The New York Herald Newspaper, January 11, 1877, Page 6

6 A BROKEN HOME. Another Divorce Scandal in High Life. THE NICHOLS’ FAMILY JARS Allegations of a Husband's Cruelty and a Wife's Shame. Avother sad story of domestic infelicity, of a broken and desolate home, and again the parties belong to the | so called plutocracy of New York ana Connecticut, and have the highest associations in the Church, in 80- case, now being tried in Bridgeport, Conn., has ex- cited a profound interest throughout the Nutmeg State and in this city and Brooklyn, where several of the parties reside and where all aro well known, Mrs Georgizna Nichols was married at seventeen, and is now @ lady apparently a little over forty, small in stature, with dark hair and eyes, sallow com- plexion and stall, delicate features, She dresses in deep black and listens to the testimony adduced by her husband’s witnesses, which 15 so terrible an arraignment of her wilely virtue, with @ scornful in- terest, with a contemptuous curl of her lips which she tries in vain to conceal behind udainty handkerchiet, Ever and anon she heaves a paintal sigh, as though the bitterness of the exposure was too cruol for her to bear even a moment longer. Her husband, William P, Nichols, the son of an esteemed clergyman, is a wealthy real estate dealer, whose office is at No. 9 ne street, in thiscity, Hois arather tall, slim man, with a Sharp, pointed, Mephistophelian cast of coun- tenance, a trim little mustache and curly Mair, Mr. the unsband’s unhappiness and the object of the Jady’s passionate but ualawtul devotion, ts a wealthy brewer, formerly residing at No, 19 Gallatin place, Brooklyn, but now at No. 831 West Fifty-seventh street, and having a brewery at No. O51 West Thirty- third street, in this city. Mr, Lyman ts described as ‘aman of attractive appearance and of ways peeuliarly fascinating to the frail sex, but has not yet appeared atthe trial. He will probably be put upon the stand by Mrs. Nichols? counsel to attest her innocence and his own, THE MISTORY OF THE CASE. So much for the prineipal characters. of the case is highly interesting. About a year ago Mrs. Georgiana Nichols, who then resided with her | five children in Brooklyn, brought a suit against her husband for a limited divorce, in the City Court of Brooklyn, on the ground of cruel and inbuman treat- ment, It will be observed that tho wile against whom such shocking disclosures havo been made in this trial thus herscif opened the legal proceedings. He answered denying all hor allegations of cruelty with lamb-like meekness and brought a counter suit against her for divorce on the ground of adultery, which, he alleged, she had committed with Lyman. Already these cross suits had produced a wide flutter in society, Mr. Lyman being at ove time & prominent member of tho Atlantic Club in Brooklyn | ‘and well known in yachting circles, and having a | charming wile and several children, But this was not | tough. Mr, Nichols, who, strange to say, had con- doned his wile’s alleged infidelity until she began suing | for a divorce, supplemented his answer and cross suit with an action against Lyman for crim, con,, in which he laid his damages at the respectable sum of $100,000. Mr, Nichols, a short time ago, abducted one ot hislitue | boys, aud tho result of that abduction, and his forced surrender of the child to its mother, will still be re- membered by readers of the HEnaio. THE PRESENT SUIT, ‘The history | ety and the business world, The Nichols divorce | | Her testimony wa Thomas ©. Lyman, who is alleged to be the cause of | | | Miss Greeniecs, Mrs, Nichols’ dressinaker, @ prim, NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1877.-WITH SUPPLEMENT. they promptly sent: out for but alas! iceman, niggardiy to bis aed that one Sunday be complained of the quantity of Veef purchased, which was vuly pine pounds! THE TALX OF A NEW CLOAK. One of the most harrowing iucideats in this recital of a father’s iubumanity turns on a new cloak worn by one of the daughters, Mr. Nichols, according to their testimony, actually called her back after they bad » to church and compelled her to put an old cloak over the bright, elegaust, now one on the flimsy pretext that it was warmer, Think of a father who will even grudge his daughter the pleasure of showing ber new clouk to wn admiring church congregation! It 18 too mach! Mrs, Nichols wasso illy provided with money by her husband that she bad to borrow even car tare on certain occasions “i had to take up a collection among the servants—certainly a cruel situation for | the mistress of # house tobe placed in. Becwuse she | asked for money he turew a teapot at her, and whea | she called the servant girls to ber rescue he erie}, “Get on, you damped niggers,” thus swearing aguin, When the family moved to Seventy-fourth street, Now York, be did not furnish the house with any of the barest comforts for a year—there was uo carpet, “no wothing,” 1m fact, THE STORY OF THR CURL. ; Atone time one of the aaughters’ long, dear curls | was cutoff. Hoe found it out, aod was so mad that be declared be would cut her head off! He wouldu’t pay their school bills, moderate as they were, believing, undoubtedly, thut seif-culture was the bes: mode of edu- cation, Ounce he got angry with one of the daughters and with a frightful imprecation, be said, “Lake this girl away it you don’t want to see her corpse.” The mother not desiring to sec ber daughter's corpse, complied with the gentle benest, He called the rrene e damned whelps; and whon the servant girls disturbed bis pa- pers he got—oh! be got awluily mad, and swore at them like a Turk. And then—borrid man—he would | tock himself in bis library and not let bis spouse in. | NKNDING A SILVER TEASPOON, | Perhaps the climax of this biood-curdling recital was cached when one of the daughters testified that his ebullitions vf bad tenper went so far once as to cause } him to actually bend a silver teaspoon, which was a wedding present to her mamma! Mamma was ill with her leg for three weeks and he fated even to come and sce her, The servant girl spilt oj! on the mantelpicce, and the nary master declared she must pay $59 fine for amago and emphasized his threat by lifting a big | coal seuttiv; the eldest daughter asked bin tor fity | cents tor a pair of gloves and be swore at her; the little boy stained the carpet with blacking und the father horsewhipped him. THE WHOLE SRX ATTACKED. sang’ ul stiff old maid who was beautifully precise in ber lan- guage, testified that she went to the Nichols mansion to get’a bill paid; he swore very much, disapproved of his wife’s extravagance and delivered himself of this model sentiment, “Damn the women; they ure ruin- ing all the men!’ He declared, “1 am poor, damn it, and [ shan’t pay your bill;"’ he also declared that “children were a dawned sight of expense,” assuredly 4 most unlatherly way of looking at it; then be abused the doctors” who had been attending Mra. Nichols and her children, and, with many oaths, gave it ag his opinion that all the doctors were pick- pockets and humbugs. (It 18 understood that several physicians have declined to testity in Nichols? favor. ) Mrs. Buckley, Mry. Nichols’ mother, gave also the same sort of testimony as to his profanity, &c ; atthe Sevonty-fourth street house he discharged the cook ‘once, in one ot his fits of bad temper, saying that she would poison bim. . Elizabeth Johnson, a colored servant girl, testified that he put one of the servant girls (Alico) foreibly out of the house because—poor thing—she declined to clean the refrigorator, which duty was clearly not within her department. ‘A former nurse \estified that one of tho causes of his cruelty was bis endeavor to made her sign blapk deeds wisely refused to do; he was withal very fond of his children, this nurse thougbt. REFUSED H&K TRIMMINGS | Mary &, Dunn, a dressmaker, bad to buy trimmings tor Mrs. Nichols’ dress to the tune of—say $2, as Mra. Nichols could not get the money from her fend of a husband, The dressmaker gave this testimony in a manner which gave eloquent proof of her opinion that a man who relused his wite trimmings was too bad to dwell on this terrestrial sphere. A QUAKER SENTIMENT, Cornelia Taylor, anotuer colored servant, testified to a gross brucality on his part, He once suld ‘he was going to take down some of her damned style,” and that “he wauted them to go to a church where there wasn’t so much damned style.” Mrs, Nichols was on tho stand for eoveral days. in the tnain, a corroboration of what has preceded. ‘She also averred that he pushed her off a chair, thereby causing a miscarriage and in- gured her back, and adduced other prools of his intol- erable conduct, Judge Fullerton and bis associates desired to crose- examine her ou his counter charges of adultery, but her counsel objected, aud the questions were ruled out, Subsequently Mrs. Nichois removed to Southport, Conn., where her mother, a wealthy old lady of high | regpectability, resides, and where she has many frieuds | who sympathize with her, Here she broughta suit tor | absolute divorce on tue ground of intolerable cruelty | on the part of her husband, The law of Connecticut | admits of absolute divorce ou this ground, while that | of this State only admits of limited divorce, and hence her action in bringing the suitim Connecticut, The Superior Court of Fuirlield couaty, whore the suit was brought, re‘erred the case to the Hon. Laluyetto S. | Foster, one of the judges of the court, to near the tes- | timony and report bis findings both as to her action | for cruelty and nis counter suit for divorce on the | ground of adulter. | INTERESTING COURT SCENES, | ‘The hearing of the cause began on December 7, and | is held in the Common Council room on Main street in | Bridgeport. This isa long but somewhat narrow room | with a dais at the upper end, Strange to say, the ven- | erable, white-hairod Judge does not occupy the chair on this dais, but prefers to sit below at the head of a Jong table, flanked on each side bya htue army ot | lawyers. ‘The chair and desk on the plattorm are oc- | cupied by numerous overcoats, hats and shawls, which | Ne about in picturesque confusion, Oa the right band | of the learned Judge sit Mrs, Nichols’ lawyers, T. E. | Doolittie, of New Haven; Mr. Halsey, of Norwich, and | Goouwin Stoddart, of Bridgeport, On his leit are Mr, Nichols’ Jawyers, Judge William Fullerton, of New York; G T. Childs, of Stamtord; W. K. Scelye, of | Bridgeport, and D. Waldon, of New York. | Behind her lawyers sits M Nichols, who js, of course, the subject of much curiosity, She i surrounded by a large number of women, who all have the stamp of High Church respectability upon them, Several of them are dignified oid matrons who peer | trough their spectacles with an expression of shocked | amazement at the wicked Witnesses ied out by Judge Failerton, Their ut smooth gray curls are neariy | uplifted with horror ht the recital of scandalous dis= closures against Mra, Nichols, who is # devout member | of the Episcopal Church and ottended Dr, Morgan's church while in this city. Besides Mrs. Nichols, her | daughters and her motter eniist much attention, The | eldest daughter, a girl apparently about eiuhteen or | nineteen, has all the sweet freshness and bloom of | youth, ahd the roses of her cheeks and ber coquettish ittie ‘hat are in striking contrast with the dark, aged juces und the tmatronly black hoods round ber, ‘The presence of this daughter carries with it a painful warning to parents. Wat spec- | tacle more cruel and more demoralizing can be imagined than thatof an innocent maiden dragged away trom school to the fetid atmosphere ol the divorce court and compelied, not only to testily against her own father and to arraign him’ for ity and imburmanity, bas also to listen to the story of her reveredymother’s purn- ing shame, as detailed by vumerous witnesses? Whe ever Mrs. Nchois’ lawyers gain a point ior ber she and her friends smile in exultation, ‘On the other side of the court room sits Mr Nichols, Debind his lawyers, diligently taking notes of the t timony and occas‘onally eyeing askance ber to whom he has peen wedded for twenty years, who is the mother of his five loved children cial destruction he is now bent. Ih testimony 18 baturally very slow. lerton’s assistant and | P. Pope, of New York, band votes, and the rural law 1 struggio siowiy bg themselves the testimony. Hence the wits halt aiter every sentence and wait ull the scratching of the pens has ceased, and meanwhile Mrs, Nichols | sighs impatiently and ber busbana holds re #ultations With his lawyers, whilethe remain apectators—detectives, lawyers, gossips and morbid feandal-lovers who crowd the rooni—are on the tip-toe ion | CHOLES AS PAINTED BY TIS WIPK | ation was opened with the testimony of and apo whose so- by ing of the Judge — Ful- r @ short the rervants, purses and three guters, aged | spectively eizhieen, sixteen and twelve, who all testis | fied to the barbarous inbumanity of their father. | They fully bore out the piecare whieh theif m her bud drawo of ber busbund, as a jan ina stant volcanic state of anger avd profanity, Demuition Mautalini, according to Mrs, hold’ complaint, ver swore half as much as the wicked Nichols | Her complaint states that be assaulted ber, threat bor with a pistol, called her foul names aun one dubbed her an ‘infernal fend of bell,” refus vide a pew for her at church, &e, Thy Dflence gained her proiound sympathy among the | ehurchguing Classes of Connecticut society, and the Proxence of several clergymen testines this deep aym- | pathy im behail of Mrs Nichols 2K TESTIMONY OF THE DACGHTRES. ‘According to the lestiinony of the daughters, to whom their father listened with an expression of the | greatest mortification and pain, Nichols once threw a | fimbier of cold water at ber (and in this freezing weather it ineasy to appreciate how unpleasant thas | Jouche inust ave been), Un anotuer oceasion he tung | ‘a pitener at her. He pushed her off ebar, He ted for Washington at one time and lett family without the sinows of war—certainly a more especially when, fl on ble position to be in able pt 4 aero tanice, the ‘eater DUTSIS and the Loss has toremain without fire, He threatened to throw the daughter on the flvor—a proceeding which that young lady did not at all relish, The lomily were | oing to Islip tor tbe sain mer when the bruterefused | fo iurnish the money. He was too mean 0 pay tbe | gas vill, and what was the consequence? The yas was shut off aud kgyptian darkness reigned in the Nichols mansion. uried the dish: mit hes way dusting Ube piano, jog upon it, cursed hor. money—the best wiv monovy—oud bo to the floor, He swore at everybody ‘Ono time the colored servant girl and he, thinking she was p Mrs, Nichols asked bim for mm the world must bavo | her. Whether a sonnet on her | duet, He ofwn got angry and when at table | struck ber with ao umbrella, when | her THe DEFENCE OPENED, was opened on Friday last, The first orge Croly, sailing master of the yacht Lois, which belonged to Mr, Lyman, the wealthy brewer of Thirty-third street, He related how, in 1869, the Atlanuic Yacht Ciub, of Brooklyn, went ob a pleasure cruise io New London, Martua’s Vineyard, ‘and duriug this cruise Mr. ‘and Mrs. Nichois be- longed also to the party. (Nrcnols, by the way, is also a yachting man and owned the yacht Coming.) 