The New York Herald Newspaper, August 18, 1876, Page 13

8 NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1876—WITH SUPPLEMENT. “THE COURTS. ~ Terrible Charge Against an Am:ri- can Sea Captain, Accused of Murdering Three Sailors for Pastime. MORE DIVORCE DIFFICULTIES. A Batch of Habeas Corpus Cases. A startling series of crimes alloged to havo been | committed on the high seas have just been brought to light through charges made against the captain of an American ship by two of the crew who sailed with him 9 and who say they were eyewitnesses they detail, According to the account of these men—William Skinver, the cook, and Harry Poent, the carpenter—the ship St. Mark, of this port, Captain J. 8. Grindie commander, sailed from Liver- pool tor Coquimbo, Chili, on the Ist of last March, with | @ cargo of coal and a crew consisting of twenty-one men, of whom eleven were green hands, When the ship was a few days out from Liverpool it 18 alleged that the second and third mates and the boatswain be- gan to maltreat the men on tho most trivial pretences, | beating them with ropes, sticks, belaying pins or what- ever else happened to be at hand, und the punishment was continued day ard night und varied to please tho barbarous tastes of the ollicers. Captain Grindle, it is | said, exercised a general supervision over the torture | and at times participated in it actively. One night | during the sixth week Out one of the sailors, called “Long Tom," an unmarried Englishman, about pineteen years of age, it is alleged, was weverely beaten with a rope by Captain Grindle, and the next day he died suddenly. The tnformation | was carried to the Captain while he was at dinner, and be ordered the dead body to be thrown overboard, and be corpse of the untortunate man, halt wrapped in a piece of canvas, was tossed into tho sea without ccre- mony. This casualty, the witnesses say, seemed to produce no effect upon tho officers, for tho crucity con- tinued, and about two weeks after a seaman known as “Soldier” died after being contined to his bunk for several days by his ill-treatment. His body was dis- posed of in the same manuer as that of “Long Tom.” During the latter part of the voyage athird sailor called “Larkegan” was injured by cruel treatment, and just Dejore ihe St, Mark reached Coquimbo, after a paséage of about 100 days, it 18 alleged that be’ was choked to death by the heatswain, and his body was thrown into the forecastle among the men to intimidate them, The thip remained about two months at Coquimbo dis- charging coal, and during this time the boatswain de- served, The Si Mark then sailed tor Callao, Peru, about 800 miles distant, and on reaching this port, the witnesses say, the Captain, fearing consequences to Limsel!, brought charges of cruelty against the second | mate, and suceceded in having him sentenced to im- prisooment for one year. The remainder of the crew, including the third mate, and excepting the cook and earpenter, then deserted, and a mixed crew being shipped the vessel sailed tor the guano islands to take in acargo of guano. Here the first mate, Chase, who is represented to have been an oxcellent officer and innocent of any of the crimes committed, lett the v Aiter the St Mark completed her loading, fhe started on tho homeward voyage, and when out tive or six hours, running along the coast, she drifted in on the heavy reef, and tue anchor being let go too Jate she swung around and struck. This was on the Dight of Saturday, the 8th of July. All bands imme- diately took to the boats and ianded in safety. The bext Morning she vessel parted amidships, the masts went by the board, and on Monday morning there was Dot a trace of her le: The crew a Janding were patd off und discharged, and Captain Grindie, the cook, and the carpenter camo to this city on the Pacific Mail steamer Colon, which arrived last Monday, During the greater part of the voyage of the St Mark the Captain, according to the complaint, was intoxicated, and the vessel was lost through his faulty seamanship. On an afiidavit being made to the above effect before Aesistant United States Attorney Puliman a warrant was issued by Commissioner Shields for the arrest of Grindle. He was found yesterday afternoon at the United States Hotel by Deputy Marshals Crowley and Harris, and taken before Commissioner Shields He was hold in $10,000 bailto await cxamination. He says that the story is a put up job of the sailors. Captain Gapdle is said to be the brother of the retired sea captain of tho name who disappeared a few days since, and of Dr. H. D. Grindic, whose name baa figured uupleasantly in newspaper reports, Cyptain Grindle was tried before Judge Woodruff, on the 271h of February, 1871, on a charge of cruel ‘and unusual punishment’ He was defended by ex-Judge Fullerton and acquitted on a technicality, the jury finding a ver- diet of not guilty under the statute and the ruling, but guilty of crucity. Judge Woodruff decided this to be B verdict of not guilty. Grindle was discharged. MATRIMONIAL UNPLEASANTNESS, Argument upon the motion for alimony in the case of Votet vs. Votet was continued yesterday before Judge J. F. Daly, im tho Court of Common Pleas A volume of affidavits on both sides were submitted, charging and contradicting the alleged abandonment pf the husband by the wife, and the allegation of the wile of cruel and inhuman treatment by tho plaintiq, her husbavd. The history of the married life of the couple was extensively ventilated, and if the numer- ous affidivats on bebalf of the plaintif aro anything | liko being strict trath his matrimonial experiences are not to be envied, The parties movo in the better cir- cies of society, tho husband's relatives and friends re- viding in thiscity and those of the wife in Chicago. appearing upon the motion are that they were married on June , having ‘met by chance,” and upon a limited ‘courtship of a fow weeks. It was ‘supposed to be at the time a cuse of first sight,” so hastily was the auptial the plainti, contrary to the prudent ec relatives, refusing to delay its consummation until the asual family negotiations were observed. According hostulties by maliciously blowing cigar asbes into the cyes of his spouse and “smash ber heaa’’ and otherwise di ing a very handsome woman she str sly protested against this, and, as the plantif » aew, Without this oF ther provocation ‘she ¢ ried ‘the war into Africa’” at once, and has continued to ®oge it unceasingly ever since. This, however, pl Uf says he was willing to forgive, but he was not w ing to submit to the fraud that was practised upon him | by the defendont in marrying bim, she being, as ho eays, incapable of entering tnzo the marriage state at that’ time and bas ever since so continued. On the 20th of July last, by the advice of her counsel, sbe suddenly and secretly iled from bor home and ber husband, carrying with her ail the | elegant furniture and property owned by them in com- mon, having been presented to them as a wedding Present and bousenold outit from their iriends. There- Upon, driven to the wall, the basband commenced suit to annul the marriage, on the ground stated by his tounsel, Messrs. Gearon & Gibbons, wheroupon sbe at | once applied for amony and counsel fee to maintain | her defence. This motion has been three days before tue Court, and is botly contested by the parties. It finaily argued ‘and submitted yesterday, after nd forcible arguments by Mr. Gearon ‘for the tiff, opposing, and Mr. Robinson for the defendant, 1m favor of the motion, The Judge took the papers and reserved his deeision. AS CORPUS CASES. Thore was a rush of habeas corpus cases yosterday before Judze Donohue, in Sapreme Court, Chambers, Foremost in importance was the case of Mra. Sophia H. Driggs and her stepson, Alfred P. Driggs, charged with stealing several hundred dollars’ worth of jowelry from Mrs, La Rue, athor