The New York Herald Newspaper, February 1, 1877, Page 4

4 a APID TRANSIT. Biss and Fall of the New York City Central Underground Railway Company. HOCUS-POCUS WITH A FRANCHISE. A Construction Contract for Twenty Millions on an Estimate of Five Millions. A NEW COMPANY ORGANIZING oe Sixth Avenue Men Protesting to Mayor Ely. ‘The question of rapid transit bas attracted public @tiention for the past ien years, and, although several ditferent schemes have been proposed, the people of ® the city of New York have still to pass ten per cent of their time in horse cars Building iv the upper pore tion of the city, around the Central Park, remains at a standstill, In fact, thousands are seeking homes in New Jersey and Long Island, where they find rapid transit from the ferry slips, and the city of New York loses the taxes it would receive trom what now re- mains unimproved property. Looking into the organization of some of these rapid transit companies a rather peculiar story has lately been passed around that to a certain extent explains why public transit is still limited to the horse cars, In 1868 a charter was obtained tor the New York City Central Unuerground Raiiway Company, but as in gome particulars it was imperfect, nothing was do with it tbat year, In 1869 another effort was made with the Legislature tind the result proved higtily satisfactory, us the com- pany were granted very extensive privileges and well guaraed from forieiture. Great care was taken in the selection of the Board of Directors, and such names as William B, Ogden, James Brown, of Brown Bros, ; Willian E, Dodge, Seligman, the banker: William Butler Duncan and Andrew H. Green soon figured on the prospectus. THE ENGINEER'S REPORT, The direction sutistied the public, and shortly afver- ward a board of three prominent American engineers reported that the double track underground road, from the City Hall to Forty-sixth street, including engine houses, car shops and sheds, could be constructed for $5,208,223, Mr, John Fowler, chief engineer of tho two great underground railways in London; his assist- ant, Mr, William Wilson, who examimed the ground thoroughly, and his superintending engineer, Mr. ‘T. Marr Jolinson, who had beeu hero betoro, all approved of the plans and estimates. Mr. Fowler thought very highly of the enterprise, and said if brought to Loudon under a board of directors of kuown probity and com- mercial standing there was no doubt about obtaining the money, Notwithstanding thé aboye flattering pros- pects ground has never been broken, and the franchises of the road were recently sold at public auction on a foreclosed morigaye sale to cover a debt of some $120,000, As no active measures were taken by the | Board of Directors toward commencing the work it gradually passed away trom the minds of the public, ana, placing their trust in some of the elevatea schemes, they forgot all about the underground. VANDERBILT'S SCHEME, In 1871 Commodore Vanderbilt made a move with a view to building an underground railroad from the City Hall direst vo the Forty second street depot, and finally received a charter trom the Legislature, He was said the time to be reads to commence work without delay, but fur some reuson he let the mati drgp, ahd it is understood that he was afraid of yet. Ling ito ities with the New York City Under- ground Railway, as their charter duted ahead of bis dnd gave them a right of way underneath Fourth ave- hue [rom Astor piace to Fourteentt street, THE NIGGER IN THE PENCE. Some rumors have recently appeared in print that throw a little light upon the action of the Board of Directors of the New York City Underground Railway and explain to a certain extent why the work was not carried out. [tis said that when the real magnitude of the franchise they held became known to some of the directors they formed a ring, and witnout the knowledge of the respectavie members of the Board, they railroaded through a mass of papers that gave a contract to a person of the name of Byrne to compiete tue work .of the road for the ‘modest sum of $20,000,000, when the estimates of the vest engineers in the world only calied-tor about $5,250,000, AN EX-DIRECTOK’S STORY, Such an interesting piece of gossip tet puss, and a HL as too good to KALD reporter started yesterday 10 arch of som pation on the subject. lt was not th easy task, as althoush se people acknowledged having read or beard something about it, nobody had y definite imormation, Finatly an ex-director of s roud Was discovered, WhO consented to say some- ibing on the subject, and the following conversation msued :— «rer—Is ther? any truth in that story about 10,000 contract ? —I beheve there is, The contract you refer to was grauted to Francis P, Byrav, and I fancy he Was to subiet the Work to some English engineers, Why Was it not carried out? rstand the English engineers re- ny to do with such a robbery, and Rerorren ri (he parties that a let the matter drop. Kkevontek—How did they expect to cover up such a glzautre steal? nector—I taney they got the idea from something jearned about the Metropolitan Underground Rane road in London, ‘That road had to pay $20,000,000 for tof way aud still returned a handsome profit pital, so these people thought that secured their right of way for nothing they couli r up their surplus by a charge to real estite pur- H oneTen—What directors were directly interested me? Dingetor—I cannot give you that information, but { know that a number of the prominent gentle- aien connected with tbe Board resigned shortly alter- ward. Kevonter—Were any offers made by capitalists to lake a hold of the road? Dinector—Several, | believe, Mr. Ernest Frignet, wan, offered to furnish $5,000,000 or ,000,000 was raised in the s. 1 fancy there was another offer of pital of $1,000,000, with the privilege of $6,000,000 Vanted si RevortER— Why were they not accepted t Dinketor—L really cannot say, but the directors did Not appear to want capital, as they mortgaged the company for $55,000,000. for One mortgage was made $5,000,000, und another dated July 21, 1873, to nd Jesse Seligman lor $20,000,000, RTER—Can you give me any further informa- tion the subject’ Dixxcror—Nothing that I fancy will interest the public, THE PRESENT PROSPECTS, A HxeRAxp reporter went down town yesterday after- noon in order to obtain some idea of the present status Of the road, and learned that a movement is on loot to start the work again under the title of the Great Me- tropolitan Railroad Company, This com tained aebarter Inthe Erie bill passed lust year, Which con- fers on it the right to go to work with all chises and rights of the New York City Underground Railway Company. The lav pears, was sold on a toreciosure last year, and is now in the Lands of its creditors. Acontidenvial pamphlet has Circulated among capitalists with vols view, and the following copy was obta:ned by the reporter: — tontide PHOPOSALS FOR OW METRO Ht has been sugeesied thacit & Bnd franchises of the Inte New York City Ce runnd Kaileoad Company woul ni fio" eapitat toc made by some citizens fo raise ® evat preference capital stock of the company, fo meet these suyicestions the following proposuls are now submitte That the new company on the seveu por evmmon stock for Be $9,000,000 ot to be applied flac turther 7 coy be obtained on morty f the cominon stock propose to nw of Keven per cent preference stock to be aid for At par, one