The New York Herald Newspaper, March 15, 1876, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1876.-TRIPLE SHEET. ‘BAD BANKING. The Bank of the State of New York Forced to Suspend. CENSURABLE LOOSE MANAGEMENT What Depositors and Stock- holders May Expect. EXCITEMENT AMONG BUSINESS MEN ‘The Bank of the State of New York closed its doors about noon yesterday, When the fact was announced on the street it created a good deal of surprise and ex- citement among bankers, brokers and business men generally. It was an event wholly unexpected, except by the officials of the Clearing House and, the feelings of the people consequent upon its announcement maui- fested themselves in the nervous movements of the crowds ip Wall and Broad streets and in the vicinity of the bank at the corner of Willham street and Ex- change place, When the news first circulated the suspension was attributed to imjudicious loans by the bank, and to the fact that, by bad management, over drafts and advances on partially worthless sccu- rives amounting to about $1,000,000 had been per- mitted, The loss thus sustained, it was said, had so impaired its capital that it was ruled out at about eleven o'clock by the Clearing House, and was at once | orced to suspend. A hasty inspection of the state- ments then obtainable by fragments bere and there led to the belief that the depositors after a time would be | paid in full, and that the stockholders would receive possibly seventy per cent of their investments. Tho deposits on hand at the time of suspension, reaching about two millions of dollars, are to remain tied up until the receiver, to be appointed by the Comptroller of the Currency, shall have adjusted the bank's af. fairs, The capital, which was all paid up, amounted to $2,000, 000. The Bank of the State of New York was organized in | May, 1836, {ts first President being Cornelius W. Law. rence, at one time Collector of the Port, Since then Mr. Reuben Withers has been its chief officer, and at the time of its suspension its President was Mr. Goorgo W. Duer, Mr. Duer has, however, been in’ iil health for nearly a year prior to the suspension, and during that time the bank’s affairs were managed by the Vice President, Mr. Richard Patrick, Upon the shoulders of this gentleman, therefore, censure for the mismanagement, if it shall not prove to have merited a harsher name, resulting in the forced failure of the bank, falls most heavi! The inquiries of HERALD reporters yesterday resulted im the discov- ery of facts damaging in the extreme to the reputation of the bank’s managers, especially in view of its UNMERITED REPUTATION POR CONSERVATIVE DEALING. That the actual condition of the bank was a mystery to its own directors is fully believed even by many of the depositors, One of the latter in conversation yes- terday said that the directors were in the habit of de- claring a semi-annual dividend of four per cent calcu- lated on the profits of each preceding six months, The stock of the bank was sold on Monday for 106, and the depositor before mentioned said that be understood one | of the directors had recently possessed himself by pur- chase of a considerable amount of the stock at about this figure. After sifting the many floating statements about the affairs of the suspended bank the following intorma- tion substantially was obtained:—Mr, Patrick, the Vice President, had overdrawn his own account with the bank to the tune of $230,000. This amount ts said to be secured, however, by real estate; but of the correct- ness of this statement no deiinite information was ob- tainable on the street yesterday. Counted as the bank's cash there was also a check of his for $20,000. The stock of two companies having no ascertaineble value in stock circles is also pledged for 4 LOAN OF FOUR HUNDRED aXD vIPTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. These corporations are the United States Attrition Company (Limited) and the New York City Mills Attrition Company. The officers of both companies, however, say that neither company ever got u cent by way of @ joan from the bank or from its Vice President, Mr. Patrick, who is himself a bolder of their stocks. The loans must, therefore, have been made to individnals who had become possessed of the stock. Other bor- rowers, is said, by merchandise, are Messrs, Smith & Girvan, dealers in hops and malt at No, 76 Broad street. Another peculiar circumstance in this connection is the fact that Mr. Smith is the President of one of the companies mentioned and Mr. Girvan of the other, The amoum of stock held by each, it was asserted at the companies’ offices, corner of Broadway and Fulton street, was but ten shares, the bank, as collateral for the $450,000 loan, 18 stated at $600,000, What its value is remains to be de- termined. The City Attrition Company rates its stock as above par, and the United States Attrition Com- pany’s stock 18 declared to be worth 83. But a promi* nent bank president said to the writer yesterday that he considered this stock of very little value indeed, and with bis opinion other banking men agree, In addition to these peculiar invest ments, the bank also contrived to get: possession of protested paper representing $240,000. Of thissum $70,000 were acceptances ot Messrs. Duncan, Sherman & Co. This is so far considered a very bad showing tor “a staid, conservative bank,’ But thisis not all Ad- vances to a large amount, it has been discovered, were made, not only on warehouse receipts for grain, which ere pot always considered reliable securities, but even on bills of lading for grain in fransitu. Some of these bills of lading, it 1s said, bi been held by the bank for two years So it would seem that the grain somehow or other never reached its destination. Per- haps the mystery surrounding these transactions can be cleared away hereafter, At present it looks rather queer. It is further reported that over drafts to the extent of about $250,000 were made on the bank by a Southwestern produce commission house, whose busi bess is largely in Kentucky, and that these were secured only by an assignment of book accounts. The condition of the bank having become tn some manner suspected, Bank lnspector Meigs commenced An examination of it last week and found that it would be unsafe to permit it to continue. The Clearing House Committee commenced its investigations only on last Saturday. Yesterday morning the committee concluded to rule out the bank. The Bank Inspector yesterday telegraphed to the Comptroller of the Currency the re- sult of his action and asked for the appointment of a receiver tor the bank. How long it will take to adjust the afairs of the tustitution cannot now be st Yesterday afternoon there Was a imecting of the idents at the Clearin of passing upon the action of the committee that excluded the Bank of the State of New York. Inspec- tor Meigs was present at the meeting, but he would not make avy statement to the representatives of the press concerning his examimation. The lollowing is the latest statement of the suspended bank :— LIABILITIES. RESOURCES, Capital... Loans and Net proits. Stocks, b'ds, & Real estate Due trom Cash discount Specie..... Legal tenders Total........ $ Kk Total ...... a KPPECT OF THE FAILURE. So much for the failure avd its causes. A word avout the effect of i. This, it would seem, will not be disastrous in apy general sense. Wall street opera- jors are of the opinion that it will naturally result in ansettling the affairs of the street for a few days, but po permanent derangement is antici- pated in consequence, Among this class of bust- ners men it is pot supposed that y lures: will result from the suspension. Some brokers who kept their seccounts in the bank were peculiarly affected by the failure. Desiring im some instances to Televe themselves of stocks which they were holding they obtamed checks of the bank in the morning which they convented themselves with having certi- fied. As the bank kept open for about two hours they bad time to get their checks certified, but by the after- pension awoke them hat they had got species of security which, however undes! mediate effect of the crash was, bf course, a tumbie in the active speculative stocks, Bank presidents are Lato | of the opinion that the failure im po materially unfavorable way, affect other banks. The bank’s suspension, they say, fan only concern ite own depositors, who, it is be- Awved, were cluctly im the gram and cotton ada A to the amount of $425,000, partly secured, it | The amount of stock at | ealled for the pur- | fow of these officers protess to ba’ the fail- ure for some tine. So do some of the men on the street, who shake their heads knowingly after every such oc- currence, as if they had kuown all about it for weeks, butthe truth of the matter is that it was a genera! surprise, It seems to be the prevailing opinion that there is no likelihood of a resumption by the bank. Checks drawn upon the National Bank of the Stato of New York by the First National ik of Richmond | and by the State Bank of Virginia at Richmoud will be honored by the Bank of New York, corner of William and Wall streets, It is also announced that Drexel, Morgan & Co. will pay drafts drawn by the Lucas Bao of St. Louis, on the Bank of the State of New York. Drafts drawn by the First National Bank of Geneva the Bank of the State of New York wili be paid by the First National Bank of New York. WHO PATRICK 18. Vice President Patrick was in the hardware trade with California for some time, and is sad to have failed in that business, At one time he speculated largely, sharing the ups and downs that belong to that Vensuresome experience. Subsequentty he became connected with the now bro bank, He 1s now | senior member of the tirm of Richard Patrick, D Co., No, 42 New street. The firm is in th business, Duer is a son of the President ‘The other officers of the bank, so far as ascertained, are John Steward, Isaac H. Reed and —— Proudiit, direc- tors, and Charles B. Van Wyck, cashier, It was reported yesterday that Mr. Keed, one of the directors mentioned, had aiso overdrawa his account | with the bank by $200,000, Mr, Duer, the President of the bank, in a conversa- tron with apersoual friend yesterday, usserted that he was totally unaware of the approach of the trouble. Mr, Patrick, the Vice President of the bank; Mr, Isaac H. Reed and Messrs, Smith and Girvan were not to be found at their oflices down town in the d | nor in the evening at their residences, mr. Girvan | | was not called on as he 1s lying ill at his house in Jersey City. | | ACTION OF THE CLEARING HOUSE. ‘The president of a national bank located on the north | | side of Wall street, between William and Nassau streets, was called upon by aHxeratp reporter, He said he would give information willingly, but desired not to lave his name used. He stated that he was present at the meeting of the Clearing House Association. ‘The association was called to order at three o'clock in order to pass upon the status of the Bank of the State of New York. Mr. William Dowd, Presi- dent of the Bank of North America, presided, and | Mr. G. F. Baker, Cashier of the First National Bank, | acted as secretary. There was but little discussion | afier the report of the Clearing House Committee had | | Been read to the association. There was alurge mass of | figures inthe report, which, alter it had been read | by the committee, was mailed to the Comptrolier of the | Currency at Washington, who, on receiving it will, It 18 understood, appoint a receiver to take churge of the aifairs of the disabled bank. ‘The informant of the writer stated that he did not wish to speculate on the causes of the trouble of the Bank of the Stato of New York. He believed that the bank had been doing a risky business, and doing too much of it, and that the insiitution must sink beciuse | of the temerity of its coutroliers in carrying indifferent paper belonging to other people. When the gentleman was asked What kind of business it was that the bank had done he decliued to teil, and deciared that the re- port of the Clearing House’ Committee would not be made public until it was poblished by the receiver. He also added that the Clearing House Association, on presentation of tho report, had taken immediate and unanimous action, declarizg the Bank of the State of New York permanently suspended irom operation. WHAT AUGUST BELMONT SAYS. Mr. August Belmont, who is one of the largest share- holders in the Bank of the State of New York, in an- swer to questions put to hin yesterday afternoon by the | representative of the HERALD sal “Phe failure of the Bauk of the State of New York is, as far as I can under- stand it, due to losses that Lave been contracted dur- | ing the past twelve months, It has undoubtedly made | advances on warehouse receipts, but I cannot see that any losses could accrue on that account, he det- ciency bas occurred through advances made to indi- viduals and by overdratts, The Vice President, Mr. Patrick, has, I understand, had tull control of the | business of the bank, and has made udvauces to himself and others with whom he was interested in business | transactions, Lalways believed the bank to be in a perfectly solvent condition, and it was only afew days since that 1 wanted to buy more stock; but the price asked Was more than I cared to give, so the bargain ‘was not closed, and J am glad of itnow. It seems that the Bank Exaininer, General Meigs, investigated tho affairs of the bank last week, and found that the pos- sible losses would amount to a depreciation of one- half the capital, or about $1,000,000. If I had been called upon to advise in the premises think I should have devised, or furnished, means to keep the bank open, buti knew nothing unui the collapse cune, and then it was entirely too late to take any s\n Tam | of opinion that it was a wrong move on the part of the authorities to close up this bank, The jatest statement | and estimate, so far as I can learn, show that the bank | can pot only pay tts labilivies, but has at loast one-half | of its capital intact. The proper mode would have been to either have called upon the stockholders to make good the amount to which the capital had been impaired or else to have caused the capital stock to be | reduced one half; for itis clearly shown, as I under. stand the e, that there is but a loss of one-half of | the capital stock, which will fall alone up f | holders. This loss, as | am informed, has accrued dur- ing the past twelve months, and is ip no Way attributa- bie to transactions arising out of or results of the panic | ot 1873, | | | | THE VICK PRESIDENT RESPONSIBLE. | Ihave not bad time to make any investigation of the | affairs of the bank, but I am led to believe that the Vice | President, Mr. Patrick, is to some extent responsible for | the failure, He hus, I'am led to besieve, made loans