1 uid Mrs. Nicnols acted like lovers, he put arms round her. rowboat and rowed out of sight. The defence witness was G e bis Once they got alono into a little The wily Croly gave it as his opinion that it was not customary for a commander ot a yackt like Lyman to row hisown boat. While Mrs. Nichols was on board her bus- act, the Coming, Lyman sent some flowers to yebrows was concealed in them or not Croly omitted to state. Lyman, in helping Mrs, Nichols on board the Lois put his arms round her. Commodore William Voorhis, who was commodore of the Aviantic Yacht Cluo in 1869, testified that he at one Ue gave an entertainment at bis hous Nichols and Lyman were preseu' Lyman and Mes. Nichols seemed very familar; they walked down arm in arm, held their faces close together (a tender, lover- like fashion which tne old gentleman, however, did not seem to approve of) and seemed to conceal their conversation from others, The Commodore gave it as his opinion that they were more Iriendly than was proper; similar indiscretions occurred between Mrs. Nichols and Lyman at Newport and New London en- tertainments. A GOOD WOMAN DISGUSTED. Susan E. Voortis, the Commodore's wifo, a fine, dignified, inajgouty lady, was also on this pleasure cruise, She saw Mrs, Nichols and Lyman at stoning- ton and declared, “Had I not known them both to be married 1 would vave thought they were lovers.” Their conduct was far beyond that of even intimate Iriends, After N boats Were plying to and fro between Lyman’s yacht and srs. Nicuol aring wotes and bouquets, They seemed very devoted to euch otber. Mra Voorhis was thoroughly disgusted by their con- and feeling that she was not in the right company wanted to go bome At the Ocean House, part, Mrs. Nichols and the “evoted Lyman withdrew to % dark corner of the piazza, and alter they had emerged thence Mrs, Nichol’s handker- chivt was picked up on the hallowed spot, (Romantic incident!) Mrs, Nichols invited her to go to the the- aire with her, saying that she bad already a gentleman ana could undoubtedly get one also tor Mrs, Voorhis— an offer which Sirs, Voorhis declined, Joun Oakey, a Brooklyn lawyer, was on the yacht belonging to Commouore Voorhis, where ‘their benavior was indiscreet, He also saw them on the piazza at the Pequot House at New Loudon, when they witldrew to a dark corner, and he witnessed the hand- kerchiet incident at Newport. Captain Jacob Voorhis, a brother of the Commodore, invited Mrs. Nichots to come on board his yacht Madeleine, but she declined, 8 that she had made an arrangement to go on board Lyman’s yacht. Joon Buchanav, a deck band onthe Jersey City forry, ‘saw the lovers cross over Irequently on the Des- brosses street side. He was # sailor on the Low at one time and saw them alone in the cabin for several I captain of the Lors, testified that Mrs. Nickols slept two nights on Lyman’s yacht; he himself saw nothing twproper, and made an ailidavit to that effect, which Lyman got from bim; Lyman re- quested him to leave out what be knew about the slateroom in which Mrs, Nichols slept, and he did go, WHAT MORE? The defence intend further lo prove adulteries com- miited with Lyman at the Metropolitan Hotel; at Lyman’s house, woen Lyman’s family were away; at Montrose,’ N. J... whore she boarded in the suromer of 1872; at the Soath Orange Mountain House, and where, a8 the cross bill alicges, Lyman visited her ander the name of Dr. Wilson, and at divers other places; that she in No- vember, 1870, gave Lyman private suppers at her When sbe excluded the servants; that she left +e iW Brooklyn one Saturday and did not re- til Sunday after church hours; that she used Lyman’s house and watt for him in the str ame out, ec. Ali this the defence prom- ise to bring ou'in the trial, which will last yet two or threo weeks, Nichols, in bis cross bill, arraigns bis wife for “neglect of a'wile’s duty and becoming enam- ored and mtatuated with him (Lyt a hating and f treating her ust nd wishing he .”” Nichols also denies all ker allegations of , And says eho brought on the miscarriage by fuliing from a horse i a riding academy. And thus the daily development of a wite’s shame nd a busband’s cruelty und a broken and bughted Mrs, Nichols still bears up well under y evening alter the court is closed with @ ponchalance which her sympathizers declare 1s proof of her innocence. THE “SILENT SINGER Rocursrer, N. ¥., Jan, 9, 1877, To thu Eprror oF tHe HxraLo:— Will you be €o kind as to correet a statoment mado by your musteal correspondent in bis article headed | | beg louve to ask, “Theatrical Stagnation,” which app of Sunday, January 7, singers, without ao engagement or prospect of having ono, hy name is Menvioned. Lam under engagement ared in your issue wince the Ist of October last until next April with Mr | to such of Max Strakoseh, a cont poll couidn't find one, He would strike ber and pull her round the room, Sv bad tempered was he, that ho even swore once because one of the boys got a peach and stained his dress with it, The monster was so transferring to bim property, which she. however, | ‘ols had gone on shore stall | | | | pd steps into the gay carriage which | Conn, Among those designated siient | t boing sealed | fire. THE MAIL ROBBERY. RECOVERY OF THE STOLEN MAIL POUCH—ITS CONTENTS—THE PRISONERS IN COURT. Yesterday being tho day Oxed for the examination of the parties chargea with others, who soverally waivod examination, with participating in the lave mail robbery, United States Commissioner Shields’ Court was crowded witb persons ap- parently deeply interested in anticipated develop” ments. There was a tull force of deputy mar. detectives, Post Office employés, friends of the prigoners and others in court, ‘the two prisoners— Joba Kelly, who ts looked upon as the principal in the case, and Mary J, Collins, alias Mary J, Kelly—sat noar their assigned counsel, Mr. Emerson, Mr. Shur- rats, special agent of the Post Office Department, who has been untiring in his efforts to detect the perpe- trators of the robbery and their modus operand, was scated beside the prosecuting officer, General Foster, Assistant United States District Attorney, Since the arrest of the accused the missing mail pouc which originally contained the abstracted letters ani which was carried off with the supposed connivance of the express driver, Defreest, now awaiting the ac- tion of the Grand Jury, was produced in court, and Ubracted particular atiention, The case of Mary J, Collins was first called, Mr, Emerson expressing his readiness to proceed with the examination. ‘TUE EVIDENCE AGAINST MARY COLLINS. The first witness was Sylvester Blackwood, who ted all the circumstances of tho arrest of tho parti At No. 111 Prince street on the 2d ol the month; went with asearch warrant, accompanied by two other ollicers; he was shown the room occupied by the female prisoner, Mary J. Collins; on entering the room she was lying ona bed; he told her he baaa search warrant to search the premises; she looked at the warrant and handed it back to bim, with the re- mark, ‘Go ahead;’’ he opened a trunk aod under a tray in the trunk he found a package ol letters; ina bureau drawer be found aquanuty of insurance pa- pers; made a thorough search of the premises, but found nothing further in connection with the object of their seare! 