million of commen at is, for $10) puid tor one of pre < wok they will add one shure of common stock, making ‘of stock for $100 paid. ‘This ond distributing required for its im wore fnised on t property he City ial be Forty hi wade because it is tinless results in London ar tained erior conditions With more trav -duy without ste Many vassengets perm! because the American ng the highest facti utter the fecond COST OF CARKYING, i The passenger conveys New York and Now Kailroad cost about 1875, IT gy ti i tee more than one i xehudin 4 Senancer * ro there will ve, wa In London to int It costs only me. asseners on Lhe everaxed distances er befure been opernted ‘are of the whole income as et income on the ordi- mike ne substantive and o halt to convey for etropolitun travelled. Kailways have ve the NEL wis so lary ese London lines; while the anged the Job became scarce’ and | s they | lately been | NEW YORK HERALD, whole income than on American railways. Now, the opera: sions of the New Haven, New York Central und of ali other railroads in this, and tn alt other countries, go to show, wi is experience im Loudon demonstrates, that two ill pay all che ex s for each passenger Irom the all to Forty-second street, and which now costs four more by horse pow: | nary rallways of Engtand ts a lower percentago of the ARES. ity Hall to the Grand Central s under three miles. Four sacl passenger, muss there- 1 ‘about this what ly demonsti strated by every working locomotive since the days of Ste . Now, with 20,000,00) of passengers, not two- conveyed on tke Third Avenue and of "those on the — Metropol i of those conveyed on the M: District and North London railways severally so many as the rage each on tow horse raliroads—there will be $800,000 net for capital. Js ign per cent on $10,000,000—elzht, per cant on what the railway ought to cost trom the City Hall to the Grand ¢ dopot—and, cortuinly, over seven por cent on double the amount conceivubie or reasonably pos sible that it eau cost, not counting the common stock, which represents the value of the rixbt of way, These fncts show here, what has been demonstrated every day for fourteen yeurs in London, that the ground—the right of way—In th city and in this city is worth more tur railway used than the cost of the improvements, THk WIGHT OF Way, ‘They show that this common stock, which represents here wright of way that has cost the ‘Metropolitan Kailw mpany of London over $20,000,000 of its first prefer capital to secure there, m hb more than the seveo £ ce per cent preference stock, because It ts to receive 4 lurger neome. The viler vow made ls perhaps as good » text as try w have any to find out whether the business men will he city of York reach the higher conditions ot me- progress. No subscriber will be bound million of preference stock is taken on 4 ton percent deposited in bank on each ed unless the wiwie is taken within a pertod. se 8 ibers may aume, if not all, at two thirds of the directors, and they may prescribe where and how the money shail be applied to the w work, It ts understood that there will be very little diMculty fn obtaining the required amount, s0 there is atill 3 prospect of underground rapid transit, PROPERTY OWNERS BEFORE MAYOR ELY, A number of property owners and other business men ou Sixth avenue waited upon Mayor Ely, at bis office, yesterday, for the purpose of presenting their views in opposition to the Gtibert Elevated Railway, About fitty gentlemen were present, among them Mr, E. A. Morrisson, Messrs, H. Aronson, Sylvester Bush, B. J. King, John Heller, G, H. Beyer, T. E. Macy, H. ©. F, Koch, Richard Meares dud B. Altman, DEPRECIATING REAL STATE,’ Mr. Morrisson first addressed the Mayor. He re- marked that the committee came with a good dea! of confidence to seek redress trom His Honor, They were all property owners and business men of Sixth uvenug, Many interests were at stake in the erection of the Gilbert Elevated Ruiiway in that locality. The road would cost $3,000,000, and the property which it would ertaimly depreciate on Sixth avenue was valued at $40,000,000, In case of the erco- tion of the road on the avenue this property must de- preciate trom twenty-five to filty per cent. Over $10,000,000 in shrinkage of property would result on Sixth avenue if this rapid transit road was erected ac- cording to the present plans, Would it be to the in‘er- | ests of the city to allow the carrying out of such an in- ustice? If the railroad was built business men would not care owning any, property in the eny of they ‘would ‘have no security in thejr | real ‘estate _ investments, This company had taken possession of — the streets without paying oue cent of compensation to the property owners. Those gentlemen worked bard ‘tor their money, and they did not wish to have it stolen from thein in such a manner, ‘A GROCKR’S COMPLAINT, Mr. James Galway, another property owner, next spoke. He denied that anybody interested in the business success of Sixth avenue was in favor ot the bert road, He also disclaimed the charge that the members of the committee were opposed to rapid transit, It was easy to do as was dove in London— build in the middie of the streets and purchase the right of way, A short time since, previous to the erection of the road on Greenwich — street, nearly all the property owners lived in their homes. Now they had’ moved elsewhere, as they could not stand the bad air and smoke in the second stories, Stores which had rented tor $1,000 were now, in somo instances, let for $600. He, Mr, Galway (who is a grocer), had a number of lady customers who cume to big store in carriages. They would not trust their horses m the viciuity if the Elevated Railroad was built, It would drive all these people out ol the avenue, The dry goods interest, which was always very large here, would also be similarly affected. He had offered his property, 1n case the Elevated road was | continued on the avenue, to @ friend thirty-three per cent less than its present value. ‘The {riend refused to take it at this figure, WANTS IT ON PIPTH AVENUR, Mr. Jonn Keller considered that the Mayor would do them justice in the controversy. They were treated by this company most outrageously. Many of the gen- tlemen who then waited upon the Mayor had work for over twenty years in this city to amass a comp: ney, and they had put their money in real estate be- e they considered 1t the safest invesimeat, ‘They ow #aw that nothing was sale from rapacious rings 2 people did not grumble about paying taxes if the | money was property spent, They could not seo why SIXTH AVENUE about, New York; the ‘city could tot build an underground rail- road. Fifth avenue was the most eligible route for rapid transit, as it lends directly | w the Graud Central’ depot, to the Park and other important localities, It was pot right to switch off suddenly from South Fifth avenue to Sixth avenue. Why not continue the road straight on? The company Was evidently atraid to encounter the oppo- sition from the wealthy residents of Fitthavenue. If the Elevated Railroad was carried through Sixth ave- | nue 600 families would be made poor. The people of New York allowed themseives to be robbed by a ring of about $1,000,600 per month for a period of four yours An attempt was now made to roba number of industrious men of their bard earned money. STER ON THE WARPATH, ‘stercamne dowk at the risk of bis heuith to argue against this