to | himself of considerable sums of money, and has, | besides, made overuraits on the bank to a considerable | amount A great deal, too, has been locked up tn the | | form of advances to members of tue grain trade who have also been allowed to everdraw their accounts, | The same is the case in regard to certain firms dealing in hops. With regard to the effect that will be exercised | s failure on other banks I can givo no opinion; 0 not anticipate any panic, for the reason that where no one has anything to lose there can | be no fear of @ loss. Such {s the pocular condition of things at the present time that no one can {orm any opinion in regard to prospects in the near future, With an irredeemable currency there can be no stability, and all commercial transactions are | simply a matter of guess work. I think that untilsuch | time as we come to a resumption of specie payments | we shall still continue to remain in a state of uncer- } tainty; there will be no revival of busines: | be no confidence. Im the case of this van! | clearly demonstrated that it is in a position to meet | every lability to its creditors, other than the stock- holders, I fail to see any reason for the stoppage. If I | was last year worth $6,000,000 and am now only worth | $4,000,000 that is no one’s business but my own; so it isin’ the case of the Bank of the State of New York. It can pay dollar for dollar to its creditors, and therefore should have been allowed to goon. There will be no loss to other banking insti tutions, for ali their hAbilities up to this morning have been cleared off in the Clearing House. It is difficult | to carry on any banking business now with a profit, and there is even among the most careful a certain amount of risk to be taken, and such is the condition | of affuirs at the present time that there is no protit | | to be made, I think the action of the Vice President | of the Bank of the State of New York, Mr. Vatrick, | requires some expianation, and itis just possible that | the state of afairs may turn out even worse than has | been shown on the first blush. How a loss of a million of dollars could have been made in the last twelve months I cannot understand. MR. CALHOUN’S OPINION. Mr. Calhoun, the President of the Fourth National | Bank, stated yesterday that the suspension of the Bank of the State of New York was nota matter of much surprise to him, for he knew that the bank ex- aminers bad investigated the affairs of that bank last week, and certain representations had been made to the Clearing House Commitice, of which be was amem- ber, on Saturday last, The bank had, he said, up to that time been looked upon as per- fectly goivent, and the cause of tts failure could in no way be attribuied to any losses aceru- tug trom the panic of 1873 The bank hel he believed, some $50,000 of the paper of Duncan, Sher- | man & Co., bat that sum bad been placed to the profit and loss account, and that was the end of it. The losses which bad caused the bank to suspend had, he uuderstood, occurred during the past year, He did not positively know, but be thought tue Vice Presi dent was responsible for these. In fact, said Mr. Cathoun, ther a history in regard to the action of the Vice President yet to come out That gentleman, he continued, has undoubtediy made loans to him- | for overdrawn his account, whichever you please 10 call it, and bas allowed otoer firms in which he was interested also to make over dratts, and these things require explanation. ould be glad,” said M Caiboun, “to furnish the Hexavp with more prec information, bat Ihave nothing further that I can say at present except that I do not believe this bank failure will have any particular eflect. Ido not,’’ said he, “look for any panic, for the stoppage bas simply been brought about by the action of the bank examiner, who, after investigating the affairs of the bank, con: | eluded that it was better for itto stop at once rather furth There has been G2 on oUF or any other bank in the city so far as I in consequence of this suspension. ”” RUFUS HATCH ON THE SITUATION. | Mr. Rufus Hateb on being questioned in regard to the probable effect that the failure would have on the street sald:—‘I have been so long out of any active participation in the affairs of the street that I really ean give no decided opinion. I have, of course, my | own views, but whether any more failures will result | | equence to this collapse 1 do not feel confident enor tosay. Still, lean state that the stoppage of the Bank of the State of New York will, in my bpinion, bi general bearing on the brokers in Wali as others, would have much sooner rd to other bank Lam inelined to believe that the | or at least one other, resent failure is the result of old sores which were ought about by the panic of 1873 The value of stocks will not be, I think, much affected by this stop- page, for the bank has had bat hittle, if anything, to do with stock brokers or jobbers, dealings were, 1 | THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE, | truth had beer known at that time not only nearly | Liquidation und started anew with clean sheeis thun to | tion into the monetary status of debtors. While some | State of the markets, | Chamber spoke ominously of the results to be looked | of the firm stated that the immediate cause of the sus- ‘understand, mostly confined to commercial houses. I do not anticipate avy panic, or in fact any serious re- sults, from the suspension of this bank.’ OTHER BANKERS’ VIEWS. Inquiry was also made among a number of bank ofMf- cials, and they one and all appeared to agree that the failure would in no degree affect the general business of the city, whether in commercial or purely financial circles, The Bunk of the State of New York, it ap- peared to be thought, had for some time been gradually losing the confidence of business men, which, it was ried, is proved by the fact that the deposits, waich some four years ago averaged about $4,000,000, have of late dwindled down to $2,500,000.’ The people who had accounts with the bank, they say, are people Who can weil atlord to wait for alittle’ time for their money, aud beyond a possivle temporary embarrass- Ment no inconvenience will be caused to the deposi- tors, What the efleet will be on the country banks to one seemed willing to hazard an opinion, although there appeared to be an opinion prevalent that no serl- ous cause for apprebensiun need exist, In fact, the troubie, every one thinks, is local, and beyond a tempo- Tary delay no loss will occur to any bat the stockloide ers, who Will suffer a heavy depreciation. Mr. Moses A, Wheelock, said to a Heratp reporter that he considered the failure to be but an old sore of tho panic of 1873. 