bowrding house in Clinton piace, The original charge polsouing Mra. La Rue fell to the ground on the post mortem examination fel. towing Mrs. La Rae's death having failed to detect tho presence of any porsou. As tharge of stealing the jewelry, now to sustain it, they wore diecharged. aimed Phit- who have been committed as vagrants by Police Justice Murray and age, sent tothe Cathotic Protectory. They were found in the Kast River, and arrested for exposing themselves, The counsel jor their parents, at whose solicitation the writ of habeas corpus was obtained, | that there was notbing ip the vagrant act atbing, and asked that they be di ‘aid he must see tho record and in the ‘was an application so discharge on bail William Haskins, on the ground that he was -to be Stato’s evi- dence against Samuel Cobb, a follow prisoner, the charge against them being forgery, of a $1,000 Eric City ‘Water bond. There being no opposition the applica. tion was granted. Last onthe list wns the caso of George Harrison and Henry Stowart, who bave figured lately m the papers as “boarding house raiders” Mr. William F. Howe, thoir counsel, said he wished to pre. pare additional papers, and asked an adjournment to epable bim to do 80, which was granted. SUMMARY OF LAW CASES. Findings of fact and conclusions of Jaw in the suit brought by the Ninth Avenue Railroad Company against tho Elevated Railroad Company, including Judge Van Hoesen’s opinion, were yesterday filod im be court, 4 | costs, | of error is brought. | national banking ac | right of a bank to incur abilities in the reguiar course Suits have been begun inthe United States District Jourt against the following defendants and their eure- ses om warebonse bonds:—Jay Cooke and others, $20,000; F. Westray, $7,700; P. F. Logan, three cases, $9,100, $6,400 and $12. 000, Growing out of the old Mitchell divorce suit, the widow of Jobn I. Miteheil, the former plaiouf, has brought suit against the execetors for about $70,000, which sbe claims to have advanced to her husband during twenty-nine years of their married life, Mo- tion was mare yesterday before Judge Donohue to | strike out a portion of the complaint as irrelevant, on | the ground that it demanded both legal ana equitable relief. Judge Donohue, to whom the motion was made, took the papers, DECISIONS, SUPREME COURT—CHAMBERS. By Judge Donohue, Taylor vs. Bickard.—Order gran In the matter of Denison. —Writs dismissed; prisoner remanded, COMMON PLFA®—SPECIAL TERM, By Judge J. F. Daly. Hanson et al, vs. Clausen,—Motion granted. Seo opinion. | Keteitas vs. Walsh.—Motion denied with $10 costs to abide event. See opinton. Jitburn vs, Brandt —Order settled, inebl vs. Diehl.—Application denied; the petitioner | ye her claiin against the estate in the regular way, The New York Elevated Ratlroad Company vs. Place Motion granted, with $10 Jacob. vs. Jacob.——Order allowed. Casey vs, Van Tile. —Motion granted, See memoran- dum. Cleary va, Brewster. —-Motion denied, as theamended answer raises an issue which should not be tried on afidavits; $10 costs of motion to abide event Walker vs. tho New York Ceniral Goal Company of alne of the services sued for is n gross I must regard as one itein esch claim for a gross eum; these numbers of items do hot make it necessary to refer the cause, Motion de- nied, with $10 costs to abide event. MARINE COURT —CHAMBERS, By Judge Sheridan. Rohnhoimer vs. Ottenger.—Motion denied, with $10 Maryland.—As the estimated at sum: Franosch vs, Arens —Motion granted. Baceei vs. Bardellt,—Motion gravted, upon defend- ant giving security in the sum of $200 to pay ny judg neut recovered; $10 costs of motion to abide the it. Wagener vs. Gross. —Motion denied, with $10 costs to defendant (Gross). Goedz er vs. Young.—John J, Friedman appointed referee. Morrow vs. Strang. —Bond approved. Schnell vs. Fischer.—Philp Merkle appointed re- cer Bach va. Reynolds.—Lewis Hessburg appointed re- ceiver. Benedict vs, vs. Adams; ans; Gr'swold vs. Fender; Furst; Kehoe vs Sanxay va. 'Coar; Couway vs’ Broshn; FE Beyer; Ward vs. Hastings; Graft vs. Dutchard; Gris- wold vs. Tompkins; Morrick vs, Adams; Levy va Lassar; Allis ys. Moore; Walsh vs, Lewis, and Mor- sison v8, Levino,—-Orders granted, POLICE COURT NOTES. Dr. J. W. Rice, house surgeon of Roosevelt Hospital, sent a letter to Justice Kasmire, at the Fifty-seventh Street Police Court, yesterday, informing him that tho three laborers who were assaulted by Patrick Cody, in West Fifty-sixth street, were still in a precarious con- dition, and would in’all probability remain so for sevoral days. Tho principal danger, he says, results from secondary inflammation. ‘Annie Middlebrook, a woman of ill tame, was yester- day held for trial by Justice Murray, at the Tombs, on a charge of stealing $90 trom James H. Pugh, a married man, residing at No. . Brooklyn. Pugh Was sent to the House of Detention. COURT CALENDAR—THIS DAY. Surrue Covrt—Cnamners—Held by Judge Dono- bue.—Nes. 1, 61, 62, 73, 84, 92, 96, 107, 124, 166, 167, 208, 209, 268,'279, 287, 293, 209, 305, IMPORTANT DECISIONS. THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECIDING ON MATTRES OF CONSIDERABLE INTEREST TO BUSINESS MEN. WasunGton, August 17, 1876, The following cascs were decided in the Supromo Court here to-day :— PAROL CONTRACT TO ACCEPT A BILL OF EXCUANGE. No, 3&—William H. seudder, piaintifl iu error, vs, Tho Union National Bank of Chicago, In error to the Circuit Court for the Northern District of Hhnots. The | only serious question in the case is presented upon tho objection to the admission of evidence, aud to the charge of the judge. Upon the merits the case 1s this:— ‘The plaintitl below sought to recover irom the tirm of Henry Ames & Co., of St. Louis, Mo., the amount of a | Dill of exchange ‘of which the following is a copy, vig (88,125.) Cnrcaco, July 7, 1871, Pay to the order of the Union National bank ‘aluo received, and churge it to the account uf Leland & Hasbueb, To Mossrs. Hkxay Amxs & (o., St. Louis, Mo. By tho direction of Ames & Co., Loland & Har- bach had bought for them and, on the 7th ot July, 1871, shipped to them, at St. Louis, 300 barrels of pork, and gave their check on the Union Bank to Han- cock, the seller of the same, for $5,000. Leland & Harbach then drew thy bili in question, and sent tho same by their clerk to the Union Bank (the plaintiff below) to be piaced to their credit. The bank declined to receive the bill unless accompanied by the bill of jeading or other security. the clerk returned and ro- ported accordingly to Leland & Harbaca. One of the firm then directed the clerk to return to the bank and say that Mr Seudder, ono of the firm of Ames & Ca, (the drawees) was then in Chicago ana Lad authorized the drawing of the drait; that it was drawn against 600 barrels ot pork that day bought by Leland & Har. bach for them and duly shipped to them. The clerk returned to the bank, and made this statement to its vice president, who thereupon, on tho faith ot t statement that the bill was authorized by the defendant, discounted the same, and the proceeds were placed to the credit ot Leland & Harbach. Out of the proceeds the check given to Hancock for the pork was paid by the bank. The direction to inform the bank that Mr. Scudder was in Chicago and had authorized the draw- ing of the draft was made in the presence and in the hearing of Mr. scndder and without objection by him, The point was raised in various forms upon the aa- mniesion of evidence and upon the charge of the judge, whether, upon this state of facts. the firm of Amos & Co., the defendants, were lable to the bank for the amount of the bill, ‘The jury, under the charge of the judge, held them to be Hable, and it ts from the judg: meut entered upon that verdict that the present writ The question 16 discussed in the appellant's briet and properly, as if the direction tothe cierk had been given by