project, It was the most unjust measure ever started. He lived outside the city op an eminence about t ame height as that of the second story windows in Greenwich street, ‘The railroad cars passed by and the smoke thereirom was | actually sickening. How much worse rust be this smoke and dust arising from the road in the city, Under the Gilbert plan every bitof airand light was shut out, and the property of the vicinity was actually confiscated. People might as well drive anuer a water- | Spout as under the Gilbert road during stormy weather, Persons out of town desirous of obtaining rapid transit might come forward and pay for the depre- ciation in property of those affected in different parts of the city, He—General De Peyster—could not dispose of bis property to any advantage whatever unul this matter was settled, IMPENDING BANKRUPTCY. Mr. 8. H, Beyer described the attempts to take away this property’ by what he called an internal ring. If he improved b:s property, at present he could nat realize three and a ball per cent upon it. He believed in rapid transit, but he wanted the road built m_ such tgroute would be reimbursed for any injury or de- preciation. Letit be run in the centre of the street omunderground, If the Guibert road was placed in Sixth avenue ir. Beyer—was willing to confess that he would become bankr A GRAND JURY, Hol Mr. Hl. A. King did not know of any such railroad | in existence as that proposed under tue Gilbert plan, | It was a nuisance, which should be brought betore we Grand Jury. Sixth avenue would soon be next to | Broadway in point of importance ag a business thor- | ougnfare, They, a8 property owners, freely paid taxes and assessments for sewerage, opening streets and the | numerous other calls o | year, He wus compelled amount of $2,000 on property, Supposing to pay assessmentsio the this avenue was afterward ‘The rights of taxpayers should not thus be trampied upon. A STRAM WALL, Mr, ©. H, Phillips called attention to whe dangers vhich must result to horses travelling under the ted road, It was nonsense to suppose that th animals would become used to it, Searcely a wee passed that some accident did not nappen on the Greeawich street road which the papers would not publish, The Gilbert road would shutoff the whole w ley could not use their carriages and residents would be | smothered in smoke and dust, The newspapers smoothed over this condiuon of affairs, and woud not xive the exact facts, THK MAYOR'S REMARKS. | Mayor Ely, in reply, said lie was ylad to meot so lurge | and influential a body of citizens to discuss apy im- | portant question, The question of rapid transit was one of great public interest, Ali recognized its | sity, The question was, How could it be best ace | plished without seriously intringing upon private | mehts? He had examined the underground system in | London, and Was of the opinion that it could not be this city on account ot the hard, rocky It would, too, be ruinous to any who might undertake the project He | bad also examined the three-tier plan which | liad been proposed some years since, and he | thought it wes unforunate that its projectors had not | permitted to goon with the work, His prede- | sor, Mayor Wickham, bad appointed Rapid Transit | Commissioners, aud they had adopted certain plans, | We did not have an opportunity nor conventence to examine into the details of what they baddone, The | allnsion made jn bis message to the subject of rapid | transit was brought about Ly the very great cruelty he adopted 10 nature of the soil. capitalists | faw in Amity street intlicted upon property owners in that vicinity, who received 10 com- | pensation for the damages received, So i as the roed the: haa Commissioners were con aceomplished ther work, and citizens should resort to the courts to protect their righty He was of the opinion that any control of the matier bad passed out oi the Mayor's hands, Mr, Morrison suggested that the Mayor might com- muuicate with the Legislature ip relation to the sube ject. He was certain that any ideas coming from bit would receive careful aud respecttal attention, STRIKING THR BALANCR. Mayor Ely promised that be would do anything in his power to mid the property owners in protecung their rights, always keeping t@ mind, however, the importance of rapid transit. PRESIDENT FOSTER ON THE BENEFITS TO DOWN- TOWN PROPERTY. “There is one argument in favor of rapid transit,’ said President Foster, of the Gilvert Elevated road, yesterday, “that bas not been advanced to a eullicient ver that the property owners along the line of | ade upon them during the | twenty-five teat of Boulevard | taken for a railroad, would it not be a great outrage? | | west side of the city witn a steain wail, so that peoplo | | | goods were not in Ro extent, and that !s the benefit the introduction of an elevated road will be to the lower portion of the city, Hitherto the pleas tn favor of quick travel hove been, to a great degree, the advantage it will be to the upper part of the city, aud the opponents of the enter. prise have contended that the movement has been backed by residents and property owners: is that vicinity through ifish motives, and to the detriment of pronerty in the extreme southern portion of the city, If one will take the troupie to examine into that question a little he will find that a steam road starting from the Bat tery will be of the greatest service to men doing busi- ness in the neighvorhood of Whiteball, Soutn, Front, Water, Poarl, Beaver and State streets, aud enhance the value of property thereabout accordingly. THE DRY GOODS TRADR, “Woe know that that district was at one time the centre of the dry goods trade; but all the irms in that business have now located in Broadway, Duane, Worth, Leonard and Franklin streets, and even further up town. For the past few yeurs the wholesale gro- cers have been established where the dry goods people used to be, but they are now gradually moving over to the west side, Property far down town hus greatly dimivished in value during the last decade, Tho de- crease in the worth of some hages ne 3 that Lam iter. ested in in Front street was perceptible some time ve- fore the panic. DOWNTOWN INOONVENIENCHS, “The great trouble ts that people uving far up town do not like the journey to and from un office away . perhaps, in ome cases, they cannot time that such @ trip Decessitates, There ine of stages from the South ferry up town, entleman resides tar over on the west side of town he musttake one of the lines of horse cars which make their termini at the Astor House to ride near his home, In that case, if his place of business is very far down, he is obliged to walk up to the Astor House or use that one-horse road trom the Staten Island ferry. Then there isthe bother of changing cars,'not to mention the possibility of a stand- up ride for two or three miles and the painfully slow mode of progress. Whereas, if a person can step ip thecarattho Battery and beat bis home ina few minutes, a place of business in the lowest portion of the city is as desirable as one can wish for,’ “ALL FOR THE FAMILY.” HOW AN UPTOWN FURNITURE DEALER CARED FOR A FRIEND'S HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS. Detectives Fieids avd O'Conner, of the District At torney’s office, arrested W. R, Romaine, of No, 238 East Fifteenth street, yesterday morning, on the charge of grand lurceny, two indictments