Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-16

| Geo. Benson, who swindled Mexican citizens out
OF $4,000 by selling them bogus tickets to the
Patti farewell concerts, was arraigned In a police
| court In New York Saturday and discharged from
custody, because the detective who had charge OF
| him could make no complaint In that court. No
sooner had Benson reached the street than he was
| again arrested and taken before United States
Commissioner Shields. complaint was made
out, and Benson was held in default OF s. 600 bail
for examination tomorrow. Forging the name Of
| Henry E. Abbey is the charge. Saturday In
| spector Byrnes received a telegram from Mexi-
co which announced that BensOn's Onense Is ex-
traditabe under the new treaty; that papers are
being prepared, and an officer will bring them as
| soon as they are ready. Consul General Navarro
received telegram authorizing him to employ
counsel and take all proper measures to hold the
prisoner until the arrival Of the papers Of extra
Henry Benson has had a notorious career In
swindng and adventure, II his own story may be
believed. HIS 1rst appearance in this country
ticket-of-leave from MiIIbank prison. in London.
He went to Mexico and lost no time there intro
ducing himself as the brother Of Henry E. Abbey,
manager Tor the Patti concerts The scheme
melted Benson about $4,000, and, being pursued
BY Mexican detectives, he ned to Europe He tells
was followed and shadowsd by Mexican detec
tives Discussed, he got safely to Washing
visited Philadelphia, came over to New York.
and sailed for Liverpool without being detected
royalty IL London and Paris. When the amount
began 10 run low he went to Switzerland and SELL
Ing bogus Paris ponds, obtained draft on an
American house for the amount. Before leaving
switzerland BenSon's fraud was found out and he
was arrested, but fled TO America, breaking his
parole Payment or the America drafts for Some
reason had not been stopped, and had not Benson
been arrested the other day be would have sue
ceede al IN concentrating another swindle, this
ume Tor over $4,000. Benson, alias Coster alias
Montgomery, alias Meyer is about forty two years
OF age, and is an Alsatidn. He has good educa-
ton, and Is linguis being master or no less than
nve languages.
Benson claims TO have been an editor of a Paris
ian daily paper during the Franco. Prussian war;
retiring from journalism with considerable money,
ne ieii INTO pad company, lost heavily at cards
ana FOUND himself comparatively penniless Ar
irving in London with bogus letters of introduce
ton, Benson began the Organization OF a gigantic
scheme TO help the poor OF Paris. He obtained
flOO from the lord mayor OF London. He sought
and obtained an Introduction TO the Prince OF
wales and was admitted TO Queen Victoria, to
whom he unfolded his plan, and so Interested the
queen and the prince that they were about to adj
vance large sum OF money for the poor OF Paris,
when the prince discovered by chance that one of
the letters or introduction were bogus. An inves-
tlgat0n followed and showed that all the letters
were forgerieS. Benson was arrested compelled 10
unload and was sentenced to one years ifnprison-
ment: After being five months behind the bars,
ne SET himself on nre with kerosene Id his cell,
ana received burns about the body from which he
stlll suffers. He served his term and when re-
Leased Leased, started 70 look for employment. He
swered an advertisement in London paper for
penman, and secured the position on a salary OF
80 per week. His employer was the publisher of
newspaper with q bad name. He wrote the pub
iisner one Kerr, That he would accept an interest
In tne business or divulge Kerrs business methods
herr, 10 avoid exposure, admitted Benson as a
partner Three detectives were also admitted,
ana tne Dlackmail1ng paper continued to prosper
I'LL countess named de Goneault was victimized.
me London press demanded an investigation,
which was followed by the detectives each re-
ceivlng sentence OF four years imprisonment
Benson was sentenced for fifteen years. Alter
serving seven and a-half years, he was released
from prison. He went to Brussels, where he was
arrested the concOctOr of a bogus newsnaper
advertising scheme, and Tor selling bogus news to
news syndicate. He jumped bail and came to
America According to his own Statement, Ben
son would seem to be the most accomplished all
around bogus man that has been Overtaken Tor
some time.