Seudder in pereon, The jury were authorized to consider the direction in his name, in bis presence and hearing witbout objection 2y hin, as mide by himself. The objection reed on is that tho transaction amounted, at most, toa parol promise to accept a bill of exchange then in existence. It is insisted that such & promise does not bind the defendants. Tho suit ts to recover upon the aliesed acceptance or upon the refusal toaccopt, Being in the State of litinois and the cootract ving been made in that State, the judgment is to be ven according to the law of that State. The law of ected place of pertormazice, should there bo a yields to the lex fori and the lex loci con tractus Matters bearing upon the execution, the in- terpretation and the validity of a contract are deter- | ned by the law of the pluce where the contract is | Matters connected with its pertormance are regulated by the low prevailing at the place of per. | Matiers respecting the remedy, such as the bringing of su ability of evidence, statutes of limitation, depend upon tbe Jaw of the place where the suit is brought. A enreful examination of the well considered de- cisions of this country and of England will sustain these postions. There 18 no statute oi (he State of [hots that Fequires an acceptance of a bill of exchange to be in writing, oF that probibits a parel promise to accept a Dill ofexenange, On the contrary, a parol acceptance | and @ parol promise to accept are valid it: that State, | and the deeisions of Its higbest court hold that a parol promise to accept a bill isan acceptance thereof, If this be #0, no question of jurisdiction or of contlict of Jaws arises. The contract to accept was not only mado jo Libnots, but the bill was then and there actually accepted in illinois as perfectly as if Mr. Scudder had written an acceptance across its face and signed thereto the name of the firm. Tho contract to accept the bill was not to be performed in Missouri, It had already by the promise been performed in Iilinols, The con- tract to pay was, indeed, to ve periormed im Missouri, but that was a different contract from that of accept- ance. Justice Hunt delivered the opinion, A BANKING SUIT. No. 192—The First National Bank of Charlotte, larntuY ia error, vs. The National Exchange Bank of Raltimore, In error to the Court of Appeals of she State of Maryland. The question presented for our consideration in this case is whether jonal benk, organized under the may, 1 bond Ade com- promise of a contested claim against it, growing out of @ legitimate banking transaction, pay ® larger sum than would have been exacted in satisfaction of the demand, so as to obtain by the arrangement a transior ks in railroad and other corporacions, it heved at the time that by turning stocky into money. under more favorable eircum: | ces than then existed, a loss which would other- wise accrue {rpm the transaction might be averted or diminished. Such, according ty the fnuing below, was the state of facts out of which thie sait has arisen. That finding is conclusive upon us A pational bank can “oxereise by its board of di- Fectors, or duly authorized oficers or agents, subject to Jaw, all such incidental powers as shall bo necessary to carry on tho busincss of bonking by discounting and negotiating promissory notes, drafts, bills of ex. change and other evidences of debt, by receiving de- posits, by baying and selling exch jon, by loanihg monoy oo personal security and by ob- istuing and cireuiating notes.” (lev, Stat., 15 Stat, 101, see. 8) Anthority is thus given ‘to transuct euch a banking | ness aS ts specified, and all incidental powers neces- sory to carry it on are granted. These powers aresuch | ag are required to moet all che legitimate demands of the authorized business and to enabie a bank to con- duct its affairs within the general scope of its charter safely avd pradeptiy, This necesserily implies tho i A of 8 business as well as to become the creditor of others Its own obligations mast be mot and debts due to {t collected or secured. The power to adopt reasonable and appropriate measures for these pur- poses Is in incident to the pawer to imeor tho lability or become the creditor. Obligations may be assumed that result unfortanately. Loans or discounts may be | said Mr. Cowing. | by malice on the part ot made that cannot be met at maturity. Compromixes to avoid or reduce losses aro ofientimes the necessary results of this coadition of things. These compro mise@s come within the general scope of the powers committed to the board of directors and the officers aod agents of the bank, and are submitted to their judgment and discretion, except to the extent that they are restrained by the cbarter or by-laws. Banks may do, in this bebalf, whatever nataral persons could do under like circumstances, To some extent it has been thought expedient in the tional Banking act to limit this power. Thus, as to estate, it is provided (Rev. Stat, sec. 5,13%, 13 ‘Stat., 107, sec. 25) that it may be ed ip good faith as security for or in payment of debts previously con- tracted, but if aczepted in payment it must nov be re- tamed more than five years. So while = bank 1s ex- pressly prohibited (eec. 5,201, 13 Stat. 110, sea, 35) from loaning money upon or purchasing its own stock, special authority 1s given for the acceptance of 1s shares ns security for and in payment of debts previously contracted in good faith, but all shares purebased under this power mast be again sold or dis- posed of at private or public sale within six months from the time they are acquired, Dealing in stocks is not expressly probibited, but such a probibition is implied from the failure to grant the power. In the honest exercise of the power to compromise a doabtful veot owing to a bank it can hardly be doubted that stocks may be accepted in pay- ment and satisiaction, with a view to their subsequent sale or conversion into Money #0 ag to make good or reduce an anticipated loss, Such a transaction would not amount to a dealing im stocks. (Flecker vs. Bank U. S, 8 Wheat, 361.) But, of course, such transactions must be compromises in good faith and not mere cloaks or ces to cover un- authorized practices. A debt due from, or a contested obligation resting upon) a bank, it is said, does not oceupy any different position in respect to this power of adjustment and compromisegirom that of a cebt owing to it Whatever may be done in one case to avoid Joss in legitimate business may be done in the | other under the same circumstances, A{firmed, The Chict Justice delivered the opinion. ELEVATED RAILWAY PROSPECTS. THE WORK TO BE PUSHED ON THE EAST BIDE— CHEERING PROSPECTS FOR THE GILBERT RAll- WAY COMPANY. “Woll; Mr. Cowing,” said a Henaxo reporter yester- doy to the Secretary of the New York Elevated Rait- road Company, ‘at last it looks as if you were about ‘out of the wilderness’ of legal technicalities and had a clear future to give the public the great dosidera- tom—rapid transit,” Mr. Cowing smiled aud an- awered:—“Yes, we aro making progress; we aro not quite out of the wilderness, but we are on the border and can cateh the giimmer of the hight beyond.” Mr. Cowing then proceeded to describe the difliculties in the way of completing the connection across the Bat- tery with South ferry. Mr. Jeromlah Spaeder, resid- ing on Staten Island, has obiained an injunction, The company apphed to the courts for its dissolution or for an order compelling the complainant to file a bond of indemn| ‘The Court granted an order dissoiving tno 1on to-day unless Spaeder meanwhile gave secu- rily eatistactory to the delendants, Yesterday Spaeder filed a bond of $5,000, with Charles Woill, ot No, 252 si fty-third street, and Jucob Adier, of No. 237 sureties in $10,000 each. are now investigating the sufliciency of these surcties,”” “Iu the event of the injunction bet jissolved to-morrow we should bavo the track completed to South ferry as quickly as possible. ‘Tho columns, girders, iron, &c., are ali ready to be put in, aud the convection could be compieted ina week. Then we wilt push the completion of the east side line as rapidly us possible, and if we are not delayed by in- junctions in tho interests of the horse car companies ‘wo can buud the road through Front street, Coenties slip, Peari street, New Bowery, Bowery and 1 nue to the Grana Central depot betore July 1. & thing is ready to put a large force of men at work so soon as Spaeder’s injunction is dissolved. On the west side we have men to-day at work, and expect to com- plete the Twelfth streot switch before daylight to-mor- row. This will give us 2,000 feet of doubie track. We have switches in progress at Liberty, Houston, Twenty- first and Fifly-lirst streets, which can be fiuished in twenty days, that will give us over two miles of the five mile double track we propose to build, Nothing interrupts the compiction of these switches but the Patten injunction, which will come up at the trial term of the Court of Common Pleas in October.”’ Mr. Cowing gave the following comparatiye statemont of passengers carried for three months in 1575 and 1876 :— 1876. Increase, 180,617 105,896 175,180 106,215 91,943 THE GILBERT BLEVATED ROAD. General Wilson, of the New York Loan and Improve- ment Company, which proposes to build the Gilbert Elevated Railroaa, reports progress. The West Third Strect section is completed, and work is progressing on ali parts of the route except on Sixth avenuc, where they were injoined at tho suit of the Sixth Ave- nue Railroad Company. The iron work {6 ail under contract, and if this injunction be dissolved the company can finish the road from the Battery to Central Vark in from ninety days to four months. All tho capital that is necessary has been subscribed and artially paid in, and the ouly stumblingblocks to be feared wre injnuctions The iron shves, which are to be sunk 1n pits cight jeet square, varying in depth, and tn which the ends of the supporting columns are to be laced, lic along Grand street, South Filth avenue and Vest Third strect, Tho foundations are cug in pairs at opposite sides of the strect. Upon West Third street the framework of iron is op and men are laying the ties A steam engine on a platiorm which can be moved forward as it is necessary to change its position, is employed to raise the heavy girders to the top of the columns. Trusses aro laid betweon the columns, par- | allet to the sidewalks, and on these trusses rest smalicr girders crossing trom sidewalk to sidewalk. Upon these are boited the stringers, aud again connecting the stringers are the ties. Upon the tes will be laid the rails. Tho: work is going on briskly on West Third street, and on South Fifth avenue, between West Third street and Spring street, THE LETTER CARRIERS’ PAY. Mr. James Guyler, General Superintendent of the City Delivery of the New York Post Office, left for Washington last evening, having in charge the two petitions for an increase of the pay of tho lettor car- riers of this city. Ono of thom is signed by every carrjer in the department, and to the other some 60,000 citizens have attached thor signatures, This number includes nearly all of the prominent business men, not one of whom required a second invitation to indorse the petition, Mr. Gayler will present both of these to the Postmaster General, together with tho following letter froin Postmaster Jamed:— Hon. James W. Trxun, Postmaster G 1 Stit—L have been requested by the Wetter carriers em- ployed at this otfice and its branches to be the bearer ot ® petition te ation ot thoit sal- fixed prior to the ‘al Jewell in Septem ed with this request departure from vy the bearer, Delivery here, wi will’ present the ne to you. en that it fs unnecessary for commend the prayer of 1 petitioners to your earnest attention, and I can conscien- tiously certity to the correctness oF the statements which they present in support of their request, more especially as labor and prolonged hours of Tentortain no their request, . periorimed by ct \. ndered; nd practicable you may tion herewith present THOMAS L, JAME daylor, liko the Postmaste thy with the action of tie the case betore Postmaster Gene! and favorubie light as he posit Very respect- . Postnaster, is in strong sympa- I Tyner im as clear ycan. Tho result of | his mivston will be anxiously awaited by a body of 429 faithtul and deserving public servauts, THE TABLES TURNED. James Reilly, of No. 222 East Thirty-seventh street, Was brought before Justice Kasmire at the Fifty: seventh Sircet Police Court, yesterday, on a charge of stealing wearing apparel, the property of Terenco MeGuire, of No. 330 Kast Thirty-tith street. McGuire aud Keilly were drinking on Tuesday might in the house of the former, but in the inidst of their revelry Reiliy became tnargnant at some word of MeGuire, and lett the apartments. McGuire met Retliy on Wedocsday night, and, charging him with robbing him of a quan- Uly of Wearing apparel, attempted to strike him with a giass tumbler that Jayon the table, Officer Hames arrested Retily on a sharge of larceny, preferred by McGuire, MeGuire did not, however, appear, and it wus thus discovered that the complaint was suggested MeGuire, Justice Kasinire caused him to be arraigned in court on a ebarge ot attempted assauit upon Kellly, and on this he was fined $10 and held in $300 to keep the peace, in default of bail Lo be sent to the Isiand lor three months, MeGuire 18 a brother of Francis McGuire, who wbout a week ago 60 brutally murilored bis wite with a batener knite, UICIDE. OT A To tux Eprron ov Tae Herat Noticing a publication m the Hsratp, on Monday 14th inst., of the “provable suicide” of Mr. Jobn G Devoy, of Brooklyo, on Thursday, 10th inst, at Cen- treport Harbor, Huntington, allow me to ask you, as & favor and in consideration of the feehngs of his afflicted widow and friends, to contradict the erroneous statement. Mr. Devoy was a resident of Brooklyn; was a leader of singing at the Mayllower Mission, and one ot the choir of tne Rev. H. W. Beecker’s church. Deceased had recently removed to Centreport to re- main until October i, He took an active part im the sabbath schools uring his sojourn there; was vory bostly engaged making arrangements for ‘a festival, whieh was to have taken place during the month. health wos in a very precarious state when be lott Brooklyn; was nnproving and becoming deeidediy better In hoalth and spirits by the change, and not at all disspiriied, ax your notice stated. It is supposed that wuile bathing he was taken with cramps or with a spell ot coughing and, boing alone, he had not sufll- cient strength to combat with the water; consequently vecame powerless and was drowned. ' The Coroner from Huntington, L. 1., rendered a verdict of acei- dental drownag, He had sent for his wile, and was during tho afteraoon, Sho pana LS pide og Maer = after his remains wero iscovered on the beach. Very res sully, y Broow.ys, August 15, 1878” vein “We | OUR TELEGRAPH WIRES. President Orton on the Western Union Company's Position, NO CHANCE OF UNDERGROUND WIRES, The Fire Telegraph Poles a Relic of the Tweed Regime. THE EUROPEAN SYSTEMS. The two recent deaths by the fall of rotten telegraph poles having caused such a popular outery for the remo- val of these poles, it becomes a serious matter now how this demand isto be met, The genoral impression is | that the companies are responsible for the accidents, A rumor bas algo been 1n circulation that ft is the in- tention of the Western Union Telograph Company to abolish the present system of poles altogether and to lay the wires underground. In connection with both these matters a IIBRALD reporter yesterday bad a con- vereation with Mr. Orton, President of tbe Western Union Telegraph Company, from tho substance of