being found against him by the Grand Jury. Romaine, alter ex- amination, was bailed before Judge Gildersiceve, in the sum of $5,000, to answer. The alleged facts in this case show how easily some persons may be imposed upon when approached nthe guise of frtendsh:p, and how impudent an alleged class of ewindlers may be- come when they think they have ‘ino best of a bargain,” “ALL POR HiM,'? The first complaint aguinst Romaine is made by Mr. Benjamin F, Hatch, of No. 14 West Fiftieth street, This gentleman swears that previous to May 1 last ho concluded to break up housekeeping, when Romaine called upon him as a friend to induce him to store fur- niture, valued at $714, ina building on the corner of ‘Twenty-third street and Third avenue, “Ihave plenty of room there,” said Romaine, “and the storage won’t cost youucent.” Repeated assurances of this nature, made, ag expressed, only with the view of ‘serving and accommodating” Mr, Hatch flually caused the goods to be stored as desired. It was agreed by Ko- maine that the articles should be securely kept and de- livered to the owner when wanted, In tho month of Juiy Mr, Hatch leased the house No. § Kust Forty-mxth street, and, naturally desir the valuable furniture stored) with bis = “triena’? Romaine, culled upon the latter to obtain it. Greatly to the astonishment of Mr, Hatch, it was ascertained that Romaine’s wish to “serve and ac- commodate” was but a snare and a delasion, as that individual bad so forgotten the proprieties of the occasion as to pledge the furniture for $350, The in- terview closed with Romaine promising to release the property and at ouce turo it over, It is hardly neces. sary toadd that this was never done, and repeated subsequent promises of like character failing to be kept, Mr, Hatch naturally came to the conclusion that Romaine’s friendship was not ‘all for him,’ but branched and sprouted into byways and highways that were a little crooked and peculiar. In fact, he believed Romaine’s tactics closely resembled thoso of a swindler, “ALL POR IER,” At the game time that Komaine desired to “serve and accommodate’ Mr. Hatch he expressed the same wish to that gentleman’s wile, This lady had articles ol the value of $416 which she wanted to be sulely stored until the family again went to housekeeping, ng the assurances of Romaine ner goods red into his hands at the same time as those ot her husband. This is the second charge, The two lots were valued at $1,130. When Komaine was ques- uuoned regarding the whereabouts of Mra, Hatch’s property the “friend of the family’ refused to give the least satisfaction, “They are in another place,” said he, but where and how they could be obtained 4 ‘was not vouchsaled. MR. HATCH “ALL FOR HIMSELF.” Mattors assuming a rather complicared phase at this stave of the affair Mr, Hatch began to look around tor himself, He believed that all of Romaine’s statement were false, aud that the furuiture and articles in- trusted to his keeping had been distributed among private auction rooms to be disposed of. ‘To this end he looked about among these places, and in the latter part of September found a portion of the property at the auction room No. 22 East Thirteenth street offered for sale. He also ascertained about the same time that a hall stand belonging to the lot of turniture stored with Romaine had beeo purchased by a gentleman doimg business on Broadway for $40, the same article having cost him $75, and was not the “worse tor wour” when it went into Romaine’s bands. These | facts, with others, convinced Mr. Hatch that there was adeliberate attempt to deprive bi of his property, and from further investigation he concluded that Ko- maine was not new in the peculiar business, THE PRICK OF KOMAINE’S PRIKNDSILP, The subsequent steps are also inieresting, Romaine was again called upon to “explain.” Instead of doing so he boldly presented u bill against Mrs. Hatch’s prop- érty, claiming $50 for cartage, $12 for something else and $1,300 for storage, So the “iriendship” in the transaction was thus rudely dispelied, as a man who could.coolly present such a claim, ard ‘lor amounts so beyond ail reason and precedent, proved a little too much for the Hatch family to turther endeavor to deal with amicably, Then Mr. Hatch, fully persuaded the ine’s possession, offered him $100 to produce them, The latter reiused without sut- islactory reasons, Subsequently Mr. Hatch again visited Komaine, but this time with a friend, and made a formal demand for his property and that belouging to his wile; but the “iriend of the family’? now po. Iitely and pleasantly responded, “I haven’t a damned stick of them to give you.’’ Friendly negotiations then ceased. . Romaine in bis examination sald that he ts forty-five years old, married, aud a turusture dealer, WITHIN THE LAW. INTRUSTING LETTERS TO IRRE- SPONSIBLE PERSONS. “ Mr. Gayler, Superintendent of the city delivery in the New York Post Office, had under investigation yes- terday a case in which, under ordinary cireumstanees,- the accused could have been consigned to prison for A term of years, As it is, however, he excapes punish- ment, The facts of the case are these:—On the 24th of January a lurge white envelope, unsealed, was dropped into one of the mail boxes at the Post Oitice, which had originally been addressed to Mr. Augustus Morris, care of R, W. Cameron & Co, No. 23 South William = street.’? This address had been clumsily erused and on the back of the envelope written, ° iu a serawling hand, “Mr. Augustus Morris, cure of Mr KR. Lo & iduey, New South Wales,”? Two thirty-cent postage ‘stamps, which bore every deuce of having been used belore, were attached to the envelope. The letter ap- peared to contain sumo heavy metalic articles, le was not deemed proper to forward the letter in its open condition aud it Was therefore returned to Messrs. Cameron & Go. These genviemen iniormed Mr, Gay- ler’s messenger that they had intrusted a letter ad dressed as stated to P. J. Kiernan, William street, who. koeps a letter express and es u large number of letters from merchants and others in that yielnity, This letter had b enclosea in a large yollow en- elope, properly sealed and stamped, It was left in Kiernan’s office by Mr. Cameron's bookkeeper on the evening of the 24th wit, and in reply to inquiries made of Mr. Kiernan ‘it was ascertained that the letter in question had beeu — forwarded, with others, in charge of une of lis messengers, a youny man about niueteen years of age, whose tidel- ity he bad no reason to suspect, He readily offered every facility to investigate the case and furnished specimens of the handwriting of both messengers in his employ, which were carefully compared in the Post Othee by experts with the handwriting in which the address on ihe envelope traced, The export son arrived at the conciusion that the writing was in the hand of ove of the messengers, whom he charged with having tampered with the letter, INNOCENT, YRT GUILTY, The young man strenuously denied his gulit, but finuily ‘admitted that he had opened the lever, rex moved the stamps from the original covering, placed tem on the white one and deposited the letter im the Post Office, Where it was found, His cu- pidity had been’ excited by the metallic substance, which he thought was coin. He signed a written con- this effect and promised never again to jaw if released this time, There being no penaity ander the postal laws