1t was not properly healed, and if the every broker's firm, but the banks as well, were in a very precarious, if not a rotten condition, It would ave been far better for them all to Lave gone into have imperilled the rising credit of the country, as they are doimg now, by an exposure of their unsdunduess. The biow to contidence 13 severe, ond causes abew that feeling of distrust which, in financial eireles, 1% is $0 hard to allay. What the developments may lead to it 18 impossible to say. CORRESPONDENTS OF THU SUSPENDED BANK. ‘Tho following are the country correspondents of the Bank of the State of New Yor! Tallant & Co., San Francisco, Cal. Sun Joaquin Valley Bank, Sau Joaquin county, Call- forma. Eugle and Phonix Savings Bank, Muscogee county, Heorgia, ia National Bank, Chicago, Ill. Cole Brothers & Co.. Chester, Randolph county, Ill, Jacksonville National Bank, Jacksonville, UL Muytield & Co., Lincotn, Logan county, Il. | First National Bauk, Marshalltown, Marshall county, owa, German Insurance Bank, Louisville, Ky. Chesapeake Bank, Baltimore, Md. Farmers’ National Banx, Annapolis, Md. Shawmut National Bank, Boston, Mass. yk of Monrow, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ond National Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio, Obio. tral Bank, Upper Sandusky, Obio, Bank of Cuarleston, Charleston, & C. Union Bank of South Carolina, Charleston, 8, G, Lowndes & Co,, Charleston, 8. C. National Bank of Newberry, Newberry, 8. Bank of Mecklenburg, Boydton, Va. Bank of Portsmoath, Portsmouth, Va State Bank of Virginia, Richmond, Va. First National Bank, Richmond, Va. AT THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE. The announcement of the suspension of the Bavk of the State of New York necessarily caused considerable excitement at the Produce Exchange, many members of which are large depositors in that instituuon, Much indignation was at first expressed about the bank’s manner of conducting loans and its lack of investiga- persons showed a disposition to trace the bank’s finan- | cial embarrassments to ill-judged management and a loose transaction of business, most people seemed in- | clined to take a more faverable view of the case, and attribute the failure to causes growing outof the stagnation of business and the unsettled The irresponsibility of certain parties to whom loans had been made on warehouse aper bad been sent to was freely discussed by a few, and there was a spirit mantlested to come to a verdict that the directors had overestimated the strength of the bank security, and that they nad placed an undue confidence in Joan negotiators ata time when the greatest discretion shouid be employed. A depositor, with whom the reporter conversed, said that he fancied the suspension of the bank would be « mere ripple on the financial current. Fora day or two it might create whittle excitement on the street, but | would hardly affect any trade interest. He said that the bank’s trouble would readily be traced to some recent failures of considerable magnitude from which it had suflered as well as a too indiscriminate system of loan making. AMONG THE GRAIN MEN, It was elsewhere asserted that the failure of the bank was due to heavy advances to members of the rain trade and by large over drafts. At the Exchange, owever, every person approached disck imed the idea that the’ trade would be ailected in any way. The uni- versal impression was that the trade generally had no transactions Whatever with the bank, although it was hinted that several jarge ‘receivers’? were more or less involved, That they kept their accounts with and were in the habit of receiving accommodation from the Bank of the State of New York is a well known fact. AT THE COTTON EXCHANGE. When the news of the failure reached the Cotton Ex- change excitement ran high. Some half dozen parties with balances at the suspended bank complained bit- terly of the mismanagement which had brought about jts embarrassment, and various gentlemen in the for inaday ortwo There was a disposition evinced to take the directors to task for injudicious and un- pusinesslike dealings. When the report came in that the amount of over drafts was over $500,000 anotn temporary spastn of excitement was created, but the | further statement that the depositors would soon be paid in fall and that the stockholders might look for fifty cents on the dollar at some future date abated to some extent the murmurs, and business went on at the Exchange undisturbed tor the rest of the day. AT THE MARITIME EXCHANGE, ‘The announcement of the bank suspension was here the signal for the inauguration of considerable excited discussion and some very strong debate on the lia- bility of the bank’s managers to condemnation. Dur- ing the day the clerk stood at the blackboard sedu- lously jotting down every novel bit of news tha, arrived, and along line of readers stretched from the door far into the chamber looking impatiently for every new announcement, The situation was bere dis- cassed with more levity than in most other business quarters, and some gentlomen discovered quite a fund of wit in talking about a subject not invested with any very marked humorous features, ‘The effect of the suspension on business was, of course, considered, and it was generally thought + any consequent depres- sion would be merely temporary. MORE BUSIN TROUBLES. Corbit, Jacobsen & Co. » constituting the United States Reflector Company, manufacturers and importers of reflecting chandeliers, sunights, &«, of Noa 611 and 613 Broadway, suspended yesterday, A member pension was the dificalty in making collections, and that two or three creditors were pushing them while | the rest were willing to grantanextension He did not think that the liabilities would amount to much over $100,000 and their assets were very good, but could not be readily disposed of in the present state of the mar- ket, Negotiations are now in progress for a settlement, bat itis not determined whether the creditors will grant an extension or accept a compromise, Isaac J. Oliver, printer, No. 73 Duaue street, has deen adjudged bankrapt by Register Dayton, on the petition of Darrow & Sou B, Ayres, Charles Crake, Charles J, Curter and Mary J. Philips, whose claims | amount to $4,600, George A. Merwin & Co., proprietors of the Stato | Mills (coffee and spices), at Nos. 160 Duane street and 28 Hudson street, have suspended. Tuer Habiluies amount to about $80,000, and the nominai value of the assets exceeds this sum, but it embraces the machin- ery, &c., which would bring but little at a forced sale. A statement of their affairs was presented to their cred- ttors, who unanimously agreed to accept whatever terms the Grm might offer to compromise. The firm then made a proposition to compromise at sixty cents on the dollar, wick has been accepted by all but two of their creditors, DEFRAUDING THE yYENUE. Yesterday morning Customs Inspector Edward T. Trayo seized forty-eight brierwood pipes found con- ccaled on the person of a sailor of the French steam- ship Pereire. The pipes were delivered to Mr. Novle at the seizure room in the Custom house, Another seizure was made yesterday in the case of Charles | Close, a passenger by the White Star steamship Celtic, from Liverpool, by Custom house Inspectors M. H. Walker and H. Waldo, In his trunk six valuable roils R of silk were found concealed. The silk was found hid- | den in @ false bottom, nailed and papered over, Closo | demed having anything liable to duty in | his possession, but atier the oificers iscov- ered the silk, confessed that the rolls of sik belonged to Mr. ©. Orchard, of Phil- adelphia, who had writen to him to bring it over in that manner, In confirmation of the truth of his story the packages were marked “©, 0." Deputy Collector Phelps, of the Ninth divi- sion, will report the goods seizeu to District Attorney Phelps for condemnation. The jewelry turned into the seizure room, the prop- erty of tho two alleged defaulting detfors, natives of from Caracas, Venezuela, arrested on board mship Carondelet, has peen appraised at $2,000, As the articles in question were first seized by the police, no accusation of