'A bundle of papers was handed to witness, whieh he identified as tne letters be sound in the prisoner’s trunk; the prisoner said the trunk was hers. To defendani’s counsei—Witness said that the prisoner deciured that she bad not put the papers in the trank, and did not know how they came to bo there; found the trunk unlocked, and he raised tho lid without any difficulty; he handed the lotters just ag he took them out of the trunk to Mr, Yeomans, Authony Yeomans, General Superintendent of the Post Oflice, assisted in the search and subsequent ar- rest of the prisoner; identifies the bundle of letters; the letters were all in ono paper parcel, tied with a cotton string. Blanche Smith, a young lookin, fled that she rented the premises No. 111 Prince street in furuished apartments; rented @ room to Miss Collins at $6 a week; she had been there five wocks up to the time of the’ arrest; the trunk in which the stolen | letters were found she brought with her when she took the apartment; knew the prisoner only by the name of Jonnie; never know her ag Mrs. Kelly. On cross-examination she said the room occupied by “Jennie,” tho prisoner, was frequented by ae men who came and went without question; the bureau, where the insurance papers were found, was part of her furnishing of the room. Jobn Brown, a clerk in the Post Office in Philadel- phia, examined the letters and testified from the Stamps upon them that they wero mailed in the Fost Office at Philadelphia on the 28th of Decomber, 1876; he did not himseil stump tho letters in question, but he had.no doubt they were stamped there. The letters were then put in evidence, General Foster closed tho case as against Mary J. Colling and asked for her committal on a charge of re- cotving and concealing stolen mai! matter, Tas was opposed by Mr. Eterson, and her case was adjourned oh Peay next, when testiinony will be put in for the defence, housekeeper, testi- JOHN KELLY'S CASE. The case of the United States against John Kelly was then called, merely to have the testimony of the I’bila- delphia Post Office clerk taken and put on record. A mail pouch for the conveyance of mail matter was shown to witness, which he identified as a mail bag used in the transmission of mails between Boston and Philadelphia; be ideniified 1t by the writing ona lubel, “City of Boston,’ in the handwriting of the mail | clerk at Philadelphia, John Hurdman. H The mail poveh was needed to complete tho chain | of evidence, it being forwarded from the Philadelphia Post Office on the 28th of December, en route to Bos- ton. Mr. Sharrats gave a history of the hunt for the lost pouch. Alter a time it Was ascertuiped that ithad been expressed to Montreal, Canada, On com- | municating with the Canada authorities the bax was found to be at the otlice of the National Express Com- pany, by whom, through the courtesy of the agent, Mr. Tnsio, it was despatched bere and received in duo tine, ‘ihe prisoner was then remanded for further exami- nation, which will be held to-morrow at two o'ciock beiore Commissioner Shields, NTENTS OF THE POUCH, i Tho tollowing list of the contents of the mail pouch was kindly furnished by special Superiptendent Shar- rat Howard, Lulling & Co., Boston—Note ‘our months, Philadelphia Coal and Lron Company, Sept 9; | $2,246 33. Howard, Luiling & Co., Boston—Noto thirteen months, Philadelphia Coal and Iron Company, Sept 9; $2,368 61. W. H, Gray, Boston—Note four months, Simmons, Op- dyke & Co,, Sept. 12; $104 26, Bangs & Harton, Boston—Note four months, Lehigh ‘and Wikesbarre Mining Company, Sept. 19; $12 500. New Bedtora Coal Company, Boston—Note four months, Philadelphia and Reading Coat iron Company, Sept, 20; $174 91. & Downing, Haverbill, Ma: Band & Co., Dec. 22; $242 08. James 1 Elaridge, Boston—Mra, J. H. B. McClelan, Dec. 23; $50. J. P. Morris Company, Philadelphia—Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, Boston, Dec. 23; $9, hs Snow & Co,, Boston—J. B, Lippincott, Dec. 23; 3, —Charles Nuyes, Snow & Co., Boston—J, B. Lippincott, Dec. 23; $3. | Batt & Co., Boston—P., W. and B. Railroad Company, 78 38, Dee. 24; W. N. Pel $3 60. Farley, Harvey & Co., Boston—Messrs. Dale & Co., Deo 26; $361 40. Castner, Stickney & Wellington, Boston—G, R. Chap- man, cashier, (ec, 26; $4,508 10, Merchants’ National Bank, Newbaryp National Bank, Boston, Dec. 26; $2,500, John C. Fernald, Boston—Chich, Waltz, G, W.. Wilson & Co., Dec, 26; $34 43. Norse, Shopard & Co., Boston—Parker & Dickey, Dec. 26; $565 13. CG. Warren, Boston—K. Barda, Deo, 26; $1,309, Kennedy, Childs & Co Pittsburg—J. G. Pitman & Co., 26; $21. G. D Houg, General Agent, Boston—Howland Parry, actuary, Dec. 26; $1,204 60. ax Glark, ‘Treasurer—Joseph Wharton, Dec. 27; 179 55, Droxel & Co., Philadelphia—S, U. Bell, cashier, Dec, 28; $4,000. BROOKLYN BURGLARIES, Burglars broko into the skirt factory of Mossrs, Tay- lor & Bloodgood, No. 11 Front street, at an early hour yesterday morning and escaped with $500 worth of alpaca. Christian Ellingreen, who was captured at Fulton Ferry a few days since, having in his possession sil- verware, which he acknowledged having stolen trom the residence of A. H. Viles, No. 191 Cumberland strect, pleaded guilty before Justice Walsh, yesterday, and was committed to await the action of the Grand Jury. It was reported to the police of tho Tenth precinct, at ke that the residence of Mr. James E, Payne, o. 182 ‘South Oxtord street, had been robbed the night previous of $140 worth of jewelry and cioth- iny 38. Springfield, Mass.—H. Hartman, Dec, 25; rt. Mass.—Globe : A burglar in trying to effect an. entrance into the clothing store of Thomas Branigah, in Atlanticavenue, between Williamson and Henry, awoke the proprietor, who shotat him. In his hurry to escape the burglar Jett his coat, in the pocket of which was a picture of a handsome woman. THE MOSS BUNKER HARVEST. The fourth aanual meeting of the United States Mon- haden Oil avd Guano Association was held at tho United States Hotol yesterday, The following statistics | were read:—Total catch of fish for the season of 1876, 614,450,000 fish; oil made, 2,992,000 gailons; guano made, 54,650 tons; number of lactories, 64; men em- ployed, 2,708; sail vessels employed, steamors employed, 46; capital invested, $2,750,000. "The meet- jng was addressed by Me. 5. L. Goovale, of Saco, Me, upon the food product of the menhaden. He exhibited fiples of an extract {rom the menhaden, whi 1 to be equal in nutritious properties to Liebig’s ‘The ollicer# elected for the ousuing itord, Conn. claim extract of beet. President, R. L. Fowler, President, Daniel T. Church, Tiverton, R. L. President, B, Frank Gatlup, Groton, Con: Secretary and Treasurer, H. L. Dudley, New Haven, Executive Committee—Georgs F. Tuthill, Groenport, Long Island; B. F. Brightman, Round Pond, Mo, The business the past season was stated to have beon fairly remunerative, and the foreign demand for the refined oil and for dried guavo to be rapidly moreasing. QUEER QUESTIONS. To tae Eprror or tik HkRALD:— As one of the subscribers to ail of these charities through your columns, for some nc- | count of the disposition of the funds collected, tho | newspapers having published many notices of the sub- | ecriptions, but nono of the disbursements: | 1. For the relief of the sufferers from the Chicago A.M. Palmer, treasurer. and signed by all parties concerned. Hoping to xeoa | 2 the relief of the family of the Iate Dan correction of your misstatement, | remats | Bryant. ‘Theodore Moss and A Palmor, treasurers, OM KARL. 3 The Florence benefit at Wallack’s for the Custer ANOTHER BAYONNE MYSTERY, The post-mortem examination on the body of a | child (ound m a sink at Bayonne, N, J., leads to the Deliet that the child was murdered, The mother dis appeared suddenly, but the police expect to arrest Coroner Gannon wilt bold au inquest lo morrow, monument fund, Theodore Moss, treasurer, 4. For the relief ot the sufferers from the Brooklyn fire. A. M. Palmer, treasurer, 5. For the benefit of the famiy Silt at