for such a case—the jetter bot having been in possesion of the Post Oflice authorities when it was opened—the young man was released from custody with a reprimand and dis- charged by Mr. Kiornai, Owing to the fact that his family Is highly respectable the name was withheld from publication. A SUPERVISUR'S VéTO, The resolution recently passed by the Kings County Board of Supervisors authorizing the expenditure of $30,000 for the construction of a new grmory for the uve of the Forty-seventh regiment, Brooklyn, BE. D., has been vetoed by the Supervisor-at-Large of the Board of Supervisors. DANGERS OF | fresh water, which, being tranapianted to a parlor THE WONDERS OF AMERICA. OFFENBACH’S GREAT LITTLE BOOK—A SECOND VOLUME EXPECTED, AND WHAT IT WILL CON- TAIN—‘“‘O WAD SOME POWER THE GIFTIE GIE US TO SEE OURSELS AS ITHERS SEE US: Two Europeans who have recently excited the world of literature have proved that fuct aud tmagina- tion are one and the same thing, These men are Jules Verne and M. Offenbach. But whereas Jules Verne relies upon his imagination for bis tacts, M, Offenbach relies upon his facts for hia tmagination, Between his fact and bis imagination there ts an introconvertibie bond. As the boy said to big paternal ancestor, most of his facts are above par, M. Offenbach’s statements are like the Pyramids, which, seen afar of, appear misty and smooth as if they were pearis, but which, seen close by, show the hard and stony stepa by which one ascends to the practical summit in logical grada- tons, M, Offenvach steps, tndecd, from tact to imagination, as the bippopotami step {rom land to waier, OF a8 8 man prances {rom the high land of pedal security to @ recumbent position in the Slough (of Broadway) Despond. We learn with pleasuro that the trustees of Princeton College, the great head centre of geographical learning in America, whose alumni every year travel from Hackensack to Prince- ton and from Princeton to Rabway, are now in session, and nave voted by a majority of ninetoen to ove to make M, Offenbach a LL.D, We hasten to inform M, Offenbach that the tiie LL.D, is much eguperior to a simple L. D. In the latter title there isa rule requir. ing the bearer to wear only one ring iu his nose, whereas where a man gets double 1, «as few men do, it is necessary to for two years as an apprentice to arailway brakeman, M. Offenbach gives us many facts about ourselves, but we aro informed by vo !ess authority than his own publisher that he 1s reserving some of the best of his observations for his second volume. He will therein probably tellus about the four mammoth organs tn Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and New Orleans, lying thousands of miles apart, and played upon sim- ultangously by one steam engine operated at Wash- ington, transmitting its impuise through tubes con- necting With the distant cities, It would be strange if M. Offenbach had not while here become acquainted with the operator, Mr. Jacques G. Blaine, Being a musician, he should have learned that there isin Lake Michigan a@ fresh water oyster known as the muscular clam, though scientifically callea the Henry Clay,Dean, from its aversion to anything but aquarium, will make the softest music by scraping its wings together, It has even been known to walk over the keys of a piano, in regular footsteps, with the points of its shells, and play some of the ‘songs with- out words” of Mendelssohn. When these play words without songs they are sai to be on the half shell, It is startling that M. Offenbach should have failed j to learn about the water supply of New York, though he certainly gave much attention to the beor supply. As every New Yorker knows, our water is brought from Niagara Falls via Harlem Bridge in silver buckets on an en‘less chain, emptying into the reservoirs at Central Park, 1n sunny weather these buckets are in- visible, and seem to be part of the sunshine, At present they are part of the moonshine. One can hardly blamo M, Offenbach for not earing about water; but in his first volume he shows great ignorance of our Sunday customs iu regard to whiskey and beer, Any- bedy can get either beverage on Sunday by simply putting on @ policeman’s uniform and going in at @ back door, We are sorry that M. Offenbach forgot to taste tho native Jersey lobster. He is evidently acquainted with only the red kind which grows on the trees in Delmonico’s garden under the restaurant. Those lob- sters are raised very much as mushrooms are raised in Boston. But we aro heartily sorry that M. Offen- bach’s chaperone was not brave enough to take him into New Jersey to shoot the brilliant native lobster of that country. To be sure, the Indians of New Jersey are savage, especially those called the Tom Scotl’s tribe at Trenton; but further north, at Hackensack, where they have been somewhat weaned from their love of human flesh, they will permit an occasional traveller to shoot a few lobsters in their happy hunt- ing grounds. These lobsters fly mostly in the night time, and in hot weather their song may be heard for miles, In the language of aboriginal New Jersey, they are called mo-skeet hoes, M. Offenbach should havo tasted ono of them, or, at loust, nave allowed one of them to taste of him. While in Now Jersey he might have visited Passaic Falls, whose banks next tho frothy spray aro so plastic and sweet that the people se. them for sponge cake; and if his guide had been posted in climatic conditions he might have seen the delicious effects of that most wonderful of American phenomena—Jersey lightning. It plays with wonderful power, though it hag only a still, small voice, Many people have been known to carry its eflecis for days. The natives, however, have an anti- dote for it, composed of the long feathers ot the male of the common barnyard fowl, and iu the Indian tan- guage called cocktails,” If M. Offenbach bas not been cheated out of some of the best facta relating to America he knows about tho new fire escape used by Congressmen in Wasbington. It is not usod merely as an escape from fire, but mainly aga means of avoiding leading questions before an in- vestigating committee, It is im appearance a simple skull cap of oilsilk, the same as that worn by tho Congressmen when they aro sworn in. As a lawyer, or, what is of groater importance in this coun- try, @ newspaper man, asks a Congressman a question, the latter touches a little spring located in his left hand suspender button, and the gas begins to expand the ca; As it swell¢ the Congressman begins to rise to the importance of the occasion. Presently a question is asked which he cannot answer with pleasure to his feelings—some- thing, perhaps, relating to some contribution made from his private fortune to the public treasury—and ho puts on the gas at {ull foree, The cap expands, and before the astonished questioner can recover the Con- gressman has really gone up ina balloon, These bal- joons may be seen at all hours in the air at Washing- ton during 4 session of Congress, The Senatorial balloons are red, the Congressional green, A man may come down at any moment at his own pleasure. There 18 a never-failing supply of gas, which is manufactured 1n the Capitol, Mr. Morton being im charge of the Sen- ‘ate gus retort courteous, and Mr. Jacques Garfield being in charge of that belonging to the lower house. This is called the lower house because it is ertuated in the basement, and the members do