smuggling can bo ned aguinst the owners, The owners will pay poet on & portion of their jewelry and take the balapee with them on board a Earopean bound steamer. In such case the jewelry will be delivered to t the vessel ts within @ minute or so Of starting. | stealing a chicken aud the sentence is in these words, | officer of the Court, whose unpleasant duty it ts to'ad- | negro tarned his bead, looking in'his face. 2. | Street’? affair. s | wmount to Paymaster W. B. Bog A NEGRO LASHED. GENERAL REVIVAL OF THE WHIPPING POST IN VIRGINIA— CROWDED JAILS—THE LASH PRE- FERRED BY THE NEGROES, Ricuxono, Va, March 13, 1 ‘That effectual and heretofore to the negro terror-in- spiring mode of punishment, the lash—which was tem- | porarily suspended at the close of the war in Virginia, can now be said to be again generally revived. The only difference now is that the stripes are not confined to the negro alone, but his erring white brother, who is convicted of petty pilfering, is equaily favored with their application by tho officers of the law. It was generally supposed by the negroes—and they re- joiced over the svpposition—that there would be no | more whipping when they became tree; apd the whites, todo them justice, were gratified at the ab- senev of this cruel mode of punishment, Unfortunately, however, it had to be revived, and it was not until very recently that its goneral necessity became, in she eyes of the ollicers of the law, absolutely indispensable to the ends of justice, The Penitentiary and the jails of the State, always full during the last ten years, bave, since work among the negroes became scarce and ard times’? pressed heavily upon them, been OVERCROWDED WITH CRIMINALS of every descriptiou, principally negroes, Four and five ot them had to be crowded tnto a cell eight by ten feet to accommodate the enormous numbers that wero daily candidates for confinement, and though the jail | of this city bas been twice enlarged its capacity 1s not equal to tho demand Under such ¢lrcumstances the Police Justice of this city found himself compelied to resort to punishment by stripes, and, being a humane gentle- inan as Well ag a strict and impartial administrator of justice, he frequently allows the criminals to choose between confincment to jail and labor or a reduction | in@the time of imprisonment with stripes added. Strange to say, the negro invariably chooses the | stripes. Petit larceny is the only oifence for which | criminals are wlupped, and if a negro is arrwgned for “fen days in the cbain gang or one day ih jail and ten lashes, whichever you choose,” the never fuiling | reply is, “Weill, I D’iieve Pil take de whippin and de one day.” ‘Yhe average white man South, thief though he was, would stay ip jail ten months belore he would take a whipping with a cowhide, This morning the only case of potty theft that came before His Honor was that of Daniel Carey (colored), charged with stealing a hat on Saturday might last from a “ninety-nine cent’? store on Broad street, Daniel, veing act, admitted his guilt, the J fixed bis punishment at ‘Tou days im jail, or nine lashes and one hour’s unprisoumeut.” Without any hesitation Daniel at once said :—~- “GIM MK DR WHIPPIN'," When the Court had closed the prisoners were taken to jail, accompanied by Sergeant E. H. Chalkley, an minister the lashes; but being ois duty he does not desire to shirk it Arrived atthe jail yard, Daniel was conducted to a solid looking octagonal post about eight foet high aud tour feet in circumference, irmly embedded in the ground, at the westeru end of the yard. This 18 the whipping post, and it is unpopu'arly known among the negroes by the name of “de wid- der.”” “Come, Daniel, strip,’’ said Sergeant Chalkley. Slowly, and evidently very reluctantly, Daniel, who was black, twenty-eight years of age, five feet ten and well built, began to take olf bis cvat, One arm had | come out of the coat when Sergeant Chalkley called to an otlicial:—‘Pass me my switch."’ Daniel looked around and saw spinning into the officer’s hands a for- midable looking yellow cowhide, four feet long, and Vapering {rom tbree-cights of an inch in thickness at ove end toa keen poiut at the other, Out came the other arm of Daniel’s cout and his vest followed, but the undressing operation was so slow that the Ser- geant bad to call out “Hurry up, Damel,’’ Oi came the shirt, leaving ou nothing butadirty, greasy worsted | undershirt, und Daniel asked, ‘Mus’ I take dis up!” i pull it over your head,” The way that Dauiel went abcut pulling that shirt over his head looked as if he had never tried such a thing before, THE WHIPPING. With the assistance of the officer the shirt was pulled up as high as the neck, leaving Daniel’s black, sbining skin exposed to the rays of a noonday sun. ‘Come, now, Daniel; hug the widow close,’’ was the order, and the prisoner embraced the horrible post, At the same | time tno officer placed his haud on the victim's lett shoulder and raised the cowhide, and as he did the “Look the other way; don’t look’at me,” said the Sergeant, and, rapidly us bis arm could rise and fall, nine stripes, cach Jeaving a white mark on the black skin, were laid on, If Lexcept a slight quivering motion of the negro's body at the infliction of each blow, he showed no other evidence of pain, but I venture to say, had the sentence been nine-and-thirty instead of nine, even Daniel would have begged for mercy betore the whip- ing was over. The lashes wero not what is called “well laid on,’’ ag I am informed, but they were sut- ficiently “well laid on’ to make any petty, thief for- ever dread a subsequent infliction. ben the whip- ping was 0’ Daniel was asked how he felt, and he in- dignantly answered, Js jus’ as well as ever I did,” and this was all that could be got out of him, NAVAL RANE. THE SIX YEARS LAW—AN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN ITS REPEAL—INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE. To tux Epiror or Tax HeraLp:— A paragraph in reference to the repeal of the six years law in its relation to line officers of the navy, followed by acopy of a circular from the Naval Academy | at Annapolis, has appeared in the New York journals, It seems to me to be a sort of ‘Three Tailors of Tooley self-constituted committee of young | gentlemen at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, under the | superintendence of Rear Admiral C, RP, Rodgers, | United States Navy, superintendent of that institution, presuming to dictate to the general service whatit | shall do in getting a grossly unjust law repealed, How- | ever much we may agree that this six seas claus | should be repealed, since its action is to place young staff officers who entered the vy in 1866 overthe | heads of every lieutenant who served during the civil war in battle, storm and blockade, the service will never permit a committee at Annapolis to determine for it the just mode of procedure, and! do not believe a dozen oilicers, except those ut Annapolis, have sub- scribed a penny. The articic has doubtiess tailen into the hands of some so-called staff oficer and beea pub- lished with a view to the injury of the so-called iine— , of Br mmnuBity. i , Lowever, that the money raised | was to defray the expenses of @ lawyer to argue the legal and equitable aspect of the cuse before the Naval | Committee, and it 18 & fact that iast week the case was | 80 presented to the Naval Committee. But to show you | how