the Grand Opera House, Treasurer not known- Itseems to me that the public, who ow aj aled to for St. Stephen's and other charities in tho same way, havo a right to know what has been done with their money. A SUBSCRIBER, of Miss feel | Faw- mn THE HOWGATE POLAR EXPEDITION. . OPINION OF AN ARCTIC EXPLORER REGARDING THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PROJECT. Captain Nares, the commander of the recently re- turned Engiish expedition of the North Pole, having in a year of unexampied. severity penetrated to a latitude further north than any other explorer, stat bis belief that an open Polar Sea does not exist, Well, be did not see it; but that by no means proves its non-existence in the face of the positive testimony trom Dr. Hayes, thut he saw it, Here 1s a disputed point that should in some manner be settled. England is highly interested, and as a proof of her earnestness there stands by act of Par- hament a reward of £5,000 to the man who first reaches a north latitude within one degree of the Pole. More than 260 expeditions have been fitted up and gent out by various nations to reach the North Pole and the Northwest Passage ata cost of at least $25,000,000 and of hundreds of lives. In the present state of pee anxiety to settle all geograp’ ical problems other expeditions will be sent ‘out until the Pole is aisvovered, or the path to it found effectually barred. Any project that will aid tm settling ‘his problem at small cost and without needless sacri- fice of Ie is im the interest of Dumanity as well ag of acionce, : HOWGATE’S PLAN. ‘The colonization plan mects wiih no opposition and is yonerally approved by the common sonse of tue country. Even members of former expeditions, who ight be supposed to be “soured by their own mis- Pring d strongly pursuaded that as they did not succeed none else could,’? idorse the colonization scheme us the most practicable as well as ecouom ical. ‘Tho following letter,on the subject is from Robert Seyboth, now living at Wilmington, N.C, who was two years with Mr. Hayes in the Arctic regions :-— ‘The subject of Arctic exploration with the view of discov. ering the long searched for parsage to the Pole in new interest by the recent retu the British expedition ind by Captain IH, W. Howgate’s novel plan of colouizing a en, well equipped and provided for, iu the hish- As rogurds the British expeditt to nay that its partial fw acles absol uurmounta want on the part ot ‘Nod not to any w of thut proverbial british piuck* and ¢ has already achieved such splendid results iu Aretic exp: tion, Without discussing the merits of th ritish expedi- tion, I desire to say 4 few words rexarc the feasibility of the pian proposed by Captain Howg: I have not the slightest doubt, if a sufficient ‘well selected and officered, can terrible severity of Ar@lic winters the greatest difficulty in the wuy of the discovery of the Polo will have been fr such a party and depot could .e used as a buse of oper trom which to pusb forward, in favorable junctures of temperature and their accompanying condition, succes- woh one to be my muy held wutil the noxt wed, and until some favoring season made tho open Polar Sea navigable renlity. ‘The great question to ye answered in considering Captain Howgate’s scheme is the possibility of sustaining human lite at such high lati- tudes for a sufficient length of time. I do not hesitate to auswer this question in the aflicmative. My own experience, during # stay of nearly two years within the Arctic Circie, and with an expedition that possessed hone of the comforts and safeguards usually provided tor Arctie explorers, war- rant me in believing that a systematically conducted plan of colonization, such as Captain Howgate proposes, would meet no unsurmountable difficulties iu the efforc to sustain lite and suilicient robustness to carry out the work of ex- poration, scurvy, the great enemy of former explore Cun be entirely avoided by adopting the proper hygienic recautions, us has been tully preven by the late Captain Hall, who spent several years {n succession in company of the Esquimaux in perlect health and without assistance from the outside world. It is @ noteworthy tact that American whalers, who fre- quently remain two or more successive winters in the Arctic regions, do not suffer from scurvy while wintering, but are almost invariably afflicted with the fell disease during tue homeward voyage. they do not hesitate to eat plentifully of Why? Becau soul, walrus, boi jd oven whule meat, all of which is the highest latitudes. To thin dict I mysel! found no difliculty in becoi id consequently did not suifer from scurvy until after t! readily obtainable accustomed, ai enforced resumption of “salt chunk" oa the homeward stretch, Granting. then, the possibility of colonization, I fully be. Nevo that the adoption of Captain tiowgate's scheme would strike at the root of former failures in Arctic exploration, for it substitutes the steady conquest, step by step, in plac of tho spasmodic and unsustained efforts hitherto maa the sacrifice of untold treasure and the loss of great noble lives, OUR FILTHY STREETS. WHAT THE STREET CLEANING COMMISSIONER BAYS. i: ‘Tho opinicn of the Corporation Counsel as to the meaning of the Street Cleanmg law applicable to the removal of snow from the streets has not yet been ro- ceived by the Board of Police Uneil its rendition the department will take no action, the Commissionors be- ing of one opinion as to theirduty in the prem- ises, Should the Corporation Counsel hold that snow and ice must be removed with the regular appropriation the work will be undertaken without delay, and the entire amount, if necessary, expended to clean the streets, ‘lt is not generally known,” said Commissioner Wheeler to a Hxratp re- porter yesterday, ‘that we are limited in our expenses to a sum neariy $300,000 Jess than that which other Boards have bad. When it is taken mto consideration that thie sum ts areduction of about thirty-three per cent of the whole amount our cramped resources can be appreciated.” Referring to the letter of ex-Commissioner Dis. becker, published yesterday, claiming excellence for his administration, Mr, Whecier said:—‘He does not state the whole truth, During bis administration as chairman of the Street Cleaning Committee the appro- priation was $900,000 per year. This was a sum much larger than necessary for the purpose, und out of it he Managed to.save $70,000, leaving the amount expended & $830,000. In 1875 the appropriation was reduced to $726,000, and this is the pominal sum to our credit at the present ume; but practically we have $625,000, The Commissioner then went into a detailed explanation of the methods in use for removing the street material and dwelt at length on the contracts which existed for yeurs between the Board of Police and the New Jersey Central Railroad Company, The latter corporation took all the street dirt of” the city in their own scows and disposed of it in making land without any cost to the department, ‘This arrangement ceased on the 1st of iast June, the New Jersey Kailroad refusing to carry away any more dirt, and the Street Cieaning Bureau was in consequence obliged to hire scows to remove the refuse. Since the dato mentioned to the first of the present month the cost of carrying the dirt to sea js, in round numbers $40,000, exclusive of labor, The expense for the year will reach the sum of $100,000, This inrge outlay was not necessary under past administrations, and the sum was used in cleaning the streets, This 18 all wo ask.” said tho Commissioner. “No living man can undertake to properly clean the streets of this large city for 25,000 a year.’