The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-30
SPOILED A WEDDING, MAYBE.
MIR. WILLIAMS or ENGLAND ARRESTED
AT the HOTEL BRUNSWICK.

re and Lawyer FinIey are Accused 81
Swindling kentuekinn, sad ~ IL Said
that the Eiulishman was Ju-t GoinE Out
TO he married. when the PoIics cot HIrn.
Robert Williams. who says he Is a correspon-
dent Of the London Times was arrested at
the Hotel Brunswick on Tuesday evening
by two OF Inspector Mel aughiin's detectives.
Tho Inspector says that Williams was Just
going out to marry Mrs. Louisa Caldwell. who
lie said TO be wealthy widow living at the
Brunswick. The charge against the prisoner
lie conspiracy and fraud. On the Same charge.
and for the transaction that il is based on.
Henry H. Finley. lawyer at 80 Broadway.
was arrested yesterday. Both men were taken
to the Tombs Police Court and remanded
until Friday for examination.
Inspector Mclaughlin explains the arrests in
this way; Williams was living at the Windsor
Hotel on Sept. 5. when benjamin u. Groom OF
kentuckywas introduced to him by letterfrom
Finley Groom had rooms at 4Oj Sixth avenue
According to INSPECTOR Mclaughlin. Finley
met him and represented that Williams had n
large amount 81 money to invest in land.
Groom had some land in Panhandle. Texas
and he went to Williams to sell IL. II consisted
OF 30.72S acres. and was to be sold at $3.50 an
acre. Williams showed Groom lot Of bonds
and told him OF tho men whom he had met
HSio th Nho i1puuOn I'HtS correspondents
Williams, it is alleged. sent Groom to
Chicago on Sept. % to engage Homer
b. Finley. a brother OF the lawyer. to
20 to Texas and apprnise the land.
Williams promised to forward to Groom 81 800
for Finey's expenses. He didn't do this. but
wrote to Groom To send the expert at once as
his money was idle and he wanted to invest It
at once. Groom therefore advanced $3.50 to
Finley and went South with him. When he re-
turned to New York ready to arrange the sale.
Williams said he had no money OF his own. and
that the syndicate for which he was acting
had backed out OF the deal. Groom claims
that the whole scheme was put-up job to rob
him OF his Sl,35O. and that Williams was con-
spring with the finleys to effect 1t.
When Williams was arrested draft for $500
was found in his possession and blank check
signed by Louisa Caldwell Williams Is an
Englishman, ~ years old. Inspector Nc
Laughln says that no told Mrs. Caldwell that
no had s350.OoU. and then borrowed $3.50 from
her saying that he had sent all his ready
money to his son in Paris to purchase n we'd
ding present for her. lilo also said when no
was arrested that the draft for $500
found in his possession was intended
as wedding present for Mrs. Culd-
we'll Henry II. Finley. the lawyer at 80 Broad
street who lives at 100 West 122d street. was
arrested on Oct. 3. 1897. on the charge Of
swindling Ehene2er Morgan Of Groton. Conn.
Morgan charged also that Finley swindled
him out of $4,000 in London on a mining
scheme. The. charge against Finley. however.
discharged. Inspector Nc Laughlin also says
that q man named Otis Greye. who is sup.
posed to have committed suicide about
year ago from tho Fall River boat Pilgrim.
was associated with Finley in similar scheme
sell a farm in Florida. After Phillips had been
persuaded to send an expert to examine his
70 organize syndicate TO buy it. When the
Pilgrim. on which he sailed. reached Fall
River. he had disappeared. From the fact that
all his clothes aud papers were found in his
board. Henry II. Finley had u 5000 insur-
Inspector. Mclaughlin believes that Will
iiams and Finley wer. e. working toEether to
pert to appraise his land. II must have
brought small profits. however. for Homer Ii.
Finley O. Chicago did goto Texas and exHnine
Homer b. FINLEY. Williams and Henry II.
Finley were held In only $500 bail each at the
Mrs. Caldwell has teen staying periodically
at the Hotel Brnnswics for several years: she
last night that there was or ever had been
any engagement between Mr.. Williams and
Il have known Mr.. Williams" she said.
= lust AS have known other gentlemen who
live at tho hotel. lie was presented to me
parlors. Mr.. Williams has been in the rarlors
a good deal. chatting with the ladies. |
He said hs liked It: that 1t was the |
English STYLE. But as for anything between !
us. that's nonsense. | never had any more |
idea Of marrying him than had OF marrying !
his son. who IL only q toy, I've never heard |
anything about Mr. Williams's business affairs. !
He represented himself as connected with tho |
Tunes. and | always supposed he was. Last |
night the son told me that his father had been |
recalled to England 10y u cablegram. and |
thought it was all right Later Iheard that |
Mr. Williams did not intend to 20 to England" |
Mrs. Caldwell seemed somewhat agitated
while speaking, but she explained that the
news OF Mr., Williamss arrest had heen very
sudden. Every one here liked him very
N uch." she added. He was very quiet and
soft spoken. and seemed thoroughly u gentle
man." After a pause she added further:
= You'd better deny the engagement again. for
really there WAS never any talk OF such thing.
would hardly marry man whom l had
merely met in a hotel parlor"
Mrs. Caldwell said that she had been warned
BY certain persons that Mr.. Williams might
appeal to her for hail: but on that subject she
would say nothing further.
At the hotel office II was learned that Mr.. |
Williams had been at the Brunswick for seven
months. and that he had made friends in the
larlor in preference to the bar and tho lobby. |
I was not known that he had any intimates.
Ir, Williams the younger has been at the
lotel only u fortnight. He was out last night.
md II was supposed that he had gone to see
lis father at Police Headquarters