Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-06
A SECOND LACEY.
J FRANKLIN HOWE ALIAS GEO B BROOKS
TRIBs A QUEER CAMP,
And Ends U IN Being Sent to Jail-Hs Claims to be
a Newspaper Man, but Registers at Two
hotels and Does Other Strange Things.
HE'S a second Harry Lacey. !"

dark last evening, ana his actions ana SUD
seqent arrest afforded fruitful theme foT
talk in police, hotel and negspepar circles
during the remainder of tine evening.
About five o'clock Wednesday morning
a stranger, of good appearance and address,
and carrying a small satchel, entered the
Office Of the Hotel Windsor. and regisI cred
as George B. Brooks "Detroit Free Press
sptcial correspondent" He expressed a
desire to have first class accommodations,
and was given room No. 81. He seemed
to be in for business from the 60, and
must have circulated about town pretty
generally, for it was not long until be
knew the names OF good many firms, and
had Caught on" to the general lay OF
things in the industrial line.
About breakfast time he showed up at
the Mcclure, where he registered as J..
Frauklin Howe, and gave it ont that he
was special correspondent OF the New
York Associated Press He had faculty
for becoming acquainted with people, and
was soon on pretty good terms with num-
Der of gentlemen.
He vibrated back and forth between the
two hotels, and put in the remainder Of
the day and evening in manner as yet
unknown. Yesterday be was about both
the hotels several times, and during the at-
ternoon he called at the Windsor, and
asked if package had been sent there for
him. He was told it had not arrived, and
he left, but short time afterwards
package arrived, bearing the name of the
POllack cigar factory, and apparently con-
tanning stORies.
S i'll later in the afternoon he appeared
at the McLure and after he left the fol-
lowing note written upon letter-head of
the hotel, was put in Clerk Hirrison's
hands
"Dec. 5.
CLERK
"Shonld a press report arrive for me
during my absence, please pay $l2, aud
charge to my account.
81 agreed yesterday upon $l5, az price
for same, and have telephoned my change,
owing to its non-arrival at appointed time.
'If $12 be acceptable, pay, and collect
the same.
"Yrs very respectfully,
~ FRANKLIN HOWE,
"Sp'l Cor N. Y Associated Press
"P. Slave an appointment at War
wick Co.. s Glass Works.
~. F. H."
Mr.. Harrison called Mr.. McLure's atten-
/ ~ he
had paid the money. Mr.. Harrison said
he bad not, as no report" had bsen re-
ceived The two gentlemen discussed the
matter for some momente, but they had
hldly separated beforea boy came in with
big white envelope, and handed it to the
clerk. 1t was addressed as follows:-
81 franklin Howe. Esq,
Especial Cor. n. Y. Ass'd Press"
("Prce, $12.")
This was in the same handwriting as ths
note addressed to Clerk" and at once
confirmed the suspicious previously
sroutei. Mr.. Mcclure and Mr.. Harrison
had another brief conference, and
then asked the boy where Mr.. Howe was
The lad said he was at the Intelhgencer
Office. The two gentlemen went down,
taking SIP and the boy along, as precau'
ton. They left the boy in front of the
Iatelligencer office, and then went across the
street and took up stand in the alley In
the rear of the Pacific Mills. In few
moments Howe came out, took the boy by
the arm, and walked in the direction of
Main street with him. After brief con-
versation Howe started up Main street, fol-
lowed by Mr.. Mcclure and Mr.. LATE
Gifin, of the Island who offered
to do temporary police duty, while MI
Harrison went 10 look for an officer Howe
went on up as far as Stifel's dry goods
store, where he cut across the street, down
Eleventh to Water and down Water to the
st. Ohsrles Hotel. He emit into the build
ing, passed through the bar and into the
wssh-room, where he washed his hands.
Mr.. Mcclure aud Mr.. Gifiin followed, and
Howe again took flight, goipg back up
Water street to Twelfth, and up that street
TO Market. There, realizing he was being
followed, he broke into slow run across
Market street and went on up Twelfth
street to Justice Phillips Office, where Mr.
Mcclure caught him. He was taken back
to the hotel and placed in the check room,
in the rear of the office, where he was kept
until Lieutenant Gaus arrived. That Off
Ger took him to headquarters, where he Wss
placed in cell No. !.
When searched, a small memoranda
book, containing the names of Augustus
Pollock, Mr.. Bodley, and two or three
other business meD, was found. Each
name was at the top tf a page, and was
followed by lot Of meaningless marks,
intended to deceive ignorant people into
the belief they were steuOgrsphic notes
There wss also several cards, one bearing
the name of George B. Brooke.
The big white envelope which had besn
sent to the McLnre House Office was also
placed on Chief DslbIugge's desk, and that
official tore it open. Instead of contain
ing report" there were enclosed four
blank sheets of Mcclure House letter paper,
and-nathing elGs.
A REGISTER reporter saw the prisoner
in his cell about balfpast eight o'clock.
In response to a question rs TO what he
meant by registering at two hotels, ne ad-
mitted it Cooked Just little suspicious"
but would say nothing, except to intimate
he WAS all right.
The question was asked:
"Mr Howe, don't you think twelve dol
lars il a little steep for four sheets of blank
paper?"
''Oh, considering the trouble I've been
at. guess that's about right, y was the
cheerful reply.
Howe was clipper and nervy hey ond
nything seen here recently. During yes
terday he fell in with a reporter for the
Inteuigeneer, and at once proceeded to make
himself solid. He said Wheeling was
quite a town-adyancing wonderfully.
Here four years ago, you kbow-several
new industries since then-nics streets
acest street car system. Clever people
very" He knew Bill Nye, and would be
glad to see him this evening. Never met
Riley, bat understood very clever man,
exc. He ought 10 lesve the city this after
noon, bat would strain a point to stop
over 10 meet \ We, etc. he also had an sp-
pointment to meet number of gentlemen
at little supper, this evening.
/ The noliaa ufil 1NnE nm Mr. HoWaia