which, a8 given below, it will bo scen that public opin- jon is entirely at variance with his views in regard to the telegraph companies and the chances of having the wires Jaid underground. The object of the reporter’s visit having been ex- plained, Mr. Orton said emphatically that no serious accident had ever happened to any citizen from the telegraph poles of the Western Union Company. Theso poles were always kept in a safe and sound condition and were in no way a cause of uneasiness to citizens, The two accidents which recently occurred were not in any way connected with the Western Union Company. The responsibility, whatever it was, belonged elaewhere, Ho might say that the Western Union Company would not take a present of, or have in use at all, the mate- rial belonging to tho city government for its telegraph purposes. The city telegraph line was put up under the Twoed régime, Now, he could not do better, in speaking of this matter, than to repeat what he had said when before the Committee on Appropriations at Washington, in 1872, on the subject of the postal tcle- graph:— Mr. Chart T. Chester nover constructed but one tele- nd that was builtin the eity of New York within It is the Fire Alarm Telegraph of that had the curiosity to investixate Mr, Shester's Fire Alarm ‘Telegraph, and bave ol tained from the Fire Department an inventory of the prop- erty which he put into it, and, trom the Comptroller of the city the bill which he prevented to the city for it. He erected 625 miles of wire, and lis bill tur it, on filo to- day the office of tl of the city of New York, is \ Mr, Cbarles T. Chester, wh Postmaster General saya can be bullt for $11.83) 00) for eightoen and & quarter milli nim import his wire free of you will let hich Mr. C! dnty— harios T. Chester charges the city of New York, the te h lines in the United sti would amount to'$238,000.000 | There were eighty mil of poles. In fact, the poles havo been “erected in many cases entirely without cost to the telegraph companies by the railroads along whoso track they aro bnilt.”” * * * (I fail to see how that affects the question of their value.) Tue cont of w new systein, equal an would, at the above rates, be $11,880, “The inference is that the poles in use by the city are not sound or safe?” “Exactly. The work was no doubt a job some- where.’” extent to the present, 000," UNDERGROUND WIRES, “Asto laying the wires underground,” Mr. Orton said, “I do not believe that, within this present cen- arriers, and wil present + Mis | tury, thero will be underground wires in the United States.”” “In London underground wires are used to alarge extent, ure they not ?”” . “Yes, but the two cities are entirely unlike in their wants and facilities, In London all the railroads con- vergo to within a short distance of eacu other, and the wires accompany the railroads. There aro numbers ot private telegraph companies with wires over the house tops, The placing of poles in the streets, from the covsiruction of these streets, would be an impossi- bility, and hence usderground wires aro used whero poles or tho housetops cannot vo utilized conventeutly. But underground lines are not the rale in London or in the large European cities.’ “Aro you not at the present time making an experi- ment in laying an wuderground wire?” “Only m connection with the pneumatic tubes be- tween the central office and the branch offices down town, The pipes are laid, but the wires havo not ar- rived from Europe. The object is to institute a scientific test.” “The telegraph companies aro blamed for accidents on roofs of houses caused by the wires?” “The Western Union Company gives, if asked, a guarantee for any damage that may be done by its wires, in every case, We always promise and are will- img to keep in order every roof over which our wires pass. No aceidents have ever happened trom our wires which could not be expected in ordinary, every day surroundings. ’” AN INTERESTING STATEMENT. The reporter then callod on Mr. George B. r’reseott, the electrician to the Western Union Telegraph Company, for information relative to under- ground telograph lines, and that gentleman very courteously furnished abundant — statistics, It will bo seen that tn the majority of cases where underground wires have been tried they havo been found to be a failure. The following interesting facts are suinmarized:—The first underground tele- raph line was built in England, on the Great Western muiway, between Paddington and Drayton, thirteen miles, in 1839. It consisted of six copper wires, cov- ered with homp and pl din an iron tabe an inch and a haif im diameter. The water got into the tube and destroyed the insulation, and the tube had to be subsequently suspended on posts above the ground, The first telegraph line ever built in this country (between Washington and Baltimore) was in- tended to have been laid undergound. Four No. 16 copper wires, covered with cotton and shellac were drawn into lead pipes and ten miles ot the cable wero laid from Baltimore to the Relay Hoye, but the experi- ment proved a totai failure from lack of insulation, and poles had to be used. This was in lt4; In 1856 ten mniles of underground line were built on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard with gutta percha insulation, This also proved to be a failure, and since then no nderground Ines have been built in this country. ‘The first extensive system of underground lines was laid in Prossia, In 1887 an onderground Hino of four miles between Berlin and Gross. Bereen was laid with gutta perch# insulation which was succeseful. In the same and the following | Yer more than one thousand miles of gutta percha Coated line wire was laid down undergrouna, These wires were encased in lead pipe fitting close thereto and buried In the ground about two feet. Afer they had been Jaid down a few years much difficulty was ex Pperienced in working them, arising from defective in- sulation and repairs Uecame necessary continually. The interruptions for examinations of the buried wires became annoying and expensive and the government ordered the underground system to be abandoned and the wires placed upon poles. In 1850 thers were 2,643 miles of underground wires m operation in Prugsia 210 additional under construction, all of which ced by limes on poles within the succeeding ears, ing had been eaten away by the acids of the earth, thus exposing the gutta percha to the action ef the atinosphere, which quickly decom poses it and thus leaves the wire without insulation. Gutta percha kept in water is, so far as now known, | tudestructible, but when exposed to the air it decom: aot time aud crumbles Like old putty. ssia established an underground line from sburg to Moscow, but the government w: tto abandon it and erect the wires on poles In Denmark lines wero Jard as in Russta and Prussia, botin 1854 were abandoned and the wires placea on poies. The first extensive underground aystem of ines in England was commenced in 1862, and con- sisted in the placing of tron and earthenware pipes under ground along tho lines of the various railways, and subsequently of drawing loose cables, which were composed of copper wire, insulated with gutta percha, taped, tarred and sanded. The cables were in quarter mile’ lengths and test box ero placed at every = mi! The work was soon ure from the same canses as operated in Russia, Prussia and = Denmark. In 1853 the Magnetic Telegraph Compony built an underground Ine between London and Manchester, consisting of a cable containing ten wires vias laid in grooved boarding along the Dighway, The wires were No. 16 copper, in- sulated with gutta percha No. 3 gaugo The work was executed with tho greatert care, and no ex was spared to make itu permanent success, Yet, a few years alter completion, WIRES CONTINUALLY FAILED, and the eabies were finally abandomed, The faults which led to this