Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-11
SIR HENRY" COOK CAUGHT.
An International Swindler Who Has Many
Aliases.
New York Times)

Henry Cook, or Sir Henry Cook or Dr.
Cook, as he Is Familiarity known. one OF
the most plausible swindlers who ever
operated, whose schemes have been known
in dozen States and fully as many
countries in Europe, Is prisoner at Po-
lice Headquarters, New York. He was
caught on Monday afternoon. and the
charge against him Is one of the least
In his eyentful life.
He is accused OF having attempted TO
swindle the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road by means OF u forged request for
pass The letter, asking for pass over
the Louisville and Nashville, bore the
name Of Frank ;. Bond, one Of the high
officials Of the Chicago, Milwaukee, ana
ST. Paul railroad. and was presented by
a messenger boy to August Belmont, or
the Louisville and Nashville. in his office
1 in the Manhattan Bank building in Wall
street Monday afternoon.
Mr. Belmont was suspicious, and. ask
! ing the messenger TO wait, quietly sent
for Mr.. Bond. The latter pronounced the
| letter a forgery. Detectives followed the
messenger. who was handed a letter to
| deliver. They arrested Cook. TO whom the
messenger delivered his letter, at the
entrance 10 the Equitable Building. Cook
expressed little surprise, and submitted
very quietly.
The detectives found that Cook had
obtained possession of some OF the blank
| letter-heads and stationery Of the Chi
! cago. Milwaukee and ~. Paul railroad,
| and by means OF these had been obtain
| Ing passes on various railroads and steam
boat lines The passes he sold TO ticket
scalpers, and in this way made very
comfortable living.
Among the lines he successfully APP
piled 90 are the Fall-Rlver Line and the
New York, Lake Erie. and Western rail-
roads.
This Is the third time Cook has been
arrested in New York. and he is known
| as wanted by the police I'm at least a
| dozen cities in the United states lie
| has n different alias for every locality
| In which he operates. He has been known
as Sir Henry Cook. Sir Edward Cook,
| Sir Henry Cecil. alias Hill, alias Gray,
alias Lloyd. alias Bailey, alias any other
! name he chose for the time being.
| He was arrested In New York on July
! %. 1892, charged with passing a worth
| less check on the proprietor Of. the Park
| Avenue Hotel. BE was acquitted on this
| charge. but in August OF the same year
| he was again arrested charged with OBJ
! tanning a watch worth $3.50 by means or
| a fraudulent check. For this he was
/ sentenced 10 serve two and half years
/ in Sing Sing.
| After serving six months ne was par
! doned in October last by Governor Flower.
| At headquarters last night Cook was
| very anxious to know whether in case OF
! conviction on the present charge he wouid
| have To serve his unexpired term
When arrested In 1882 he gave his resi-
dence as 2l0 east Tenth street, this city,
| but Yesterday he said he lived at 1876 south
! Fourth street Brooklyn. Cook Is rather
| stout. woodworking man OF 10 years. tie
| is . feet inches in height has black halt'
/ brown eyes, n curling brown m0ustache,
| and regular features lie IS natlNe OF
| Worchestershire England. and was at one
! time a member OF the Eighty-eighth Eng
! lish Regiment. He was dismissed from
! the army FOR conduct unbecoming an ON
! Ger. the police say, and then began ms
! swindling clreer.
! Accordinc 10 his history at headquarters,
| Cook was first arrested in England in lSSJ
for obtaining money by fraudulent means
and while out on bail he stole gripsack.
/ For this he served at hard labor SIX
| months in an English prison. lie was
convicted OF fraud in Belgium IN lS9''
and served a term in prison there ana III
! 1884 he was convicted OF fraud in London,
| and nut in nine months more in prison.
Next he appeared in Switzerland ana III
| 1885 he was sentenced to term OF I'M
prisonment In Geneva. Then there Is a
! iapse of four years, partially covered
urobably. by his term in Swiss prison
and in January, 1882, Cook inquired IN
charge OF obtaining money under raise
pretences. and was sentenced in Brussels
10 another term In prison.
After he obtained his liberty he came
70 America, and in New Orleans he oD-
tained a position in prlvate-detectlve
bureau. He was soon detected IN an at
tempt to blackmail a prominent citizs II
of New Orleans. and was DISCHARGED "
his employer. Subsequently ~ Wa3 ~,
rested i'm Vicksburg in Denver ana va
rious other cities Of the United states.