not have to go down a pair of stairs to get toa barroom, The gas is supplied free, and ff M. Offenbach had dnly obtained some of it he might have put it into bis book. But we hope he will come often back, as often, in fact, as tho Ameri- cans came it on him. BOOK. SALES, The sale of the Hastie library was concluded yesterday. The books, a8 a rule, brought good prices, the ‘demoition total,” as Mr, Mantalini would say, being about $20,000. The best prices brought were for Puinter’s Palace of Pleasure,’ y's Tresutise,” &c., a copy printed in black letter, $21; Kabelais’ “dluvres,”? $19 50; Ptolemy’s “Inadripartite,’”? $16; Dean Swift's works, in twenty voluines, $40; Sue’s “Wandering Jew,’ three volumes, Heath’s filustrated edition, $21; Voltaire’s ‘La’ Pucelle,” $23, and Wood's *“Athenw Oxonionses,’”? $1: At the conclusion of the sale of a gentleman’s pri- vate library at Bangs & Co.’s yesterday Shaw’s “Ar. chitectural Sketches’ brought $6 50; Stevens’ ‘Ameri can Nuggets,” $3 “Sun Pictures,” $6 25; a collec. tion of Colonial tracts made vy Peter Force, four vol- umes, $350 avolume; “Trials for Adultery,’’ sevon volumes, $3 60 each; the Turner Gallery, worth $110, sold for $31; a large paper copy of Webster's Diction- ary, of which only 250 copies were printed, $8 75, ‘There will be anotuer sale of fine Works at Bangs’ next week, STEALING COFFEE POTS. Charles Moley, aged sixteen years, of No. 211 Wost Fighteenth street, was vrought up at the Washington place Court yesterday charged with grand larceny. ‘The enterprising youth made his way into the dining room of a boarding house in West Twenty-sevonth street, packing up four silver coftee pots in the table cloth, departed as silently as he came. = The property was found in his possession. He said he was drank, nud did not know what he was doing, Held in $1,000 bail A CANDID CONFESSION. Mary Craig, aged nineteen, the young servant girl arrested by Detective Reynolds, of the Eighth pre- cinct, for stealing a watch and chain, value $30, from Mrs, Kate Morrison, of No, 99 Chariton strect, was arraigned betore Justice Fiammer at the Washington Piace Court yesterday. She admitted having stolen the watch and chain, but pieaded im extennation of her offenve that sue did not think the property was worth more than $10 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1877.—TRIPLE SHEET. UNIVERSALISTS AT Sudden Break-Up of the McOarthy- Sweetser Trial. SHAKING THE TERRORS OF THE LAW. +2 Vehement Denunciations—Lively Rejoinders— Universal Ructions. tailor The second day’s proceedings in the case of the R C. P. McCarthy, charged with high crimes and mis meanors by his brother pastor, the Rev, E, C, Sweet ser, were held yesterday in the basement of the Bleecker street Universalist church, before the Com- mittee on Ordination and Discipline, The same five members of the Ecclesiastical Court were present. The proceedings were at first more orderly than on the previous day, but the extraordinary scene at the unexpected close of the triai fairly beggars description in its uproarious confusion. THR MORNING SESSION, Mr. Halitt’s cross-examination waa continued, He said the pastor was dismissed by them withiv three months, After a few other questions Mr. McCarthy asked:—‘‘Now, sir, on your honor, was | dismissed??? Mr, Huirr—No, 1 don’t believe you were; 1 be. Heve you dismissed yourself, This evident contradiction created quite a sensation. Mr. Lippencott, of the committee, shouted, “I don’s like to hear you browbeat a witness, "? Mr, Hutitr—I won't answer bim another question ‘unless the Court wili protect me. Mr. McCarthy bas insulted every witness that has been in this chair be- fore. Idon’t want to be ied into answers that I don’t intend, Mr. Livpescort—The Court should protect the wit- ness. . Mr, McCarthy then read from the oatfi of Mr. Hulitt betore the Court of Common Pleas, that Mr. McCarthy’s engagement was a monthly engagement at $200 a month during Mr. Sweetser's absence. Mr. Hunirr—Or until Easter, Dr. Fisuer (of the Court)—Mr, McCarthy, this is ver- bal hair splitting. Mr, McCarruy—I consider that every word of it is in strict law, The Court then accused Mr. McCarthy of taking up too much time, *‘Why,’’ said the latter, ‘Mr. Beechor took six months, Judging by the proportion of ratio and size, Lought to get six weeks”? Mr. Hulitt went on to say that the engagement closed at Easter, re- marking at the same time that the question had been asked before. Tho examination was continued amid such pleasant exchanges as the following: — Mr, McCaxtuy—Didn’t you, Mr, Hulitt, shake hands ‘with me after it was decided to pay me the money they dia? Mr. Hurirc—Yes, sir. Mr, MoCartuy—When you shook hands with me did you believe thetmoney paid me was blackmail? Mr. Huuirt—Yes, sir; most decidedly; I paid the money most grudgingly. Mr. McCartay—And you shook hands with a person you thought wus blackmailing you? Mr. HuLirt—Yes, sir. | shook hands with you. Mr. McCanruy—Didn’t you see Mr, MacAdum shake hands with me, or bear him * Mr. Hu.irr—Hear him shake hands with your Mr. McCartuy—Heir bim speak to me, sir, Mr. Huurr—i can’t 81 1 didn’t shake hands with you of my own tree will, Mr. McCarruy—You did it, then, as an act of hy- pocrisy, Now, when was it that the idea of black- mai) Urst came to you? Mr. Hutitt—From tho time you wanted so mueh money for a settlement. : Mr. McCarthy here showed from the witness’own words that the firat ofler of settlement was suggested by Mr. D, J. Stagg, and that when a member of the Board of Trustees usked him for how much he would gettie then be first mentioned money. Sir, Siagg was next called to the wit Mr, Sweetser, Betore proceeding with amination the latter gentlemau submitted an agree- ment that Mr. Stagg’s Words should not bo ased by any party as basis for @ suit.at la The Court recommended that the document be signed by the two pustors, Mr. Sweetser signedit, Mr. McCarthy fefused to sign it on the grounds of its opposition to the constitution of the society, in which it is stated that none of tts proceedings shall prejudice the rights of any one before the laws of the State. He was will- ing tosign it if his solicitor agreed, He bad already begun a suit for libel against Mr. Sweetser in the Su- preme Court for $10,000 damages. Dr. Fisher, of the committee, said be thought that Mr. McCarthy should subscribe to the paper, 1t would bein accordance with the practices of society and he hoped Mr, Mo- Carthy would be satistiod with them. ‘Quite the con- trary,’ said the latter, ‘I protest against many of them. Dr, Fisugx—You bave accepted them all in receiving our fellowship. Mr, McCartuy—I object; I object, especially to hav- ing recetved ull your evil practices as a denomination. Dr. Fisuer then asked, ‘Do you or do you pot sub- mit to the rules of the New York State Convention of the Universalists, or to the General Convention?’ The rules were then read, Mr. McCartuy—Where the conditions set forth are complied with I submit to them; with one exception, however, and that 1s that in opposition to those rules there are several good men im fellowship who are en- tirely engrossed in the business of earving their bread and butter and nave no church—that shoutdn’t be there, [am ready to sign nothing, except with tho advice of my legal father conlessor. Every witness who is brought up bere i responsible for what he says, and can be held responsible for it before a court ot law, 1 will consult my solicitor about signing the agreement, The Court then adjourned until two o'clock to give him tine to consult his solicitor, THE APTERNOON SESSION, At two o’clock the proceedings were resumod. Mr. McCarthy said that by advice of lis counsel be refused to sign the agreement presented, The Court then put to him the question whether he submitted to the rulings of the Court and the usages of the New York State Convention of Univorsalista, under which he held fellowship, and whether be would abstain from ny interference with the conducting of the case by appeals or threats of appeal to resort to other tribunais which must necessarily ombarrass their proceedings and prevent them trom getting at the facts of the case, AN INDIGNANT REPUSAL, Mr. McCarthy answered that he would not submit to any ibfamous star-chamber practices of the committee. “Suppose this court condemns me,” said be, “1 have an appeal in our church toa higher court, and then another appeal.” Mr. Saxk, Chairman of the committee (reading)— “By the rules and usages of the New York State Con- vention of Universuiists it was the duty of Mt Sweetser, if he believed you guilty of the charges ho brought against you, to bring the charges upon which we are are now acting, Have you instituied a civil action against bim on the basis of his complaint?” Mr, McCakTuY—Yes, in connection with other ver- bai charges, which will form @ very important ele- ment in the investigation, and which will take place if we live long enough, in the Supreme Court. Mr. SAxk (again reading)— ‘Will you withdraw that guilt and promise not to go on with any other proceed- ing ayainst bim or any other person in the case now before us?” Mr. McCartuy—lI must solemnly refuse, I Willing, that 1 will carry out case to its utmost limit, and also thatl will prosecute any witness who may slander mo before this court, (Great excitement.) THE COMMITTEE'S PROPOSALS. ‘The Court here took a recess of fiteen minutes to consider this startling announcement on Mr. Mc- Curthy’s part of his intended course of action, After ‘an absence of halfan hour the Courtreturned, Beioro announcing their decision, Mr. Biddle, who had all along been the strongest supporter of Mr. McCarthy, asked leave to address the Court, Permusion being given besaid ‘I think the whole discussion might be teruimnted here im a very simple manner—by Mr, Sweetser withdrawing his charges.’’ The latter gentle. man juinped up and shouted, ‘Mr, Biddle has never insulted me before that I Know of; bat anything coming fro:n an outsice party in this matter L regard in alight of shat kind, You have my answer,” THK TRIAL BREAKS DOWN. The Court, trrough is chairman, then pronounced the following decision :—"The committee, on consulta- tion, have unanimously come to the opinion thas the yosition occupied by Mr. McCarthy and the Fonlhas given to the questions propounded place nim in contempt of court; that it mi possib.o for us to go on with the investigation with any reasonable hope of eliciting truth, We have agreed substantially on a verdict, and will write It out and send it to the parties. The ¢ourt is now ad- Journed.’”” Mr. McCartuy—lI would like here to put in my ap- bars Swrerser—I should like to know if I have the right to bring torth my other witnesses? A GENERAL URBAKING OUT, Mr. McCartuy—*“! intend tu appeal from the decision of the Court, whatever it is, 1 shall appeal trom Cvesar to Cesar’s master, (Continued rapping tor ord by the chairman, Mr. McCarthy in a thundering void proceeding.) You sball hear my appeal All the world has a right to hear jt. The reporters of this city, whom you lave tried to exclude, have a right to hear it (fhe chairman rapping still louder and marks of approbution und disapprobation from the different parties in the audience and Mr, McCarthy shouting out with all his “et You bave no right to shut me off in this way. hy, I have convicted one of my pre cutors here almost of perjury. ene heard of such infamous star-chamber practices before, The Universalist Church, which of all Uburches pretends to oo the most tolerant, | om surprised to find ts so bitterly intolerant here.’’ (Uproarious excitement.) “I am addressing myself to you, gentiemen of the Court, to everybody in this room, to all the world through the reporvers ot New York city, and I beg they will take down all 1 suy,’’ Mr. McCarthy, exhausted and bourse, stopped im bis tirade for Want of breath, and tho chairman knocked on the table, crying out, “this Court jourved,” and the meotng ke up in great dis- order, THR TRRROKRS OF THR LAW, ‘The mombers of the committue wero at Ones sur. WAR. | iu addressed was only s laymen A indy i. “IE fist tn his tace, sayin, ought to be dismissed as tice, that’s justice !*? fairly shi Mr. MoCarthy’s while Mr, Sweetser’s party replied by @ laugh of deriston. ‘Stop m ping those reporters,” cried out Mr. McCarthy to the chair- map of the committee, who was endeavoring to give to the representatives of the press some information as to the meaning of the committee’s decision. “*1’Il have some of them in the Supreme Court before long.”? Speechmaking was at once indulged in ail over the room, and a dtp arose which made it impossi bie for any one to be heard, CALM DR, FISHER, Amid all the posse and contusion there was at one present who never for a moment forgot bis digni or lost his coolness in argument This was the Rov. Dr. Fisher, Mr, Biddle attempted to argue that the Court had been wrong in Stopalng the case, ‘‘Bear ta mind,” said Dr, Fisher, ‘that we do pretend to _ pronounce on tho merits of the case. We cannot go on with it because of Mr, McCarthy’s last statementa, lt our proceedings are under such a surveillance that every one of us is liable to be arrested on the street we do not intend to put ourselves in that position. It ign’t the question so much of whether anybody bas slaudered him as whether he thinks any’ has, He can bave usall upon such acharge, We want legal advice before going on, if we can't take proceedings without being under the threat of a suit we won’t go on. Otherwise it isn’t safe to go op.” The Doctor then explained that the Court would only give a ver- dict as to their own position in the case, and ‘not on the charges brought against Mr. McCarthy, The matter will probably be referred to the Stat Convention or General Committee, In the meantime the proceedings are indefinitely postponed. THE PRAYERS DOWN TOWN, There was an atmosphere of subdued earnestness about the prayer meeting in the John street Methodist church yesterday, The auditorium was nearly full, the attendance being made up chiefly of professed church members. Mr, G. 3. Meserole presided and Professor Weeks led tho singing. The Prosident read from the ninth chapter of Luke and made running comments on thetext ‘No ono," he sald, “loves his wife more than } do; but when the Lord tells me to go and do a thing, even though it deprives her of my society, I. go and do it, and she loves me all the better for it after.” Doubt and h tancy about one’s duty to God he considered quite censurable, and he advised that no one who felt him- self drawn toward the Lord should defer the call ono moment. By the president’s request Professor Weeks sung “What Means This eager, Anxious Throng?” One or two of the brothers then related incidents in cone nection with their conversion, and | i that re- ligion had proved of material