Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-11
MacF Farland Tells of His Detective
Work.
TIE PRISONER ADMITS HIS IDENTITY
Willing to Return to New York
Without Papers.


Cf1lCAIo, beCeHDtT I'LL. NAV
Farland is the name given by the man
who caused the arrest of the man sup
posed to be Seeley, the fugitive New York
embezzler.
II met Seeley eight days ago on Dear
born street, between Madison and Washing
ton," MacFarland says. "He spoke to me
as a man does who is unacquainted, and
asked how to reach the Roby race track.
l had nothing to do and offered to show
him the way to the depot. l walked as far
as Adams street with him, and told MIN TO
take the street cars to the Union depot.
Then he invited me to go with him, and l
accepted the invitation. When we started
for the track he told me his name was {.
G. Evans. We went to the races, and he
lost S9S, II / remember correctly. He
seemed to have plenty of money, and when
we started back to the city he invited me
to accompany him to the race track next
day. That day he lost $780, and after the
races he showed me card, which he said
bore his right name-Frank j. Dale. This
reused my suspicious, and l went to the
police station to get a look at Seeleys pho
tograph on the circular Offering 5000 for
his arrest. i had seen the circular before,
and when 1 got a second look l was sure
that my new acquaintance was Seeley. We
went to the track the third day. and Seeley
won some money, but he lost again the
fourth day. We met each other every day
at the Lincoln Hotel, on North Side. and
last Friday while We were talking Seeley
LOOK ms pehcii anu Wrote his reai haiiie OH
a card.
Did you ever hear of that manT he
asked me.
II told him that 1 had read in the news
papers of a man by that name who had
skipped from New York with a pile of
money.
81 am that man.. he said and then
asked me If was going to give him up"
MacFarland said that Seeley was pressed
for money last Thursday, and had to pawn
his watch and chain.
The next day he received 500 by mail.
which, he said. had been sent by his wife,
who had received 1t from his attorney.
Seeley, after confessing his identity to Mac
Farland, talked freely about his connec-
ton with the Shoe and Leather Bank He
said that he had been dupe for Baker
and that he had received but $4,000 in the
nine years during which the bank had suf-
fered losses. Baker, he said, got all the
rest of the money.
Admits He is Seeley.
The prisoner admitted, shortly before
noon today, that he Is Samuel c. Seeley,
the absconding bookkeeper of the National
Shoe and Leather Bank. He declined to
talk of his case, but said he was ready to
go back to New York and would make no
trouble. Seeley's remarkable coolness and
persiStency in denying his identity had
completely baffled the detectives and they
had determined to await the New York
officers before making further efforts, when,
about noon. the prisoner told his guard
that he wished to see the men in charge of
the detective force.
Inspector Shea and Lieut.. Haas promptly
responded, entering the inspectors private
office, where the suspect had been confined.
BE seated gentlemen" Seeley said as
the officers appeared, and somewhat daZed
at his GOODNESS, they sat down.
Now, gentlemen" Seeley continued II
first wish to thank you for your courtesy
and kindness since our meeting last night.
/ have told you repeatedly that my name Is
Dole, but have become tired of deception.
l had no sleep last night; am weary. My
name is Seeley - Samuel c. Seeley - late
tookkeeper OF the National Shoe and
Leather Bank of New York. That is what
l wished to say to you"
"Do you care to say anything about your
case?" asked the Inspector
Not thing. 1 am ready and willing to
go to New York. l will not make any
trouble about extradition. So soon as the
proper New York officials arrive 1 will go
with them"
The officers attempted to secure some
sort of a statement from Seeley regarding
his connection with the great steal, but he
carefully avoided making any admissions
or denials. Finding his efforts in that line
unavailing, Inspector Shea ordered the man
taken to the Harrison street station, where
he was locked up to await the arrival of
the New York officers.
His quarters at the Harrison street sta
ton were much more comfortable than
those he occupied at police headquarters,
when he was allowed to remain in the
private OIllCe Oh Inspector Sned, DuI the
foul air of the cell apparently had no ter
rors for the bookkeeper, and removing his
ulster he made himself comfortable on the
iron bunk. His vocabulary became very
limited so soon as the cell door closed be-
fore him. And to all questions he simply
replied: Il have nothing to say"
Discussing MncFarland's Story.
MacFarand was slow in following up his
conquest today. Although anxiously await
ed by the authorities he had not put i'm an
appearance up to noon. Seeley's action in
voluntarily confessing his identity to q
passing acquaintance, after having display
ed such remarkable keenness in eluding ar
rest, was the cause of much speculate ton
MacFarland had said that Seeley met him
on the street, invited him to the races, and
after several days companionShip had
calmly informed him that he was Samuel
c. Seeley, wanted in New York for aiding
in the left of 1854, 900. The police were
inclined to the belief that MacFarlands
story might he subject to variations. 1t
was believed by many of the detectives
that the informant was an old acQuaint-
ance of the fugitive, and that the allure
ments OF 5000 reward had got the better
Of his friendship. On this subject however,
Seeley was as silent as a clam, and the
officers were forced to be content with
specule ton pending the appearance of
young MacFarland.
What evidence, if any, had been found
at the boarding house at which Seeley was
arrested, the police refused to say. 1t was
known that papers of no Importance and
a solitary 500 bill were found on his per-
son, and it was not thought that any in
eliminating evidence had been discovered
In his room.
During the afternoon MacFarland put in
an appearance at detective Headquarters
He was apparently laboring under a heavy
burden of intoXicants and his conversa-
ton was not particularly lucid He was
able. however, to make his hearers under
stand that he was hot after that 1000
reward and that he intended to have ii all.
He would, he declared, divide with no
one.
After making something of a scene at
headquarters MacFarland left, but re-
turned several times during the afternoon
and made numerous demands for the re-
ward.
Detectives who were sent out to look I'D
the informer's record reported that he had
been for week boasting to his friends
that he knew where to find Seeley
Mact'arland, according to the officer is
an ardent admirer of the flowing bowl.
and many of his acquaintance say that he
frequently, during the last week, while in
toXicated, had declared that he would soon
clear 5000 by clever bit of detective
work.
MacFarland is rather good-looking man.
perhaps twenty-five years old. dresses we'll
though f1ashily, and is said to frequent the
race tracks. Owing to his condition today,
the officers were unable to learn anything
regarding his acquaintance with Seeley.