tho staff gentiemen five years since | proceeded to get the rank, pay and six years clause | \bey now enjoy, | inclose you fer pubiication op! of two original jetters in my possession, by which you will see that other incans than ‘‘counsel’? are hinted | at. Computing the amount these letters aud the Navy | “sail purposes” amounted altogether to $15,030. Will | the staff (for Paymaster W. B. Boggs is dead) please Say to the world what was done with this mone; Does this uot savor of a smali Crédit Movilier atair, | and need investigation’ lam ready to produce the | originals of these letters at avy time, and i know that your spirit of tuirness will prompt you to give a« wide | publicity through the land to these two ivtters and my remarks herein as has becn given to the letter of | the three Annapolis ‘Tailors of Tooley street.” A NAVAL OFFICER, | FIRST ASSESSMENT. Navy Derantuest, Feb. 7. Ls7y, in W pute funds at the following rates st Assistant Paymusters, $10; If you desire to conteibi a ; nt Paymasters, 85. please forward your , Navy Di wtiment? “The other staif corps have already raised their proportion of the tuads required for the same purpose, and the line officers are making every efforr to deieat the bill with apparentiy no lack of funds, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ROBERT W. ALLEN, Paymaster, United states Navy. ‘Sent $15 to Pay- body of the above letter is in the handwriting of a well known clerk in the Navy Department, The lette: signed by Paymaster R. Mou. SHCOND ASS: Navy Yano, W 3 Asal will you te by officer to whom this was sent er Alien,” Nov. 18,'1870. Dean Sin—The General Committes of our corps, who are making their arran; ts for the winter campaign of our “Havk bili,” have deemed it necessary to make @ further | corps, and to have the funds in hand ugress, Our committoe here think yield safticient fu $26 assessment on the before the meeting of € ach; P Yaymasters, $10 in their quota, w Amount to séenre the dimiralty bi" wt we are are not without stron, jop- ing to hear from you, I ain, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM BRENION BOGG:! Paymaster United States Navy and Treasurer of 'Com- mit. | received this letter: —"Paid Mr. lothing, #45, ho reau of Provisions and ©! MEMORANDUM, Had the staff officers subscri! in conformity with their circular dated February 7, 1870, and the circular dated November 18, 1870, taking the July ster of 1870 as a basis, the frst subscription would have amounted to the sum of $6,040, aud the second to | $9,390, making a toial of $15,090. DROWNED IN A CISTERN. About noon yenterday, Martin McHugh, four years old, accidently fell into a cistern on the south sido of load street, near Third avenue, and was drowned, — January 18, 1871, } guch damping bas injured LIQUOR DEALERS IN CONVENTION. A-convention of Iiquo, iealers’ societies, represont- ing the Liquor and Beer Dealers’ Protective and Be- nevolent Union, the Associated Liquor Dealers of New York, the New York Liquor Dealers, the German Sa- loon Keepers’ Association ani the Liquor Dealers’ Protective Union of Brooklyn, mot at the Germania Assembly Rooms yesterday, Major Sauer in the chair, | Along discussion ensuod upon the “wholesale’’ ar- rests of liquor dealers and saloon keepers last Sunday for alleged violations of the Sunday Jaw. These raids doors were denounced as ‘arbitrary,’ and it was be- lieved by several speakers that they were not authorized or sanctioned by the Police Commissioners, but were undertaken by the police capiains op their own tmo- tion, It was decided to cail on the Mayor and Police Courmissioners to look into this matter, and to protest against avy ‘arbitrary’ action, it was announced that the committee named at a previous meeting, com- posed of Messrs Townsend, Nechtmann, Collier, Keene and MeCleery, are in ‘Albany, whero they will push an amendment to the Excise jaw, fixing license fees at $25 and $60, and taking away some of the dis- cretionary powers of the Excise Commissioners. A communication from the liquor dealers’ orgauization of Builaio was received, stating that they have sent adelegation to Aibany, who will unite with the New ane delegation in efforts to procure the desired legis- tion. THE PRINTERS’ STRIKE. The printers who are on strike achieved yesterday a decided victory, by compelling the Evening Post job office to take on again the Striking compositors at former rates of wages. On last Saturday night the compositors in the Even- ing Post job office notitied therr employers that they intended to strike on Monday if the proprietors in- sisted upon enforcing the contemplated reduction from the established rate of pay. A conference was had with Mr, Henderson, of the Post, and with Superin, tendent Boggs, of that office, On Suturday night the men struck. Messrs, Henderson avd Boggs made overtures to four of the old hands, asking them to work at an advanced rate beyond old prices, which offer the men declined to accept, When the compositors went to the office on Monday to be paid off, to their amazement they found half a dozen policemen stationed about the counting room. Tho | printers express themselves as being uaturally very in- dignant at this unnecessary display of force, as none of them ever entertained the most remote idea of at tempting to break the peace. Mr. Henderson hada conference on Monday with some of the men and tried to compromise matters with them, but his efforts were ineffectual. Yesterday there was another conference, the resuit of which was that thoy returned te werk at | old rates. ‘The teeling among the printers is that the other es- tablishments throughout the city will be obliged to come to terms with the strike: ‘The printers argue that if the employers wish them to keep out of trade combinations bosses must on their part do the same; but if capitalists combine against labor workingmen, as a matter of course, are obliged to enter trades unions ip self-detence, They now say that master printers will lose more money in a two weeks’ strike than would suilice to pay for more than a year the amount of the difference between new and old prices. CONVICT LAUOR AND THK PRINTERS. Mr. Hugh Dalton gud Mr. Walsh, the former as Presi- dent and the latter Secretary of Typographical Umoo No. 6, bad two interviows with Governer Tilden bany last week on the subject of convict labor, They visited the State capital a: committee for the purpose of protesting against the passage of the Convict Labor bill, and asking His Excellency to veto it Yesterday afternoon a telegraphic message was re- ceived at the rooms of the Typographical Union which conveyed the intelligence that the Governor had vetoed the obnoxious bill. A great mass meeting of the workingmen is to be held in the Cooper Union on Tuesday next to thank Governor Tilden for the action which he has been pig d to take in this important alfair. 