Morning journal and courier., 1889-03-01
KNAvERY DIsARmED.

Money by Use of Court Farnams A. o. F. Name Broken Up by she Police Daniel ". Moehan and John Mooney Are Prisoners.
 A clever bit of knavery was broken up and utterly spoiled by Detective Brewer and Chief Bollman yesterday afternoon. The work was all done after 5 o'clock, and it WAS as unerring as it was decisive. The result of the affair has placed Daniel W. Meehan and John Mooney safely behind the bars to await their trial.
 week or so ago the secretary of Court Farnam No. 7,564, Ancient Order of Forest CTS, came to Chief Bollman and stated that he had received one or two letters containing 8 from brother courts of the same order in other States. This remittance, the letters explained, was sent in accordance with vote of the court sending it for the six tickets sent to them by Court Farnam. These tickets were in raffie for Shoninger organ which were to be disposed of for the benefit of a widow Eagan.
 The secretary told the chief that he knew of no such benefit, and that Court Farnam had sent out nc such tickets. He thought there was trickery somewhere, and the chief also thought that everything was not open and square.
 The letter which the secretary of Court Farna had received was evidently meant for one John B. Dayland by the contents.
 Chief Bollman sent Detective Brewer to Postmaster English and the two looked over the list of box-holders at the postofice. but no such name as John B. Dayland could be found.
 This naturally mystifed the affair. but it was nevertheless perfectly evident that 8 fraudulant game was being played by some one.
 In the meantime the secretary of Court Farnan received another letter containing $2 for the same purpose. Upon advice of Chief Bollman he wrote to the courts sending the amounts to send back the original circular sent them.
 Yesterday afternoon the circular arrived and was carried directly to Chief Bollman. It read as follows
 COURT FARNAM No. 7,564,
 A. O. F. NEW HAVEN, CONN. Dear Sir and Brother:
 You will find enclosed four tickets for the draw ing of our court to be held at Music Hall Monday, March II, 1ss9 for the benefit of late brother John Eagan, who left widow and children in want tion and his children will soon be friendless We sincerely hope your court wilt not be backward in cause in which Court Farnann has always been one of the foremost.
 The prize of this drawing is g fine new shoninger the neishborhood of S4oo, to be drawn by the hold CT of the lucky number We ask your court in the to take hold and do their share in this distressing ease by buying the four tickets you find enclosed: yours in U. B. c. c.
 JOHN DAY1AND. Chairman
 Address all communications to John B. Dayland P. O. box 763, branch of1ce New Haven, Conn.
 This was stamped with the seal of Court Farnam.
 Nevertheless, the mystery which stood in the way of Detective Brewer and Postmaster -Il-l- a1o TA Al office (the Fair Haven offce) where the letters were received, and to this place Detective Brewer hastened.
 He took with him, however, nine letters addressed ''John B. Dayland" which Post master English found in the mail for the branch office.
 When the detective questioned the post John B. Dayland was boxholder there. He also learned that another man was working the scheme with the owner of the box.
 Detective Brewer called in Officer Gelston and the two stationed themselves in wait for the boxholders.
 Presently Mooney came in, opened the box, took the nine letters and was going out when the detective grabbed him. He was con- signed to Officer Gelston and Detective Brewer rushed out the door just in time to catch Meehan as he was turning 8 corner.
 Thus were the two defrauders finely caught.
 They were taken to the police station. Meehan was very ugly and when separated from Mooney, told him to keep quiet, told him he ought to have cup that wouldn't leak, and threw out other hints.
 On Meehan's person were found $S2 80, bank book for $400 and two letters for John Dayland.
 Mooney had $50 and the nine unopened letters just taken from the post office.
 Mooney was afterwards taken in the chiefs room and there made full confession.
 He said he was 19 years old, a polisher by trade, and formerly worked at the Paragon Novelty company's. His companion was Daniel W. Meehan, unmarried, polisher, who lived with his parents on James street and worked at Mallory, Wheeler & company. A month ago Meehan told him to get postofce box in the name of John B. Dayland, which he did. Meehan then told him his scheme. They had the cireu- lars and tickets printed. Meehan had book with the addresses of all the courts of the Foresters in it, and the papers were sent out. Three or four days after replies began to come in with money. All the letters con- taining circulars were sent to lodges outside of the State. The booty was equally divided between the two, and Moneys share had thus far been $2S.
 Meehan, when examined by the chief, would say nothing but "don't know" and "that's more than I'll tell you" He says he didn't know how the letters came in his wallet.
 Mooney was brought in again said the statement made by himself was true in every part, despite Meehan's declaration ftIt's all lie."
 The scheme was we'll laid one and it is lucky that it has been broken up by the prompt work of the police authorities.