Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-13
IT FOOLED THE ROTHSCHILDS.
Edward Pinter's Old Trick of Multiplyin,
Gold Coins.


Gold Coins.
Edward Pinter. alias '.Sheenv Al" also said
to be known in New York under the name of
Sondheim. the American swindler who has
been reaping gold in Europe by pretending to
be possessed of the mythical philosopher
stone. was again under examination yesterday
at the Marlborough street police court in Lon
don. charged with attempting to obtain $40, 900
by false pretenses from Edwin Streeter. the
well-known Bond street jeweIer. Pinter, who
was arrested on May 4. had previously induced
Streeter to go to his (Pinter's) bed room at
Storey's Hotel. where, so as to test the Amerl-
cans claim Streeter handed Pinter sovereign.
which the latter threw into a crucible. covered
il with some kind of powder, and after ap-
pearing TO melt it pulled out a lump of gold
equal in weight to about three sovereigns.
.'Sheeny Al, +" as Pinter is known to Inspector
Byrnes of New York. then suggested that
Streeter should furnish him with 5000 SOW
ereigns. which he would transform by tie
use of the philosophers stone into gold
weighing 1000 sovereigns or equal to the sum
of Sl2O0OO. Streeter appeared to agree to this
and asked that Pinter should go to his Street
ers) jewelry works in order to further test the
power of the wonderful philosophers stone.
Pinter consented and appeared there on May
4. placed 20 sovereigns in a crucib,e. covered
them with the powder and placed the crucible
and its contents In q heated furnace. Streete~
however. had become suspicious. and az the
gold was simmering he gave a signal which
brought two Scotland Yard detectives from
their places of concealment in the workshop
and Pinter was placed under arrest. At the
Marlborough police court the next morning
the presiding magistrate said that il WAS Just
possible that Pinter might have discovered
some method of increasing the weight of gold.
To this Streeter replied that he had been in
formed that Pinter had been swindling people
by the process referred to in the United State,
where his game was said to be familiar to
the police.
Pinter. cheered by the magistrates remark
insisted that he could increase the weight OF
gold and asked if it was just that he should BE-
compelled to divulge his secret in court.
Streeter thereupon called attention to thu
fact that Pinter, while claiming to be able tc
increase the weight of gold. refused to make M
attempt to increase the weight OF gold bars n nd
kept everybody away from the crucible while
the experiment was being conducted. claim
ing that the fumes Of the acids he used wonld
kill anybody who approached ii without beine
thoroughly prepared for and guarded agains
said fumes.
In the police court yesterday Messrs. Avor,
and Pollard appeared as counsel for the public
prosecutor under instructions from the treas
ury department MIR. Avory. for the prosecu
ton. stated that the trick the prisoner played
was of the most simple nature possible. HI
made it a condition Of his experiments tina
the sovereigns Were to remain in the acid Of
composition which he used for a certain time
! The prisoner, Mr.. Ayory added. would then us.
materials which produced such horribl,
steuch that everybody present at experiment
was glad TO rush away. When they returned t.
ascertain the result Of the Americans worl
they found the prisoner and the sovereign
gone.
Seven years ago. Mr. Avery added, Pinto,
played this trick with success in Liverpool H,
then managed to get hold Of 500 sovereigns anG
1 vanished.
Pinter, it seems. has also performed his tricl
in other countries The hearing was then adj
have been victims Of Pinters philosopher
| stone the names Of member of the Roths
child family and a member Of the firm Of Bsrini
Bros. have been mentioned.