118 been unsuccessful obtaining hands after having ad- vertised jor them, and that he will pernaps, to-day or to morrow, be obliged to follow the example set yes- terday by the Evening Post job otlice. ENCOURAGING THE STRIKERS. At tne New York Engineers’ Protective Society meeting last night, in Military Hall, resolutions were adopted giving encouragement to the bricklayers, tailors, printers and shoemakers in their efforts to muintain their former rates uf pay. THE BAY RIDGE STRIKERS. The work on the Bay Ridge and Jamaica Railroa which was suspended owing to the strike of the labor- ers for higher wages on last Saturday, was resumed in | part yesterday morning. About eighty Italians con- | sented to work for $1 per day, and the offer was a cepted by the contractor, Mr. Henry Beard. Shortly after about twenty of the strikers, compelled by actual want, took up their sho: nd stepped Into the bank. ‘The others jeered and ho them and the mounted police squad and a detachment of the Eighth sub. precinct police moved up to guard the men who we: at work in the gap. {n the afternoon Thomas Meehai who was slightly intoxicated, made an effort to incite his comrades 40 assault the workmen, but he was quickly arrested and locked up to answer. SAVING THE HARBOR. The Atlantic Yacht Club, at aregular meeting, held atits headquarters, Hamilton Building, Brooklyn, on Monday evening, at which nineteen yachts (five schoon- ers and fourteen sloops) were represented, aaopted unanimousiy the following memorial to Congress :— To mr © Whereas t s organization have, from th daily pursuit of sactting in and ‘about tt port and harbor of New nad visuul asswrance that larce quantities of earch, mut and as cluding the street Sweepings and refuse of the great elty of New York, daily east and dumped into the waters of smd port an harvor aud into the tiudson River, near New York, and they know from their counection with said port and ha ine and the approaches practice is not stopped the har. dor will be so Injured that the great commerciat advantages ‘of the city will be materially lessened, and the large steam- ships now plying between this port and Europe will be una. blo to enter the curbor and the city be cut off trom the urri- ‘Yul of departure of vessels of draaght, and even trom Now, theretore, Atlantic Yacht Ulub thereto, and okly apectiully but earnestly ask the se sentatives of the United States of America in Congress ux sembled to pass the bill entitied “A bill in reiation to the port and harbor of New York and the waters near tho sume,” recently introduced into said House by the Hon. Mr. dSehuiaaker, of this district. . A CASE OF HEART DISEASE. Coroner Eickhoff yesterday held an inquest in the | of No. 640 Lexington avenue. | King was found dead by Oilcer Hawkey, of the Nine- | caso of Leopold King, toenth precinct, on Madison avenue, near Fitty-fith Sircet. An empty blue vial was found clutched in his ght hand, wuich must bave contained Prassic acid. The jury empaueiied was maiuly composed of resi- dents of the vicinity of Mr. King’s late bome, and sone of them were Iriends of the deceased. It brought ina Verdict of heart disease. THE SEVENTH REGIMENT ARMORY. The amount reccived ‘or the proposed new armory of the Seventh regiment up to the present is $70,440. Of | this the regimental subscriptions amount to $42,035; tho veterans of the regiment, $16,705, and citizens, $11,700. ihe toliowing subseriptions have been re- coived from citizens since the last report:—Singer Manutaciuring Company, $1,000; Sheldon, Banks « Co, $250; August Lelmont & Co., $250; William C. Ruinelander, $500; H. Kennedy & Go., $260; Fanshawe & Milliken, $100. INSANE ASYLUM INVESTIGATION. An investigation was commenced yesterday forenoon | by the Law Committee of the Kings county Board of Supervisors of the charge made by an ex-patient of the Flatbush Luratic Asylum, one Henry Desslor, against two employés of the Board of Commissioners of Charities, The complainant's story is to the effect that while he was in a carriage en route to the mad- house he was robbed of $110. This alleged robbery oc- curred on the 11th of October and has since been twico investigaicd. The patient was discharged trom the asylum on the 1éth of January jast He com- plains that though a pay patient he was compelled to make the beds and sweep the floor. Dr Blanchard tesiitied as to the man having made the complaint against his custodians who conveyed him to the institution, Owen Havovan and Francis McGuire, the men who had charge of Dessler im the carriage, testified that the patient had only $46 or $47 in his pocket, and this money they gave to the medical superintendent. This amount was returned to bin when he was discharged from the asylum. ‘The committee will resume their examination on Saturday forenoon, A CONGRESSMAN'S HOUSE ROBBED. General Ward, member of Congress from New York city, is the owner of a mansion at Rosiyn, fronting on the bay, During the past winter the house has been Jeft in charge of the gardener. A few night since the Jatter discovered that some thi and immediately started for assiatavce, but on bis retarn they had je good their escape, Ag examination showed that every lock in the place had been wreachodt off and the house ransacked trom garret to celiar. Tho thieves had also helped themselves irecly to wine and ped The joss cunnot be ascoriained, but it is velieved that they carr: away mech valuable piua- der in their sloop, which lay off 1s irout of the place, said that Mr. Trow, the Directory publisher, bas | es wero in the house, | THE NORWICH ALMSHOUSE FIRE. A GRAPHIC WARRATIVE OF THE DISASTER— SCENES OF HORROR IN THE ATTEMPTS AT RESCUR OF THE INSANE AND THE INFIRM— NAMES OF THE DEAD AND INJURED. Norwica, Conn., March 14, 1876. | The detatled particulars of the burning of the tows almshouse in this city om Sunday night are of a very | heartrending character, | The discovery was made about eleven o’clock by ont on the liquor dealers for selling tiquor within closed | eee 4 of the inmates, who was awakened by the smoke, and who, looking for its source, found that it proceeded from the cellar, where the heating apparatus was situ- ated. He at onee aroused the superintendent, Mr. G. M. Mills, and the two attempted to enter the cellar, but were driven back by the smoke, Despatch- ‘ing the pauper to the city to give | the alarm Mr. Mills proceeded to arouse the occupants of the house. There were fifty-one of these, distributed through a large three story house with several wings, and it was with the greatest aiffi- culty that thig was done, When help arrived flames were pouring from the ground floor of the main build. ing, and in places had worked through to the floor above. Egress from the upper stories had been cut oft, and the horrible fact that a number of poor crea tures were still im the building was shown by the ap pearance of one and another at the windows, A COLORED WOMAN'S JUMP. At one of the dormer windows in the roof, quite thirty feet from the ground, Nancy Raymond, a colored woman, weighing 250 pounds, appeared and shouted and gesticulated wildly. It was a terrible jump to the ground below, but the flerce flames were in the rear, und gathering courage at last she crowded through the | narrow window and dropped. Both of her legs were | broken by the fall, the bones bemg fairiy pormaed: ‘This was ely one of the saonising sights. There were no ladders about the place of sufficient length to reach the higher windows, and though the wretched beings within could be pli seen, nothing could be done to save them. A woman peared ate wiud vin the id sti OMAN ap] at a window in the second story. An old rickety ladder found on the ground was quickly raised, and @ plucky young Irishman ran up it, broke through the casementand dragged the woman out. She was half stifled with smoke and nearly dead from nervous excitement, but revived on being removed to a place of safety, A LUNATIC RESCUED, In the wing, in the second story, was Bartholomew Shugrue, a lunatic