were:—First, cables lying im «ry, sanuy places, the gutta percha dried up aus contracte!, leaving cracks for inotsture to percoute through. Sec- ond, in dirty, stagnant water, gutta percha became Porous and rotten Third, i@ngi, especially near oak trces, formed ou the gutta pereba and destroyed it. Fourth, near gas pipes the gas water penetrated and eked the gnita percha, causing and open cear through to the wire, both longitudinal and transverse, Ftith, rot! gutta percha under the Irad nambors. th ground work in the Iste of Wight consisted of bare india robber covered wire, put down without any protection whatever, The wires were abandoned in a iew years afterward. The wires of the British Company, six in number, iaid underground between Loadon and Liver- pool, were atandoned ina very fow years after boing lard, one of them never baving worked at all, “The most ¢ hic engineers and AG examination of the buried lines | electricians of all countries,” continued Mr, Prescot. ia which updergrovnd wires bi been used aro United in the opipion that, thus tar at least, their use has been attended with very unsatistactory results, and that no method of construction yet devised bas maintained underground wires in working order for any length of time.” ‘The underground system is now aimost entirely con- fined to the large cities, and in these is used only toa very limited extent. The wires are brought into the cities as far as the railway stations on poles, and thence aro carried underground to the tel stations, the extent of underground wire in the large cities being therefore small as compared with the overhead lines, In London the South Eastern, Lon- aon, Chatham and Dover and London, Brighton and South Coast railways, all terminate at the Cannon Street station, within a third of a mile of the General Telegraph Office in St. Martin’s le Grand, and the wires are all carried on as faras tbe Cannon street station. The short distanco thence to the Central Telegraph station is traversed by uuderground lines, The same applies to the Paddington station and Ens- ton square, The system of underground lines in England at the present time embraces abvut 3,000 miles of wire out of a total mileage of tolegraph line of about 150,000. ENGLISH UNDERGROUND LINES. Mr. Prescott gives the following description of tho construction of the underground lines in Nogland:— “The conductors usually employed for anderground ines consist of No. 18 copper wire, covered with guttapercha to the gauge of No. 7. In order vo keep the guttapercba from the atmosphere, the exposure to which would cause it to crack and decay and thus destroy the insolation, it is tarred and then covered with jinen tape and tarred again, The preparation of tar through which which the guttavercha and taped. wire 1s crawn is: i of one quart of raw lin- seerl oil to two gallons of Stockholm tar, and {s apptied warm. The wires when thus prepared are cut ito lengths of 400 yards, and as many as are required to bo laid in one tube are made into a loose cable and tied to- gether with tape at distances of six feet apart When the wires are drawn into the tubes the tapes are re- moved and the wires permitted to lay Joosely in the pipes. The tubes into which the wires are drawn ar6 cast iron socket pipes of two, three and four inches in diameter, the size employed depending upon the num- ‘of wires to be laid down, the two-inch pipe holding twenty-five wires, tho three inch seventy wires and the four-inch 120 wires. The pipes are laid down under the flagetones of the sidewalks, near the gutters, at an aver- age depth of twenty inches, and the joiots are flied ‘with lead. Ovlong drawing or flush boxes made of cast fron, 30 incbes long by 11 inches wide and 12 deep, with lids formed of on iron frawe, into which a piece of flagstone 1s fixed, are placed undor the side- walk near the curbing at distance of 1) yards in the city of London and 100 yards in other paris of London, Tho pipes enter these boxes through a curved aperture hear the bottom, which is open, As the pipes ure laid down an tron wire of No, 8 gauge strung through inwith, When the wires are down they are tied into loose cables, as above described, in lengths of 400 yards each, and brought to the middle of a section of 400 yards of tubing. One end of the cable 1s then attached at the flush box to the iron wire extending through the pipe iu one direction and the othor end of the cableto a similar wire extending through the pipe tn the oppo- site direction. The cable is then drawn through both sections at the same time—a distance of 400 yards— the greatest distance that any part ot the cable has to be drawn in tho tube being 200 yards. The wires are numbered at each 400 yards and the boxes are arranged ‘ko that the joints and numbers aro always in the box. The wircsa may bo replaced in the pipes jor repairs or other purposes at any time without interrupting con- nection or disturbing the pipes, When a section is found to be defective and to require removal a cable of wires of the required length is brought to a box near the defective wire and inserted ina luop between it and the next section and as the defective piece Is drawn out of the pipe tho new piece is drawn in, Extra wires are always prozided when new wires are drawn iu, 60 that renowal is not required until several wires have failed. It is impossible to draw out a portion of the wires without injuring the coating and thereby destroying the insulation. Heneo when renewal becomes necessary all the wires in the section are re- } placed. The pipes aro well clecned and tarred inside while hot, in order to prevent rust, which causes the wires to adhere go Firongly to the iron as to become dificult to detach them, The cost of laying down threo-inch cast iron socket ptpe for underground wires in London is about $1 por yard, or $1,700 per mile. ‘This includes the cost of the pipe and jointing with lead, the taking up of the pavement, putting the pipe in place and repaving. The cost per wire for drawing in tne pipes depends somewhat upon the number of wires contained in the pipes. The average cost of put- ting sixty wires if a pipe, including jointing avd all other incidental work, 1s $280 per mile, Tue cost of condacting wiro for underground lines consisting of seeps wire of No. 18 gauge, covered with gutta percha, to No, 7 gauge, taned and tarred, is $85 per mile. Tho total cost per mile ior sixty underground wires is about $7,000, or about $117 per mile of wire. “Since the English telegraphs have gone into tho hands cf the government a new underground line has been laid down between Liverpool and Manchester, consisting of fourteen conductors, laid in iron and stonet pipes. The length of ‘the line is about thirty-six miles, and about two-thirds is laid down in stoneware pipes and one-third in iron pipes. ‘Ihe iron pipes are three-inch cast iron in nine-feet lengths, with sockets for joints, The stoneware pipes are threo inches in diameter and three feet in length. The depths at which the pipes are laid are one foot tor the iron and two fect Jor the stoneware. The iron pipes previous to laying down were cloaned out with a heavy fron chain for the removal of any sharp pomts or barra, Tho stoneware pipes were cleaned with a rod with two pieces of iron sike halt pipes, kept apart by a spring. Tbe pipes when laid down were carefuily adjusted go as to tit closely, and the joits were then made. As each pipe was jaid in its place a No. 16 gal- vonized iron wire was threaded through. The joints 1 the iron pipes were made by first ramming in'some yarn to prevent tho molten lead trom running into the Pipe. A clay mould was then formed around the pipe apd the lead run in. Tho quantity of lead ased tor this purposo was about one pound per joint. Inthe stoneware pipes the joints were made witb Stourbridge clay, whieh, while makiag @ goou joint ior the