New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-24
HE WAS HIS OWN DETECTIVE
LITTLE MAN WALKS THE STREETS FOR WEEKS
LOOKING FOR TWO MEN WHO swINDLED
HIM-HIs BIG REVOLVER BRINGS
ONE TO TERMS.

ONE TO TERMS.
tall, well-dressed man walked into the Postoffcc
about O'Clock yesterday morning, opened lockbox
No 500 to find whether any con6ding correspondent
desired to do business with him, and then saunercd
across Broadway to the steps OF the Astor House.
Shortly afterward determinedlooking man wearing
a rough flannel shirt and other questionable clothes
rushed up the steps. He laid his hand on the tall
mans arm and said in melodramatic way, Il arrest
you in the name of the State of New-York"
"The you do" answered the well-dressed
man carelessly: "who are youi" and he turned away
and walked toward Vesey-st.
With a quick movement the little man drew from
his inside pocket secOckng revolver of large calbre
and over a foot long, lie held it at the head of the
larger man and said, "f you attempt to get away
/ will blow your brains out"
Policeman Richard J. Barry, Of the Broadway squad
decided by this time to take hand in the proceed
ngs and he arrested both of the men and took them
TO the Tombs Police Court
Richard A. Z. Goeber, the smaller of the two men,
was apparently glad to get before police magistrate
and he trumphantly exhibited an authorization from
District Attorney Fellows TO arrest Lewis E. Davis
the other man, and he also showed permit TO carry
the revolver Goebler had interesting story TO tell
He was, twenty five years ago, barber und Frenchs
Hotel, and had of the old detectives among his
customers Eighteen years ago he went West and
apparently forgot Of his city experiences,
for on his return to this city on
November of last year with 1850
he fell in with two "bunco- -seerers," who cost him
81 800 At Police Headquarters he found old ac-
quantance In superintendent Murray, who detailed
detective to assist Goeber. The latter kept the de-
tective constant series Of excursions about the
city until the officers patience exhausted The
little Westerner, however, not discouraged, even
when the detective gave up the chase, and he walked
the streets and peered into the faces of passersby
until few weeks after his loss, when he arrested
George Johnston in Broadway. Johnston, he said,
the dealer in the costly game of cards. Johnston
committed TO Jail and was indicted Lewis f.
Davis offered himself bondsman He said he
owned the house and lot at No. 81 East One hundred
and third ST. and he gave the bail for 81 800 which
required. Johnston did not appear when the
called for trial, and the bondsman could not
be found 1t found that the bond was worthless.
Goebler became convinced that Davis was one Of
the who had defrauded him out of his earnings.
He procured indictment against Davis, and
ceved authority to arrest him. He haunted the
Postoffce corridors and kept watch on the persons
who opened the lock-boxcs. He was rewarded yes
terday morning by seeing Davis, and he promptly
arrested him. AS indictment for perjury
file against Davis, he taken to the General ses
sons building. and pleaded not guilty, before Recorder
Smytl GOeblcr was eated over his success as de
tective He will look after men who offer themselves
as bondsmen