? The reply of the Corporation Counsel is expected to- morrow. A CONFERENCE. The superintendents of the city railroads have been Invited to hold a conterence with the Police Com- missioners relative to removing the snow from the streets, THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE. A mecting of the Buard of Trustees of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge will be hold at balf-past three o’clock this alternoon, at the office of the bridgo, in Brooklyn, at which the contracts for furnishing the wire for tho bridgo will be awarded: Mayors Ely and Schroeder and Comptrollers Kelly and Burrell will be prosent, A Herawp reporter yesteraay afternoon called on Mr, Wilham Barrell, the newly appointed Comptroller of Brooklyn, who is ez oficio a member of the Board, Mr. Burreli stated that as he only assumed office on January 1 and had never attended any of the meetings of the Board, ho was utterly unprepared to say any thing im relation to their probable action. He, how. ever, understood that the Executive Cominittee of the Board had decided to report tu ‘or ol awarding the contract to W, A. Rocbling's Sons. ‘Mr. Burrell had read the statements from Mr. Albert Hill that have been published in the Hrnany, bul not boing an engineer he did not understand the techuical phrases there used, He had also received Mr. Hill's paropblet, but as yet bad not had time to read it. interests Involved in the construction of the bridge are so vast that Mr. Burrell feols that every care should be taken to bave the wire and all other ma- terial used absolutely perfect anu satisiactory, BLACKWELL'S ISLAND BRIDGE. The directors of the New York and Blackwell’s Island Bridge Company met yesterday and adjourned until February 7, in order to give the engineers time to complete their report. LATEST JERSEY FRAUDS. A QUARTER OF A MILLION OF BONDS ILLE- GALLY ISSUED. The Grand Jury of Hudson county, N. J., now in nession at Jorsey City, appeared yesterday bofore Judge Knapp for instructions in regard to the purchase of the new site for a county court house by the Board of Freeholders. Tho Judge delivered a most pointed and specific charge, stating that under the law "governing the Board of Freeholders the members of that Board who voted for the purchase of the new site wero clearly indictable, and = the Grand Jury should do its duty promptly. The Board had no power to issue bonds to be redeomed during @ fiscal year after the terin of office of the members bad censed, The whole charge was the most remarkable that has been delivered in the Court since the famous cnarge of dudge Bedle on the municipal frauds tive years ago, The Director-at-Large, Mr, Halsieu, who quve eflect to the scheme by approving the resolution, ‘was in court while the Judge was spenking and became very much agitated, When the Grand Jury retired bo had a long conference with tho counsel of the Board of Freeholders, after which he hurried away from the city. The rumor that he took @ train for Phildelphia is without foundation, tor he was seen at his home in Bayoune last night Mayor Siedier, ex-Mayor Manners, County Clerk Brann, County Collector Kingsland, William Brinkerbofl and a large number of prominent citizens were examined by the Grand Jury in relation tothe case, The rumor that imdictments were found last evening created great excitement thoronghout Jersey City, Tho price pad for the site is nearly a quarter of a million doliars, and the Grand Jury i endeavoring to find whether or no corrupt means were employed to effect the purchase, SOLVENT OR INSOLVENT? A Critical Period in the New Jersey “Matual’s Examination. $85,000 OF WORTHLESS ASSETS. A View of Life Insurance That is Far from Reassuring. ——-—__—_ Another life insurance company 1s in serious trouble. This time itis not a New York corporation, but the New Jersey Mutual, of Newark. For weeks past its namo has figured prominently in the Hexain because of ite complicity with that most fraudulent of concerns—tho Continental. It was shown im these columns that the Now Jersey Mutual was seeking to obtain the risks of tho Continental under circumstances of a suspicious character and upon terms that promised little benefit to the policy-holders of either, The very connection of the Newark corporation with the Continental failure was rogarded in itself as suilicient evidence of corrup- tion in the former. While insolvency would not be charged the revelations made in the Heraup of the amalgamation with the Hope and the fabulous Avenel mortgages placed the New Jersey Mutual in a yory dis- croditable position. Yet it asserted \iself more loudly than ever betore the public, and pointed magnificently to Its surplus of over $300,000 in favor of policy-holders AN BXAMINATION COMDIKNCKD. After a time it became evident to the managers of the New Jersey Mutual that a rigid examination of its affairs would soon be undertaken by the New York Insurance Department, Preterring to invite inspec. tion from the department ot its own State the com- pany appealed to Mr, Henry Kelsey, Seeretury of State of New Jersey, to make an examination of its cou- dition, Such invitation was probably superfiuous, as Mr. Kelsey had previously begun such an examina. tion, and doubtless would have continued it unasked. Atany rate the New York department was objived, from courtesy, to desist for atime {rom pressing its examination. Mr, Kelsey appointed Mr. D, P. Fack- ler, a prominent attorney of this city, to inspect tho books and accounts of the company. WHAT HAS BEEN DISCLOSED. Mr. Facklor has been engaged in his work tor several weeks, and has hot yet concluded. For a fow days past he has been waiting for the yearly statement to be made up, and it is by comparison with this that the real condition of the concern will be ascertained, In spite of the secrecy with which such examinations are conducted a few facts leaked out which gave rico to serious rumors ot insolvency. A Hxkaup ropre- sentative who cailed upon Mr. Fackler was unable to elicit any information whatever as to what was transpiring. But through various other channels aa- vices have reached tho writer which confirm the sus- picions that bave been entertained of the company’s trouole. To begin with, the New Jersey Mutual was supposed to have provided itself with assets sullicient to mect this examination. Whether true or not, it 1s certain that it was, or claimed to be, in possession of securitios which its officers were very reluctant to present. Several hitches occurred in the examination from such causes, apd on one occusion the difliculty was so serious that Mr. Kelsey felt obliged to conter with the Attorney General of his State us to the moans to be pursued with the company. At the same timo articles, costing so much a line, appeared in the news- papers, in which the examining olficers were com- plained of and other appointments solicited. From these mutterings it was apparent that the examination was becoming of critical itmportance to the company. The writer, too, was informed on excellent authority that Henry W. Buldwin, manager of the New Jersey Mutual’s middie department, was negotiating for a transler of bis services tu another concern, DEFICIRNCIES REPORTED. On Friday last a spectai meeting of the directors was held and Wiliam M. Force was elected Vico Prosi- dent. This gentieman is a wealthy citizen of Newark, and was formerly President of the New Jersey Mu- tual. In this first capacity it is asserted (with how much truth cannot be vouchsated) that he was very munificently rewarded, 1tis now claimed, with con- siderable confidence, that lis re-election was for the purpose of affording bim an opportunity to contribute sometbiny to