as’ well as spiritual ad- vantage to them. “We praise Thee, O God, for the Son of Thy love’ was the next hymn, and then camo the time for receiving requests for prayers. Prayers were asked for a backslider, a sick father, a ‘oung man, an actor in the theatre; by a iady tor ter two sons; by a solemn mannered man for ‘-seven- teen relatives in the city and vicinity;” by a timid. voiced man for ‘‘a wanderer;” (‘God save the wan. derer,’* said the president); by a mother for her boy and a busband for his wife. Tnere was a pau these requests had been made, and the pI lent meantime invited all who wanted to be Christians to raise up their hands. To this none responded. Then prayer was made embodying the requests made. After the prayer the president suid he would like fifteen or twenty or twenty-five to get up and saya word for Christ. Several responded, among the numoer a white haired youth who stated that when he pursued the pleasures of the world he used to wake up with an aching head in the morning, but now he wakes up without headaches, for he is a Christian, ‘Two colored boys in the gallery announced that God bad pardoned their sing, and they hoped to meet their bearera in the sweet by and by. Verses of the song, “«71rg the Promise of God Full Salvation to Give,”? wero sung between the different narratives ot the conver- sion, Alter another prayer the president reauenes Professor Weeks to sing ‘‘Ninety and Nine.”’ He then requested those who wished prayers for themselves to get up, and about a dozen rose and asked to be prayed Tbe hymn, ‘Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” closed the services for the da} THE DESTITUTE, THE SOCIETY FOR THE AMELIORATION OF THE CONDITION OF THE POOR—OTHER COHAR- ITIES. A Henatp reporter called yesterday at the office of the Society for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Poor and asked what was the price paid by thesociety for the coal furnished the poor, The answer was, ‘$6 aton forthe best red ash.”’ It was further stated that the coal is carted and delivered by the dealers in all parts of the city for that price and in apy quantities, In reply to a question the reporter was told that, “Talk about screening of the coal as a difference, to any extent in the cost, was all nonsense,’’ It was further ascertained that as the winter ad- vanced the society, a3 far as its finances permitted, re- leved the poor of every nationality and creed through- out tho city, There aro im all about 500 visitors con- nected with the society. Of these 370 are regular visit- ors all the year round, and the remainder have become attached for the winter’s work. All th gentlemen give their time and labor gratuitously, and nota few of them have been connected with the institution for many years, They are all well known in the wards in which they reside, and, as the poor easily find out who are their benefactors, these gentlemen do not experi- ence so much difficulty in discovering deserving cuses as in securing the funds wherewith to relieve them, Each visitor disburses the money intrusted to him ag to him may seem i. The relief afforded is generally in fuel and groceries, and, in some exceptional cases, in clothing; but no money ver | ba In conversing in a general way of the prevailing dis- tress in the city the reporter was not a little astonished to hear it stated Ly the offictals above referred to that it was greatly exaggerated. They said that the distress this year was not greater than that of last winter. ‘They aifirmed that their visitors were very numerous and we horougbly cognizant of the extent to which poverty would prevail among the poor, It was fur- ther stated that the collectors for the society found it very difficult this winter to procure subscriptions, OTHER RELIEF, There was no hopeful sign manifested at the rooms of St, John’s Guild of ® sympathy greater than bad been extended during the few previous days. Funds were coming in slowly. Asall the work of the Guild js performed gratuitously by the managers and as they are responsible for the payment of ali the clerical labor necessary to its operations the funds gubscribed belong exclusively to the poor, who aro the suffe when the charitable refrain from extending their generosity in its support. At the Department of Charities and Correction Superin- tendent Kellock was kept very busy yesterday tore. noon and during the carly afternoon, in receiving applications for haif tons of coal. The two market soup kitchens continued to feed the hungry with their accustomed liberality, About 2,000 poor people availed themselves of the market people’s generosity. CASRS FOR Vi Visitors from the charitable societies might call at the following places to see if help is needed: Goerck street,an abandoned wife and two children; No, 209 Nineteenth street, Brooklyn, the widow of wrecker lost on incase! her five children No, 60 Ridge street, rear basement, an abandoned wite and four children, THE PRICE OF CHARITY COAL, To Tux Eviror or tHe Heranp:— P St, John’s Guild has no moro sincere admirer than R. P, R. for the excellent work it has done and is now doing among the poor, nor would he discourage In any way the always too scanty flow of charity. There was therefore no animus against either the Guild or its work in his communication, R. P, R. is thoroughly well informed as to the cost and value of coal, and bogs to assure the Master of St. John’s Guild that ho can purchase his coal from any of the large companies having retail yards—the Pennsylvania Coal Company or the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, for example, at the prices indicated and far below those now being paid by the Guild, The principle ot baying only the best ts excellent, but there 1s actual ceptible difference between the heating por red and white ash coal, and where stoves or ranges are such that “chestnat’ size coal can be used it will be found more economical and convenient in ever, spect than the higher priced ‘‘ateve’’ coal, » R has sent Mr. Wiswal! a marked copy of a trade paper in which he can ascertain the current Pelee Oe MR. GREISCHMEIR’S EXPERIENCE, On the evening of the 12th of January two men en- tered the joweiry store of Mr. Martin Greischmeir, No, 69 avenue C, and stole a watch and chain valued at $36, One of them, John Raymond, was arrested at the time and convicted ; the other escaped. Detective Von Gerichten, of the Ventral Office, remembered that on the day of the robbery he had seen Raymond in company with John, alias ‘Blinky’? Harrison and Harry Miner, and yesterday morning arrested the two latter on suspicion, Harrison has just been from the SI Prigon, after serving four y larce! He at once identified by Mr. meir as Raymond's companion, and, on being ar- raigned before Justice Fiammer at the Washington Place Court yesterday, was held for tral in default of $1,500 bail.” Miner was discharged, A CROOKED CIRCUS RIDER. William Walter Thompson, aged twonty years, who says ho 18 a circus rider and well known in the pro- lession, was arrested yesterday for stealing a valise, coutaining property valued at $140, from Alired T. Kdwards, a rage passenger on the Pacific Mail Steamship Company’s steamer Acapulco, The prop. erty was found in his sion while be was deavoring to escape from the vessel just before sho sailed. Thompson admitted bis guilt, but said be had been “put up” to steal tue vals He was held lof trial 19 $1,600 bai