eighty years old. A party went to his rese but a heavy fron grating, too hot to touch with the naked hands, ‘prevented them from entering the window, A ladder was hastily converted into ram, and by repeated biows the grating was knocked away. Shugrue seemed stupetied at first and made no outcry; but when the grating was partly displaced he caught hold of it with his hands and bent it back with unvatural strength, bedng himself seriously. A man ran up the ladder and helped him out, and just in time, for as the ladder was thrown aside after their descen: the fire burst into the room. Eight other per- sons were bi from windows by men whose clothes were scorched by the intense heat, A BIRTH OF A QUILD, One unfortunate who was brought from the house and left in a place of safety on the ground, had he-dly been laid there when she gave birth toa child . she ‘was attended by a number of women and was anally removed, with ber infant, to @ place where she could, Le properly treated, FIFTEEN LIVES LOST. At first it was thought that only tour of the inmates had been burned, but the first careful inspection and comparison of the rolls with those saved yesterday morning revealed the horrible fact ‘that | jess than fitteen persons unaccoun’ | for. During the day one these was jound alive and well, and it ts possible that others may | have left the builcing and wandered away; but of this were of there js not much hope. The search for tho was begun as early as possible on Monday moray Before daylight, while the tire companies were still playing upon the burning débris between the walls, two bodies could be seen, lying'as they had fallen when the floors above gave way, but burned beyond the possibility of recognition About nine o’clock a gang of men was put to work to remove the débris and recover the dead, A METHODIST PREACHER’S WIPE, One corpse was délieved by its size to be Mrs, Mary Ann Farrell, a woman sixty years old, who weighed | 300 pounds.’ She was almost wholly paralysed, so help- | less in fact that she was unable to feed herself, Her husband, Patrick Farrel!, jumped trom a window, breaking his mghtarm but escaping without turther | injury. Another body, from the position in which it | lay, was believed to be that of Sirs. Bill, who was in- sane, and was tn that partot the building used as an asylum. She was sixty years of age, and had been of | unsound mind tor thirty years, Her husband was a _ Methodist preacher, but he deserted her unwarrantably and the shock of his cruelty unsettled her reason. | BODY OF A GIRL. | The only other body which could be identified was that of Mary Jane McDonald, a girl about eleven old. Her mother, Mary McDonald, a woman of thirtve five, Was one of those who jumped from the fourth story. Hor collar bone was broken and sho sustained | Severe internal Injuries. She was carried to the po- lice station Sunday night, and as she revived some- what hor first inquiry was for this child. The poor woman was dying with consumption, and her injuries, | which are fatal, can only hasten ber death. She was | told that ber daughter was safe, aud was satisfied, but bar) then rhe asks piteously why she does not come er. A LIST OP THE DRAD. It was believed yesterday morning that filteen were lost, but one of them, Johu Garberry, has since been | heard trom, leaving fourteen unaccounted for. Their pames, so far as they are knowu, are given below. 1t will be observed that they are nearly all very old peo ple, most of them, probably, too feeble to escapo:— Thomas Irons, aged 4 Joseph Martin, aged seventy. Mrs. Philus Perrigo, aged seventy-five, Mrs, Billings, aged seventy, Ellen Willett, aged twelve. Sarah MeNelicy (insa aged sixty. Mary Jane McDonald, id eleven, Mrs. Patrick Farrell, aged sixty. Mrs Bill, aged sixty. Mrs. Wihams, aged thirty-Ove. Mrs. Williams was seen on the roof while the house was burning, but was not rescued. There are three | others said to be missing, whose names cannot be as. | certained certainly, making the entire number not aw | counted for fourteen. | THE WouNDED are 4 Patrick Farrell, aged seventy, right arm broken. Maria Brown, aged Gitty, inveraaly eae Mary Meboaala, aged Vhirty- tee: injured ary MeDoni y-five, injur jnternally, Nancy Raymond, aged filty, both tes broken, ia FIRE ON DAVID'S ISLAND. The United States Military Station at David's Island, | on Long Island Sound, opposite New Rochelle, narrow. ly escaped total destruction by fire yesterday afternoon, ; Some men were burning brush on the island and the flames communicated with one of the government buildings, used as a barrack for the soidiers. The high wind prevailing at the time carried the fire to two other adjoining structures of a similar character, all three of which were destroyed. The timely arrival of the New Rochelle Fire Department prevented the flames from spreading to the remainder of the build- ings, which mast otherwise have been consumed, The loss is estimated at about $500. | FIRES IN JERSEY CITY. The building known as the Glendale House, on Com- munipaw avenue, near the Hackensack River, in Jer- | sey City, caught fire on Monday night, and the flames | guined such headway before the firomen reached the ry vo the building was totally destroyed, The losa 1s $5, | _ A lire also broke out in Hautman’s bakery, on Sher- man avenue, and the build with ite eerg.wee use consumed. The fire extended to an adjoining ry Miller asa fancy goods store and destroyed, occupied by dweiling house, and this building was also The loss on the bakery was 5 ine The loss on Miller's was $2, The residence of Mr. Bushnalt was damaged to the ex teut of $160; fully covered by insurance. Glaubrecht's damaged, | stable and Charles Steer’ nee were also making the total loss $' A $1,500 BURGLARY. . | Captain Tynan, of the Sixteenth Precinct police, re- ported to Superintendent Wailing yesterday thas « burglary had been committed in the dry goods store of S. Sulzbacher, No, 201 Eighth avenue. Entrance was effected through the basement of an adjoining buslaing on Sunday night, and the thieves made their exit by way of the building No. 304 West Twenty-fitth street carrying with them alk, &¢., to the value $1,500, As yet the police have no clew to the robbera, A STUBBORN DRIVER. - New York, March 14, 1876, To THe Epitor oF tHe Heraty:— With your usual sense of justice and impartiality, you will allow me to state in your widely circulated journal a grievance which a number of ladies and on tlemen were foreed to submit to at the bands of one ot our car companies. While coming home from the thea- tre last night at eleven o'clock, inthe Tourteeutn eee cross town car for Christopher street ferry, the passen gers, consisting of twelve gentlemen and bi ladies, congratulated (themselves at the prospect catching the ball-past eleven o'clock boat But, what was oui astonishmeut and indignation, when, minutes, the car stopped and the conductor intormet us, coolly and roughiy, that “there be twenty passen- gers and he only got iifteen farea”” Two how told him that they had each puta twenty. tive cent stamp in the box, He iusisted that he y got one quarter and one ten-cont stamp in paper money.” Te | [ase ghnd bongs hb SH it was only when we se put baa the ear entirel drive along ourselves that this stubborn fellow wari on in fine, we missed the boat ny five minawes I sore that this 18 not the last will be hoard of the ™ several 1nduential citizens of wore at the dm the can,