the insuilicient assets, It can be said with safoty that the condition of the company 18 impaired, but to what amount is only kuown to the officers and inspectors. It has been de- clared by persons who ate or haye been connected with the concern that, if necessary, $200,000 or $300,000 willbe paid into repair: its assets. lt was supposed that some action on this point would he taken Ly the directors at their annual meeting held on Tuesday last. Whether they did so or not cannot be ascor- tained, Of course the feasibility of this method of maintaining the company’s existence would depend upon the extent of the deficiency to be made good, If this be done the company may perhaps be put tn a bet- ter condition than over; if not, there seems to be but one course remaining—thatof bankruptcy. FORMER BAD MANAGEMENT. Tho New Jersey Mutuai Lite Insurance Company was organized January 1, 1865, with a capital stock of $100,000. Like moat other young companics of that time, though perhaps in a loss degree, it early man- agement appears to have been short sighted. Expenses or future habilities were littie thought of in the scramble for new buginess, Any kind of acontract that vrought in a Jarge premium at its issuance and helped to swell the tmmediate assets of the company was eagerly sought for, The well established and unchangeable Jaws upoo which alone life insurance can be salcly conducted were forgotten and disregarded, Of course the effects of such a course soon began to cramp the concern in different ways, until its officers, cither from necessity or for personal advantages, on- tered into projects of a speculative and objectionable character, ‘lo save the stockholders schemes were devised which were tar from equitable to the policy- holders. In fact, the company became divested of whatever respectability it possessed and joined the rauks of scupegrace corporations. Fora Jong time it remained inevil hands and was made a powortul in- plement for improper transactions and ring aggran- dizement, AMALGAMATING THE HOPE. Some three years ago the New Jersey Mutual com- menced negotiations for the transler of its assets to the Hope Mutual Lie Insurance Company—a corporation then suffering from the samo irresponsible mana, ment. It was a case of the blind leading the bitud, for both were in pour condition, and the object of such amalgamation was but to save the stockholders at the real expense of the policy holders, Arrangements were finally agreed upon, and in consideration of $200,000 the assets of the New Jersey Mutual were sold to the Hope. The former management retired and the officers of the Hope controlled both institutions. — It was atter- ward decided thet the Hope should be dissolved, and itg stockholders were given certificates by the New Jer- sey Mutual in exchange for their stock. These have never been paid, nor did the holders receive any shares of the New Jersey Mutual stock which had been pur- chased with their money. The ring manipulated the New Jorsey Mutual successfully for atime and then guflered the control to pass into its present hands. Many persons claim at the present time that the New Jersey Mutual really belongs to theso much abused Hope owners, ARM IN ARM WITH THE CONTINENTAL. In many ways the N allied to the Continental, until upon the failure of the business. ‘There seems little room to doubt that there was direct complictty or collusion in that dissolution, Open amalgamation had beeume unpopular with in- creased acquaintance, and it was intended that in this instance the same results should be accomplished with- out attending publicity, The presidents of the tw concerns conlerred together previous to the failure, and after the dissolution the Continental agents with singular unanimity became tho repress New Jersey Mutual, A large number of the Continen- tal policies had been transferred to the New Jersey Mutual, at aloes no doubt to the hotdors, when the Henan investigated the matter, and gave the public the benetit of such truchs as it could ascertain, consequence the process was partially if not wholly checked. Policy holders of the Continental were ad- vised through these columns aot to assign their con- tracts to the New Jersey concern, and, as the present shows. the word was timely givon, THE FABULOUS MORTGAC Another valuable revelation made vy the Hearn in relation to the New Jorsey Mutual was the story of the fabuious mortgages which were issued to the ex- tent of nearly $100,000 on property in Middlesex county, New Jersey, worth, perhaps, $15,000. These bogus documents were manufactured in a vory cireui- tous method by Daniel J, Noyee, the attorney of the company, and after many changes of title wero as- signed to the concern. They ure BOW, OF Were Upon Vocember 31, 1875 ve found among the assets of the New Jorsoy Mutual, as shown by their hist of bonds anu mortgages filed at Albany. They are included in said let, as recorded in Middlesex county, in the following terms:— Value of Amount, — Property. $5,000 $10,000 6,000 12,000 5,000 10,000 August 1, 10,000 8,000 August 1, 18 17,000 August 1, 18) 10 000 August 19, 11,000 Novem| 8,000 August 10,000 November 26, 187: 10,000 September 15, 187 $8,000 September 17, 137 11,000 ‘August 15, 187: 12,000 Novomber 26, 187: 10.000 September 13, 1873... 10,000 September 20, 1873, 11,000 Totals...... a $88,500 $175,000 taliy with the records of Mid- The above mortgages 8 of issuance, diesox county, excepting in the di Jersey Mutual became | ter the former undertook to secure the jatter’s | ntarives of the | Asa | which are changed for some purpose in nearly every instance, The third one on the list is an assignment to the New Jersey Mutual by George W, ‘Thompson, All the others are the original purchase money mort- gages given to Thompson by various parties whose names are believed to be mainly fictitious, WORTHLESS ASSETS @ The whole amount of mortgages on real claimed by the company on December 31, 1875, was It is improbable that any of those above $703,287 10, cited have been taken up since that dat In that case there are shown to be $38,500 in fraudulent secur- ities claimea by the New Jersey Mutual ag valuable assets. With such a wretched exbibit it is hardly to be wondered that the company finds itself upable to Dear examination. It Jeaves room for belief that more of the same transactions have been accomplished, and creates Vague apprehensions as to the amount of tue assets thus fraudulently procared, POLICY HOLDERS’ THE CONNECTICUT LEGISLATURE PETITIONED ‘TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF THE CHAR« TER OAK INSURANCE COMPANY. [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ] Hanrvorp, Conn., Jan, 10, 1877. ‘The Legistature was to-day petitioned to order an investigation ofthe conuition of the Chartier Oak In- surance Company, of this city. ‘The petitioners repro- t $75,000 in policies, including two Boston partics whohold policies of $20,000 cach, and President Bolter, of the Hartford Bank, and other policy holders here for various amounts. They claim that the manage. ment is such as Lo Jeopardize their interest and that the company has invested over $1,000,000 in vuluclesa securities, This bas reference to tho recent heavy purchase by the company of property on Broadway and a joan on manufacturing property at Higganum, Conn., and other matters. Tho petitioners further allege tbat their iaterests have been injured by the election of officers selected from States other than Connecticut aud connected with tiv nd kindred Orgamzations, referring to President Wiggin, who 18 from Bosion, and H. J, Furber financial manager, who resides in New York city, A thorough investigation is demanded and