proven- ‘entering the pipe, is sufficiently porous to aliow water to percolatc through it. At the distance of every two hundred yards in straight lines were placed flush boxes into which the pipes were led so as to project within, the space around them being pro- | tected so as to prevent dirt trom falling into the box. The mouth of each pipe was also stopped to prevent the dirt from getting into the pipe. The cables were divided into 405 and 404 yard jengths, and the whole work was subdivided into 400 yard lengths, the boxes at these intervals being termed joint boxes and the inter- mediate drawing in boxes. The joint boxes were placed at the distance of 400 yards apart, The totermediate or drawing in boxes in a straight line were placed at 200 yards irom ajoint box, or half way between the joint boxes, but where there wero curves in the rond, or it became necessary to mako across these intermediate boxes were increased as tho occasion required. Tne cable used in this event cun- sisted cf a copper wire of No. 18 gauge (30 Ibs. per mile) covered with gutta percha to No. 7 (46 Ibs, per mile), and were manufactured in the same way that ocean cables are made us regards the core, being cov- ered with two coats of Chatterion’s compound, alter. nating with two of gutta percha, and having a total | weight of 85 Ibs. per milo. “Tbe underground cables now in uso in Paris are com- posed auiformiy of seven conductors, cach consisting of a strand of seven copper wires insulated with several thicknesses of gutta percha, They are placed ta the sewers, in the catacombs, and in iron tubes under tue stroets. The cables which are carried through the sewers are enclosed in lead tubes to prevent the gases developed there destroying the gutta percha In tue catacombs, which are free from any development of | gas, the seven insulated wires are simply wrapped with a lape serving prepared of sulphate of copper, Hight such cables, supporting a zinc trough jour riches deep and two inches wide, are carried along the sides of the passages. The temperature of the catacombs eeldom varies from fiity-four degrees Fahrenheit; tho atmosphere is damp, the floor bemg generally only a few feet above the level ofthe weils, and water 18 ways precolatin: through the rock. For the lines underdeath the streets iron tubes ore employed to pro- toct them against mechamical injury, while they also prevent the circulation of the air and retard the deteri- oration of the gutta percha by oxidation and by the escape of the essential oil, whose presenco seems Necessary to proserve its elastic condition. These tubes are like those used for gas; they are of cast iron, in lengths of about eight feet, ‘their diamoter being proportioned to the number o° wires which they have tocontain, They are planted im a trench a yard deep. ‘The separate lengths are connected with lead juints, and at distances of from fifty to 150 yards a tube 18 in: sorted of iarge diameter, which slides over the ends ot two neighboring ones, so that by pushing it back the aes can at any time be got at for repairs, ‘These a so used for drawing the cables through the tubes, This is done In lengths of 400 yards, as in London, the cable being first well covered with powdered talc to Teduce the friction against the sides o1 the tubes, TUR BELGIAN TUDE. “Another form of tube bas been constructed in Bel- glum. The tube is of tron, with a slit three-fourths of an inch braad alony the upper side for laying in the cables and saving them from the chances of injury by boing pulled through, When the cables are placed in tho tube a length of T iron, broader on the top flange than the slit, is put into cach length and fastened there by moans of three iron wedees passing through holes in the ke rib of the T iron. The space above the flange to the height of the top of the tube is then filied in with water-tight cement, which seals it uy com- pletely, but which can at any time be removed with a chise! in order that the cables may be lifted out and re- paired if necoseary. The jomt between two lengths ot tubo is made by a’ ribbed Clip which presses acoliar of vulcanized rubber over two slightly elevated rings on the neighboring ends of the tubes. At regular inter. vals tho tubes enter round testing boxes formed by cylindrical chambers covered with flat lids packed with iudiarabber rings, “A new motood of constructing underground lines has been recently trted in Holland, The tuves are made of creosoted wood and the wires, alter being in- sniated with gutta percha, are placed in the gubes and = pace filled wita a residuum of the distillation of DIFFICULTING OF OPRRATING UNDERGROUND LINES, In regard :o the difticuities to be overcome in practi- cally working unaergronnd Imes, and the chances alter construction of their proving an utter failure, Mtr, Prescott gives the following Mmteresting statement :— “Aside from the diMeuttics incident to the insulation | of underground hoes there 18 still another diticuny of equal, if not greater, magnitude to be encountered, which is due to the effecis of static indaction, These effects were first ooserved upon the subterranean lines Which were constructed in I’ ben the lines were under construction between Berlin and Fraoktort, on the Main, and Cologne, in 1848, the elec- urn Were astonished to observe that, while they were able to speak with the greatest ease on an over- Jand line from Bertin to Magdeburg, seventy-six miles, they found it absolutely impossible to do so on an un- derground line of the same let They at first at- offects of static indection, and on the 18th of January, 1850, in a paper communicated ta the Physical Society or rin, Dr. Siemens st that an under- ground wire, covered with gutta percha and surrounded by the moisture of the earth, bebaved hke acolossal Leyden jar. He also found that ordi teiograph wires churged themselves, though in a mi smalier degree than the underground wires. fucts, and the correctness of Dr, Siemens’ explanation, of them, have been abundantly and repeat verified by the experience of telegraphists in all countries tro that day to this, The effeet on oy nd lines is. comparatively very small, and with the ordinary Morse instruments, worked at the usual speed, is DOs serioasiy telt on a length of line not exceeding 506 miles. When, however, the line ts extended beyond this limit, or if on @ shorter length, the speed, or im otver words the number of electrical pulsitions por minute, 18 greatly augmented, and the working ol the apparatus will be maierially affected. Thus itis prace ticable, os above stated, to work ordinary Morse apparatus at the usual rate of s over a line 508 miles in length, but the House printing telegraph, which 18 3 step-by-step instrument, sending pulsations rapidly, can be worked Jess than one-half that distance ona wire of the samo size. Whon this imstrument was in use on commercial lines, from 1849 to 1861, it was found very dificult to work it direct bowween Now York apd lsoston, a distance of 240 miles, but it was worked in two sections, from New York to Spriogiield and from Springfield to Bost with case and rapidity. Experience shows that the induc- tive effect is on tho average just about ifty times as great on an underground as On an overground inne of the same jength, ana if we allow 240 miles as the limit of working a step-by-step inscrument at a commercial speed, on an aerial line, we should undoubtedly fad four oF five miles to be tbe utinoat liteit of distance at which we could accomplish the same result on aa underground line. The inductive effect is manifested in ali telegraph wires whicb are surrounded by an in- sulating substance outsiue of which again 1s @ con- ductor, and the more perfect the 1usulation and tho closer the proximity of Lue outside conductor the more marked are the effects, Thus in an ordinary hoe, sus pended on poles, the air is the insulator surrounding