of the judgment. 1 was
given the money by Miss Serre to invest
entirely at my discretion and lost $25,-
900 Of my own at the same time hers was
wiped out. While never considered that
she had any legal claim against me for
the money, I considered myself morally
responsible for 1t and intended to repay
1t as soon as my affairs were ON better
footing I lost $4,000 in claim against
the Government, which T bought in, and
have had other financial losses, which
have made it impossible to pay Miss
Serre. think showed my honest in
tentions in paying her the interest for
ten years. / am not at all dissatisfied
with my accommodations here and shall
stay until six months have. passed. L
have large business enterprises on hand
now. but can attend to them just as we'll,
here a. though was out" ss .ss..-t
Gen. Boynton is nearly seventy years