New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-13
BLACKMAILERS NEATLY CA UGHT.
HELD FOR ExAMINATIoN-oSE OF THEM AN OLD
HAND AT 1T.

HELD FOR ExAMNATIoN-ONE OF THEM AN OLD
HAND AT 1T.
Benjamin selg, alias Harris, alias Lorillard. and
Renno Rothman. both giving their home as No. 40
East Eighty ffth.st were arraigned before Justice
Smith I'm the Tombs Police Court yesterday, charged
with compromising crime On Monday hothmah
went to Anthony COmstock and showed MIN some policy
Slips which he said he had purchased at the shop OF
Thomas Taylor, wellknown policy dealer, at No.
400 Pearl-st. Comstock at once swore out warrant
before Justice Smith in the Tombs Police Court, and
made a raid on the shop and gathered in TAYLOR and
his assistant, George Hamilton They were arraigned
before Justice Smith Tuesday morning. and on Roth
mans affidavit were held in 5000 ball for trial.
They gave bail and were released
Harris called on Taylor Wednesday afternoon. and
told him there would be little difficulty in settling the
matter II Taylor would give Rothman $500 Harrs
said he wanted nothing himself, that being friend OF
both Taylor and Rothman he wished to see the matter
arranged TO the advantage of both and that Taylor
paid the money he would assure him that ROthman
would leave the city and thus prevent an indictment
by the Grand Jury. AS Harris had once before, In
December 1880, bled Taylor to the tune OF 500 In
precisely similar way the latter now saw an oppor-
tunty to square things with the blackmaier. SO he
seemingly agreed TO make terms with Roth
man. and told Harris he would meet him at
the Dakota cigar store, In the Bowery, which
is by Harris himself on Friday evening At TINS
meeting Harris raised the demand to $3.50. Taylor
agreed to pay. and went away to get the money.
Taylor then went to Police Sergeant Horbelt, OF the
Mulberry-st station and told him the full details OF
the attempted blackmail. 1t arranged to mark
four 800 bills and one $50 BILL that when found
on the two blaclmallers they could be identified
Taylor then returned to the store, Sergeant Horbelt
and Detcctiv, Foye following closely behind him.
TAYLOR entered the store and gave Rohman the four
500 bills and Harris the $50 bill The officers now
entered and arrested Rothman and Harris Harris, al
though surprised managed TO retain his presence OF
mind and said to the detective:
al was shust wai'iR' for you. / sharge this man
with tryin' to pride me- lie then handed the $50
Dill to Foye and told ROthman to give up the money
Taylor had gwen him. When the prisoners were
arraigned before Justice Smith, in the Tombs Police
Court, Rothman made clean breast of the attempted
blackmail. He said that Harris met him on December
l. and unfoded to him the scheme Of Matchmaking all
the policy dealers in the city, saying that they could
secure fortune that way with perfect security and
ease All Rothman would have TO do would be
merely to buy the policy slips and Harris would do the
rest lie then told the story of the Matchmaking OF
Taylor.
Harris put on a bold front, however, and denied
all knowledge of the alleged backmall lie explained
the possession OF the $50 marked bill by saying that
Taylor had Just bought 900 cigars from him and lad
given him the $50 bill in payment Justice emlth
held both prisoners In ~, 900 bail for trial.