the wire, and the earth, trees, buildings, &., the con- ductor outside the insulator, But these bemg many feet distant from the conductor the effect is very slight, When tho wire is coated with an insulating substanee aud buried in pipes OF 1m moist earth, or submerged im water, the outwide conductor is brought close to the ry wit rt it is evident why the inductive effect is inoreased fi fola on a given length of wire, as experience proves: that it actually 1. ‘The «illiculttes meident to work- ing lines baving a farge statuc capacity may be pire tually overcome by the use ot instruments especially adapted to the purpose. in 1853, when the unuer- ground lines were completed between Loudon ana Liv. erpool, the owners sent 10 this country lor some House printing instruments, which were successtully worked on the jines bewween New York and Washington and elsewhere, aud operators to work them. They were, however, unable to get a jettor on them through the undergrouna wires, and the company was compelled to abandon the use of the House instruments and ¢@ ploy the needle instruments instead, In Lona the step-by-step instruments lor private telegraphing, analagous in construction to the private line insremeuta 80 generally used in New York, are worked on overground ines. There is not a rod of under- ground wire used for the purpose in Europe, and une derground lines would be totally unsuitable for the pur pose. The expensive system of local and metropolitat telegraphs for reporting stock and market quotations, which has been so long in operation in the leading America cites, 1s enurely unkoown on the Continent of Buropo and bat little sed in London. th of tho traffic which 18 here performed tn aul our es on the Wires 1s curried in the jeading European cities by pneu- matic tubes, London alone having thirty ot them con- necting with the central telegraph station. Ia Paris twelve of the principal stations, in the busiest portion of the city, are connected with the central teiegraph station by a pnenmaiic tubo, in which a train ol car- riers makes the circuit of all the statioas once in an hoar and carries the messages wuich bave accumulated during that time to the central — station, Wheneo they are transmitted by telegraph. The Lon- don system 18 much better, as each of the principal Metropolitan stations has its own tube and much of tbe delay of the French system is avoided, Expe- rience shows the underground system of teegrapbing dines to be very mucu interior to overground lines everywhere, aud they are nowhere used (except in the caso of the short experimental line between Liverpool and Mancnester) whore overland lines can be built, They could not be introduced in this country without changinu the system of telegraphing now employed tor some less rapid und moro expensive system, and this change would involve the abandonment of the entire system of stock and market reporting priuting .inatru- ments, which are now 80 popular, and apparently 60 indispensable a part of our commercial lite.” THE ROTTEN POLES TO BE CUE DOWN—A BE~ GINNING MADE BY THE POLICE BOARD. By order of tho Board of Police the. captains of all precincts yesterday submitted to the Superimtendent reports of all dangerous trees and telegraph poles in the city. The Commissioners mean that the work of removing them shail proceed without delay. The reports are as follows:— Rotten Teles Rotten Precinct. graph Poles. Trees. First.. 4 =- Fourth _ 30 195 82 18¢ n Ww nt a w 4 131 Seventeenth. 126 Eighteenth 136 Nineteenth, 24 50 oe a. Twenty-second, 2 Twenty-third, 65 Twenty-seventh. a Twenty-nioth, Thirtieth.. Thirty-tirst Toirty-secot ‘oral 1,659 The pole on tho corner of Mott and Bloccker streeta was yesterday cat down and a new one put in its place, WORKMEN FOR SCOTLAND. For the past month or so an advertisement bas ap- peared in the morning newspapers calling for 100 Masons and stonecutters to go to Scotland and work for tenpence per hour. The last advertisement, on Tuesday, was worded as follo STONECUTTERS AND MASONS TO GO Sevtland; two years’ work at 10d. stg. per hour; J. W. ABBOT, 72 Broadway, 10 o'clock as nineo’clock yesterday morning the entire sidewalk and 6 oops in the neighborhood of No. 72 Broadway was blocked with men, all having the ap- pearance of the hard working laborer. Three or four policemen soon arrived to make a passage for pedes- trians, but the crowd was very orderly and patiently vaited until the door was opened. Then there was a rush, but the policemen ‘would only allow a dozen to pass in at a tima Two clerks were engaged in asking the necessary questions to the applicants, and if they were satisfac- tory as regarding their ability to do stonecatting or mason work tueir names were entered aud they wero told to be present at the State line dock, foot of Canal street, oa Thursday next, at nine A. M., with their ref- erences. Among ibe applicants were several oid men, who were jntormed that they could not be taker They, therefore, sadiy retired. The cierks were kept busy until long alter noon, when about 200 names wero on the list, From these the necessary 100 wiil be selected from those who bave the best reverences. Mr. Abbott informed a HenaLp reporter that the mea. were wanted by John Coghill & Son, of Smithston, near Greenock, Scotiand, Mr, Coghill has obtained the con- tract for erecting the city parochial buildings, and turned his eyes to America tor the 150 men necessary tv completo tle work iniwo years, The men would Teceive tenpence per hour, and most of them would leave by the steamship State of Pennsyl- vama oa Thursday next, They would have tne passage paid—that is, the money woula be advanced ani is to be paid back in instalments out of their pay, The men would carn about £2108. por week, one boaru would be about 10s. per week. The reason why American help is needed, said Mr. Al is thal lsborers are scarce in Scotiand and all the work im Sr, Coghiil’s contract bus tv be done inside threo years Therefore he thougut of engaging 160 American work men, and they cau depend on fully two years’ work, if not more, Although the work shows somo signs of the old say. Ing, “Carrying coals to Neweastle,” it will materially assist the mon now out of work, with no prospect of any, and it may be possible that other contractors will apply for American laoor, Mr. Abbott is satistied with | the mea he examined yesterday, and tho men seemed only too willing to return to tae old country, TOO MANY WIVES. ABREST OF RAPHAEL POLHAMUS ON A CHARGH OF BIGAMY. Scrantox, Pa, August 15, 1876. A few months ago a man giving his name as Raphael Agnew came to this city with his. wife and child, and, ‘Veing an excellent machinist, found employment im the Delaware and Lackawanna car shops. Both Mr, and Mra, Agnew were young, attractive and intelligent, and, being church members, soon had a circle ot re- spectable acquaintances. Yesterday considerable ex- citement was created by the arrest of Agnew by Malachi Higgins, of Paterson, N. J, on a charge of bigamy. Agnew was taken belore Alderman Roesler and tho officer charged that his real name was Raphaol Polhamus; that in June, 1872, he married stary Mosier, a young woman, in jerson, with whom he lived abort a year, when he deserted her, loaving her with a child to support, The abandoned wife oniy ree tly learned that after le ving her Poihamus went to Port Jorvis, N. Y., where he assumed the name of tripaied the diffeuny to impericet insulation, but it s000 Appeared thatthe better tne incalation the greater beeame the difficulty je insulation was actually dischat ip order to enable to commanicate. Those dificuities wore soon justly attributed to the Agnew, He got work in the Erie shops in Port Jervis, and a short tine afterward inarried Annie Moore, a ree spectavle young lady of that place. Tho first wife di@ (CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE gieniiinis