such Jegislative action as may be found requisite to protect the interests of the policy holders, President Wiggin, in conversation with the HxraLu correspondent this afternoon, intimated tbat the statements on Which the petition is mainly based were set afloat by rival companies, and asserted posuiyes that there Was no ground for uneasiness on the part of policy hoiders) He claimed that no isurance com- pany bas better assets, and stated that the Insurance Commissioner fully approved the recent investment, including the Broadway property, and had uo criticisur to make upon the company ip his apnual report President Wiggin further remarked that the company would cheeriuily afford every facility tor the investi+ gation, contident that the resuit would be favorable {ind would relieve the policy holders of their appre+ hensions. DUNOAN, SHERMAN & CO. FEARS. EXAMINATION OF WILLIAM BUTLER DUNCAN, Proceedings im the Duncan, Sherman & Co. bank- raptcy case were resumed yesterday morning before Register Ketchum, Mr, William Butler Duncan wag present, accompanied by bis counsel, Mr F. N, Bangs. Mr. Willam A, Brown appeared tor the petitioning creditors aud conducted the examination, In reply to the interrogations of Mr, Brown Mr, Duncan statea:—I know something about a check bo- ing paid to D, Watts & Co. by our firm, dated July 26, 1875, and drawn for $6,665 63; it was given for an atnount due to the firm of Mr, Watts for commissions or margins as our brokers; am not quite sure for what 16 was given; Mr. Watts was a depositor with the firm, but the check had nothing to do with his deposit ac- count, and it still remains papal; Mr. Watts is suing the Baok of ew York for une amount; do not recollect i! this Watts & Ca is the frm which, at tho first, signed a petition im bankruptcy aginst iny firm; there 13 no other frm of that name among our creditors to my knowledge; don’t know that an entry on the stamp of the chec! book was made to read, ‘‘For merchandise deposit;’’ it was probably to indicate to the clerk the account to which it should be charged; my relations with the firm wero not imtimate; they did not, to my knowledge, know of our firm’s op tion in the cotton busines: they were our brokers and knew only what passed through their hands; thut was to a very limited extent; James F. Winman & Co, bought and Sold some cotton for us at that time; i think they wero signers of that petition; my attention bas beon called to a check tor $15,000 drawn by our firm to their order on July 21, 187: Deileve it was given them on their demand tor addte tional margins to be pat up on the aw count of certain contracts for cotton which were mado for us by them; I know something avout a check for $2, which was drawn by our firm the day betore the fatlure to ©. Hyllested & Co. ; it was given to them as compensation due them us brokers, but I knew nothing about the checks being given at the time, for they had no account with os except ag brokers; I sent O'Sullivan to th bookkeeper of my assignee for the statement of the account due him, in the spring of 1876; he brought it to me but | paid him no money; don’t think that O'Sullivan is a Judge; 1 do not know if ho got hig money in 1ull for that claim at the time ho brought the account to me. Al this point of tho proceedings tho Register was obliged to Jeave, and the examination closed, 4 THE THEATRE DISASTER, The inquest in regard to the loss of life at the Brooklyn Theatre was resumed last evening in tl Kings county Board of Supervisors’ chamber, but no new facts were elicited, THE RELIEF. Mayor Schrooder received additional subscriptions amounting to $137 yesterday, and Mr, Chauncey re- ceived $27, making the total thus far received by the two gentlemen $19,125 95, At some of the theatres where benefits have been given those baving the matter in charge, as well ag the performers themselves, Lave stipulated that a por- tion of the sum realized be given to the mother of Harry Murdoch, the young actor who perished in the fire. The theatrical profession has done more thus far for the relief of the sufferers than any other profession or department. WARNING TO THE CHARITABLE, Mrs. E. S. Jaffray, the Prosident, and tho Board of Managers of the Ladies’ Christian Union, warn the public against two women who have been going round during the past week collecting money through the medium of jorged letters supposed to havo been write ten by Mrs, Jaffray, Mrs. Henry Ward Johnson and to several of the managers of the society, ing aid for poor women, “one being about to suil for Europe,” &., &¢ The ladies state that they never write or send letters soliciting charity to their frierds and patrons. A GOOD SAMARITAN’S LEG. A suit was brought yesterday morning in the Kings County Supreme Cuurt, before Judge Pratt, by Joun Day against the Brooklya City Railroad Company to recover $20,000 damages forthe loss of aleg. Tho plaintiffs counsel, ex-Jadge Morris, stated to the jury that a driver on one of the Myrtle avenue cars called | to the plaintiff, who was standing on the sido- walk, to jump on the car and give him a drink of ' water, The plaintift did so, and alter the driver had twken his drink, and when the car was going up the hill the plaintiff asked the driver to stop, 30 that he could get off. This the driver declined to do, and the pluintif, in attempting to get off, fell from the car, the wheels of which passed over his ‘leg. Mr. Britton, counsel for the company, moved that the case be dismisseu, on a number ot grounds, one of which was that the company was not | responsible, because the driver for the company wag not its general bul its limited agent, and because the | plainutl was not a passenger when the accident oce curred, The Court granted the motion for dismissal, INDOOR RIFLEMEN. Tho severity of the weather, which prevents amateur riflemen from enjoying their favorite sport at Creedy moor, has not interfered with itim the city, At Cone lin’s Broadway gallery a competition commenced yes. terday for twenty prizes, ranging in valuo from $25 Lo $1. There are to be ten sfows for each competi- tor, at a distance of 110 feet, with a .22 calibro rifle, and at a target reduced to correspond with the 200 yard Creedmoor target. The match is open to all comers, excepting those who have won gold badges in previous competivions The number of entrie: iim. ited to 600, at filty cents each. The shooting com- moneed yesterday and will bo continued until all the entries are shot off, GRACO-ROMAN WAESTLING. TREHER'S EARNEST CHALLENGER. ww York, Jan, 10, 1877, To tux Epitor or THe HERALD: | Since tho arrival of Bauer in this city his friends have boasted that he can give me threo straight falls at any time. Now, to show Bauer and all interested that business Is meant, I hereby challenge any one in tho world to wrestle me, Grmco-Ro} turee or three out of five falls, ior $880 % mae nie match must be play or pay, and can come off in this or any other city, A deposit at the Clipper office Wakes’ Spiritof the Times will meot with iteretinn, | attention, This challenge to be leit open. Altcon dente | and should Bauer, Miller or Christol.necopt they. wilt | oblige, yours truly, ERNEST TREWER BAUBR AND M’LAUGHIIN, a New York, Jan. 10, 1877, | To THe Eprror oF tHe HeRaLo:— Seeing in an evening paper of this date thi iat Col McLaughlin offers to wrestle anybody in the woele 0 | $1,000, pormit me to sty that I challenged him on the evening of his match betore the pi Music Hail, as tollows:—"'One but Gren sete oomtom bout collar and elbow and the other caton as catch dag Seeing that my offer did not suit him Task that, heb kind enough to teil me what way he wishes to wrostle is TH, BAUER,