New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-25
MR.. COMsTOCK OUTWITTED.
A "GREEN GOODS MAN SLIPS THROUGH
HIS FINGERS.
THE sw1NDIER WAS TRACED TO HIS ROOM, BUT
WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED
HE WAS GONE,

HE WAS GONE
As a postonice Inspector, Anthony Comstock re-
comfy received intelligence that green goods" mon
were once more operating from this city through the
mails He received a copy of circular that had
been sent to men of limited or moderate means In
various parts Of the country, from an honest man
I'm the Northwest who had received the document and
who forwarded it promptly TO the PostOiice authorities
I'm this CITY, The circular made the usual offer OF a
package of green goods, perfect as the genline
for about 10 per cent of the face value, and directed
that all answers should be forwarded to certain ad
dress I'm South-st.
Mr. Comstock evidently determined TO OutNidocq
yidoca set out TO capture the swndlers himself The
circular accompanied by card inscribed " Henry
Marsh dealer in all kinds of patents, especially patent
double Weaknesses, god and silver. RooIl 10, NO IL
Moore-st"
In company with Detective Dram, Mr.. ComstocK
went 10 the address In Scuthst., and saw medium
sized man with a heavy red nustsche receive lot
Of mail addressed to Henry Marsh. They followed
him and saw him enter the building No. II Moore
ST., which agreed with the address on the card IN
closed with the circular.
"we've got him now7 said Mr.. Comstock to the
detective for he's in the building and can't get out
again without our seeing him. Not knowing no"
many desperate men might be connected with the
swindle Mr. Comstock prudently decided TO have more
physical force at his command. so, leaving DE
tee Dram to guard the front OF the buldng' anu
forgetting that it might have rear exit, he fnsheu
away the First Precinct Police station Tor captain
Mclaughlin. who Is never so fond OF anything d. Vi
catching swindlers The Captain with Detective
Oates and Mr. Comstock hurried back TO Detective
Dram. who reported that nothing had as yet hanS-
PRED.
Mr. ComstOck insisted an Immediate assault
and the three men rushed into the building ana up 10
Room 10, on the second floor. The door was open
and no one was in the room, but mans coat nuns
on a hook in the Office. An open window IN CLOSET
in the rear of the room showed how man could
have gotten away the first signs of an assault,
and when Captain McLaughlns experienced eye I'LL
upon the coat and then upon the open WINDOW he CA
claimed, "The bird has hOwn!'
Mr. Comstock wished then that he had arranged
for guarding the well as the front OF the puld
ing as Vidocq might have done. lie next Iushe1
away 10 Justice Reilly and obtained search-"aiiah'
for the place When he returned Captain Mclaughlin
broke open the safe in the room, and took rom INC
receptacle a dozen packages Of money, arranged III
the usual green goods way. The packages hdu d
pile of good bills on top and similar PIE Oh INC
bottom, with a brick In between The good money
In these packages aggregated S4,Gi4 This was SEM
to the property clerk at Police headquarters Dy oue
Of Justice Reilly. general order was sent Out IRON
Headquarters 10 look out for the man WIN me Dls
red mustaehe, who Mr.. Comstock said, Ic-emDled a
green goods" swindicr named Burns, whom ne ar
rested in jersey city year ago. anu VIM eS0"PN -
ioIfeng his bail ,,.. ,aoa.
Room Is at No. II Moore st. rented fom Agent
old, Who called himself Henry Marsh. lie was a'-
companied by a gray haired maa about MY years
old, whose name did not appear In the tlansdctOn.
Ii is supposed that the man discovered thdt lac va
followed, and. expecting an immediate RAID hcI
through the rear window as he had entered
the room or that ne heard the Olicols coming ana
fed just before they appeared a., lilo,
There was much quiet laughing among the pOnCt,
men at Headquarters yesterday when II became hOseu
about that Mr.. ComstOck had attempted to play de
tectve on grand scale and had allowed great prl2e
among swndleIs % escape. When an officer was
a.ked for particulars he would wink one eye SLOWLY
and gaze upon the QueStiOner with an air OF great
sOlemnity and answer: GO ask Mr.. COmstOck ABOUT
in be knows II all" Then this officer would nudge
another and both would litter and seem wonderfully
pleased. .,-. .. ,, on,
The fact that the police not sorry that The green
goods men scaped from Mr.. ComsocKs clutches al
though they regret that the swlndleTs were no' cap
tured bv the regular police. The fact is" said one
Official, THAT Mr. COmstock has ignored the city
uOlce in many instances with the evident intention
Of casting a reflection upon their efhcency ana IN
fegrity but in this he has come TO GRIEF by en-.
deavoring to act without them. There Is no dOuot
that had no placed his Information before inspector
pvrnes the svindler swindlers would now nave
boon in custody"