Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-04
DIDN'T GET THERE.
WHLL-PLANNED FRAUD THAT LACKED ELg-
MESTS OF SUCCESS.
4 Three Hundred Thsusahd Dollar Swindls Pc
vented by a New York Newspaper Reporter
Who Took Up the Case AhG tie
Police Abandoned H.

New YORK, December 3.-perrin II.
Sumner, Broadway real estate specu-
latOr, who gained considerable nOt0rcty
in connection with the mysterious sui
eide Of the man who registered az the
Getty House, YonkerS, as Geo. Smith.
was arrested to-day by Capt. McLaugh-
lin, charged with forgery. The prison
er, il will be remembered. identified the
suicide as his friend, James II. Edgar.
wealthy English chemist. There was a
suspicion that the Identification was not
correct, and was made by Sumner for
the purpose OF defrauding a life insur-
ance company. The sequel tends To
show that there was 4 swindle intended
and that Sumner, apparently In the
hope OF realizing by the scheme the sum
OF $500, 900. did rot hesitate To com nit
forgery.
The suicide took place on October
o., and the man who passed under the
name OF George Smith had been stop
ping al the Getty House couple of
days before he swallowed the fatal dose
OF morphine.
4 few days later Sumner visited the
Getty House aud identified the body.
lie declared that he did not believe
Edgar had taken his own life. and
limited at foul play. Captain Maugin.
OF the lonkers police, appealed TO In
spector Byrncs. and IN investigation
was begun.
During the inquiry Sumner had stated
that he had learned OF the alleged sui
eide from George IL. Edgar. nephew
OF the deceased. lie had the body
buried at his own expense. and the au-
thOritics at once be yan hunt for Geo.
ii. Edgar, now supposed 10 be- a myth.
Sumner. when closely pressed showed
letters written by James II. Edgar and
his nephcwS. Geo. II. Edgar and Robert
Rowe, all Of which were declared by au
expert TO be In the same handwriting.
Sumner besides had a rather shady rcpu-
tation. On November ) he made bis re-
appearance at lonkcrs. and. 10
allay suspicious, asked for the eA-
animation OF the body FOR fur
ther Identification. When the
coffin was disintcrrcd aud opened hc
said to the Coroner: "Ics. that is I'd
gar" Afterwards he said that Edgar
was az least five feet ten inchc, BOO
height. The suicide, Geo. Smith. was
measured, and proved TO be- barely five
feet six inches IN height. When sum
ner heard this he said the man was not
Edgar He exhibited a picture which
resembled the deceased.
The police, satisfied that they had
thwartcd life insurance swindlo.
dropped the investigation. and up 10
the present time the identity of the
mysterious "Georgc Smith" has not been
discovered.
George Il. Phoebus, a reporter. deter
mined to fathom the mystery. aud ior
the past three weeks he has been watch
ing Sumner. lie found that he visited
A man Of shady character who lived in
the Ninth ward. This man was the
counterpart OF the picture exhibited as
that of Edgar, but he was living under
another name. II was also discovered
that Sumner had made 4 proposition -
Lawyer Francis II. Turner, Of - Broad
way, which was TO have a man person
ate Edgar In the drawing up OF a will,
} of which Sumner was TO be- executor.
The lawyer, of course, rejected the
proposition, but as he thought IL would
be well TO have the mystery cleared h.
suggested that he find a man to act the
part required. He introduced Phocbus
TO Sumner, who thcrcupon fell into the
trap. The will was drawn mp by Tur-
ner and signed by Phoebus and Sumner.
IL was afterwards attostcd by notary
public. II was in the signing % the
will that Sumner committed the forgery.
1t seems that Edgar owned property
worth $500, ,OOO Of which PhOcbus was
to receive ten per cent. for his trouble.
The suspicion Is that Edgar is fugitive
from Justice, Oh account Of some crime
perpetrated in England. IL seem, odd.
however, that If Edgar was a party to
the deep plot that he did not appear in
person, when Phocbus' services would
be unnecessary.
The police surmise is that Edgar was
in the dark concerning the bogus viii,
aud that sumner, who was willing 10 re-
sort TO forgery, ultimately intended
murder.
When Phubus had led sumner into
the trap, with Lawyer Turner hc cahcd
at police headquarters to-day and placed
the details of the plot before Inspector
Byrnes. who, before makieg anVthcr
move decided 10 obtain warrant for
summers arrest. This was done. and
late this afternoon the specuator. who
resides at 499 ~. Nicholas avenue, WIS
placed in custody.
This is not Summers first appearance
before the public. On November o..
1854. he was arrested, charged with
grand larceny, AT the instance OF % man
named David VI. Davidson. At that
time. il is said. he made a compromise
with the complainant and thus escaped
conviction. Summers friends say that
the spcculator Is accused Of forging
James II. Edgar's signature to
power Of attorney. making
! him his executor. They say
the signature IS genuine. and II the ease
ever comes to trial they will be- able 10
produce Edgar. Their version Of the
affair Is that Edgar Is heir 10 a fortune
Of 500. 600 which Is 50 held in England
that 1t is liable to fall 10 the illegitimatc
offspring Of his nephew, George II. Ed
gar. This, it is alleged, Is stated In the
power Of attorney which Sumner j. ac-
cused Of forging. 1t Is likewise stated
that at the time OF the Getty House sui
eide young Edgar drUgged his uncle.
aud he remained i'll until long after the
publication Of the mystery and the iden-
tlhcation and burial Of Smiths body.
Before Edgar recovered his nephew had
vanished, and is now supposed 10 be
somewhere in the West.
Crisis In Brazilian Ministry.
RIO JANEIEo, December Theorists
in the Ministry arose from dispute be-