The evening world., 1893-12-02
DAVIES HASARECORD.
Broker McFarlane Is $2,400
Poorer by His Acquaintance.
BY Name Of civilians" He Figured
in Many Queer Transactions.
He and Lawyer Finley Held on Col.
Groom's Complaint.

Robert Williams" the self-styled
wealthy speculator, and Lawyer Henry
II. Finley, OF 80 Broad street, were ar
raigned in the Tombs Court, at II
o'clock, this morning for examination
on the charge of conspiracy to defraud
Benjamin b. Groom, a Kentucky colonel.
out of 1880 Groom IL temporarily
stopping at 405 Sixth avenue. Both
stopping at 4O5 Sixth avenue. Williams
waived examination and was held for
the Grand Jury. Finley was granted an
adjournment until next Saturday.
dawye1 rsa eE aoSfs Ms Groom % rreha
, G sfqGKn CRAM iGr
Detective Hanley stated to an Even
Hf tbert T0E ~ DAVIES. eGest sick English crooks %S
who was tliged to leave London last
July to avoid arrest for just such swim
DIES as that perpetrated on Col. Groom.
His method Of procedure in London
was precisely the same, the detective
said, and his schemes were conducted
on extensive plans.
Col. Groom Is the owner OF 3O728 acres
of land In the panhandle, Carson County,
Tex, which he has had in the, market
for sale Tor some time. He had known
Finley for several years, having first
met MN III lgOnuOI1.
on Sept 8 he received note from
Finley stating that he knew wealthy
Englishman who had a whole lot Of
money to invest in real estate. He at
street lawyer. Williams was finally in
troduced as the wealthy Englishman,
and was, at once impressed with the
panhandle property.
$3.50 per acre, and that Homer b. Fin
ley, an alleged brother of the lawyer
go-between, should go to Texas and
Wsmys sseardep the he pr9psrty rS
Co. &room reached Chicago he received
letter from Mr.. Williams asking him
dislked to have his money lying idle.
Groom and Homer Finley started at
once, the former defraying the expenses,
amounting to $3.50.
IDetectiye Hanley, says that Homer
Finley the lawyers alleged brother and
the expert who went to Texas with Col
Groom, and who got a note for $3.50 and
gotten Otis Greye, who disappeared and
was supposed to have been drowned
from Fall River boat in October. 1892
after perPPet,rating a E swindle In which his
description given Of the expert" Detec-
tive Hanley says tallies exactly with
that at of vtt,r1 2tis Greye. ,,., oo,,s,,n ,s
mourned the loss OF 5000.
1he purchase. Of course, fell through
and Col: Groom found that he had been
spector McLaughlin's hands with the re-
suit that warrants were sworn out and
Finley and Williams were arrested.
an office IN Wall street, who, says he is
one of Williams's many victims. and
who .congratulates himself that he is
only 81, 400 poorer as result of his short
tl pnlI N tnT ht 60 I,n
Tombs Court. this morning voluntarily
to testify against the prisoner.
Williams is one of the boldest and
shrewdest !swindlers that ! have ever
lane, and he has enjoyed very fair
mea sure Of success.
Il was introduced to him in Wall
sti eet banking house last March by the
President of the institution, who had
been introduced to him by a Mr.. Fitch
another broker.
He was represented to be, a very
looked 1t. He told me he was the
senior member of the banking house OF
Williams, Deacon, Mansfield & Sails
don; that he had a six months leave OF
absence. and intended looking up some
properties and to invest in some good
bonds for an estate.
them to him at the Hotel Brunswick
few days later for his inspection.
"On that occasion l told him of some
brewery property and some lands ir
railroad company.
He was very much impressed with
the Alabama lands, and at his sugges-
him to the President of the Company
We spent ten days on a tour of inspec-
ton, which was pronounced satisfac-
tory; ! paid all of my own expenses and
"Of course, neither deal was ever con-
summated.
Williams, the President and myself
met in an office in Wall street to ar
range the sale.
He gave a document purporting to
be an agreement. to buy, and stating
dent, and got an acknowledgement in
return.
He exhibited check for $1,000 from
r1s President ,Higin5othaIm; Of the Worlds
dences OF wealth. on that occasion, but
no money was passed. He was waiting,
he said, to hear from England
During the walt l took him to Boston
to look at other property and paid the ex-
penses.
Later on I met him on Sunday. He
he had forgotten that the banks were
| closed. He wanted some money, and
gave him s25. He wanted 800 more and
| gave him a draft.
| uIuh ~ " w NdSnlHBtoh, anu Bot
the draft cashed at the Brevoort House.
He told me he intended opening an
account at my bank and would deposit
the. amount to my credit.
Il stopped payment on the draft. and
called on him Monday and asked for an
explanation. Then he gave me the SIS
back. and next day returned the draft
which he had taken up. He explained
by saying he had sent the money by
| messenger
81 lost 81, 400 by him, and four months
work. and ] have two friends who have
also suffered from their acquaintance
with him"
Williams was arrested at the Hote
Brunswick Tuesday night, where he had
been living In expensive style for the
past six months. He was attired in even.
ing dress, and, 1t is alleged, was about
wealthy Canadian widow.
The widow was gorgeously attired and
waiting for the porter to announce the
carriage when Detectives Hanley and
Wade, OF the Central Office, arrived and
placed the smiling bridegroom-elect under
arrest.
The prospective bride denounced the ar.
rest In emphatic terms, but her protests
availed her nothing.
williams had represented himself to heI
to be a wealthy real-estate speculator
and on several occasions had exhibited
bonds represented to be worth at PAL
He had not been well supplied with
ready funds aud as consequence ht