The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-26
SUPPOSED sWINDLE.
Personating Custom House Officer to Brighten
q Lady-The Accomplish and Friend
An Artistic Arrest.

Two men, named Alexander Levy and Charles L.
Brown of No. 1906 Grand street, were arrested yes
terday by detectives Farley and Simington charged
with having swindled Mrs. Jean Darcel, OF No. 1856
South Fifth avenue, out OF $3.50. The facts In the
case, as told by Mrs. Darcel, appear to be that on
the 10Th inst. Brown, who was an acquaintance,
called at her house, and while he was there Levy
walked In and represented that he was q Custom
House officer. Mrs. Darcel was very much aston
fshed at the announcement, and asked Levy
what the object of his visit lie explained that
from certain Information received at the Custom
House the authorities were confident Mrs. Darcel
had been in the habit Of receiving certain kind
OF goods from Europe without paying any duty.
The lady denied this emphatically, but Levy per-
suaded her the Custom House officials had sufi'
Gent evidence to send her to State Prison
for ten years and cause the cOnfscati0n OF
all her property. This assertion SO alarmed the
lady that she begged the pretended officer to re-
member she was only woman, and not strong
enough to sustain such shocks as he had chosen to
give her. Levy then asked her If she had any
friends who would attend to the matter for her;
but the lady answered. no, she had none.
"Who is that in the back room w asked Levy
"That Is Mr.. Brown, friend Of the famiy,n
answered the innocent woman.
"Wel, you had better call him, )" suggested Levy.
and Mr. Brown was asked to come upon the scene.
long interview occurred between Brown and
y,
IL they had never seen each other before The result
of the conference was that Brown told Mrs. Darrell
that Levy the Custom House officer would settle the
matter for $3.50 The lady consented to pay this
money rather than have any trouble, and then
started for the bank In which she kept her savings,
accompanied by
THE TWO WORTHLESS.
They remained ut the door while Mrs. Darce drew
the money, and when she arrived on the sidewalk
the money was handed over to Levy. Brown i'm
mediately excused himself to the lady on the pre-
tence OF going after Levy to find out II he was
really custom Oificer, and the lady, glad to see
Mr.. Brown take such an interest in her
concerns was happy to grant t. him per,
at Mrs. Darceps house and comforted her with
the assurance that everything was all right, and
she had no need to be s0icit0us for the future at
the same time enj0ining her Tor her life TO say
nothing OF the matter. Mrs. Darcel promised but
In a moment OF forgetfulness she told the whole
story to friend. This gentleman consulted with
superintendent kelso, VINO studied tue case Ior
time, and then handed 1t to captain Irving, OF
the detective force, who had only Just returned
from Saratoga. Captain Irving gave the case 10
Detective Farley, and that officer Immediately set
to work to
UNRAvEL THE MYSTERY
When Detective Farley set out to nunt up one OF
the men his associate Detective Simngton, started
to look for the other. Neither officer had anything
more to guide him than o simple and insuifciene
description OF the party and yet by strange c0in-
within a few hours OF each other, each one having
q man, and each man the right one. Captain
Irving compimented the officers highly on
seemed thoroughly delighted at the success Of the
schemes he had laid out for the capture OF the sup
posed Offenders. The case Is one OF cruel decep-
cripple, who Is compelled to sell inflated
india rubber balls on Broadway to gain liveli-
hood. There IL no doubt In the minds OF the police
that the men were In collusion, and the manner OF
their arrest Is considered piece Of consummate
At the Tombs this morning.