The sun., 1895-04-28

NJ once. OF the session Will drag along IN dull
way until snag finally upsets the Government
bont-
Americans who. within the last three years,
have been swindled by Erie Dickson alias NJ.
Francois Lsfebre Of Belfort and score of other
names. can. II they like. have the satisfaction Of
prosecuting him. for he has becn at length laid
by the heels. The other day Dickson called on
the British Consul at Dresden for tho purpose of
obtaining passport for Russia, in support of
which he produced letters of naturalization
which tho Consul at once saw were false.
The Consul communicated with the police,
and they promptly arrested the fascinating
stranger, who proved to bs the long
sought international swindler for whom the
police OF at least five countries Of Europe
had been vainly searching. Dickson's real
name 10 believed to be Ferdinand Rodriguez
Alvarez, formerly an officer Of the Guatemalan
army. He IL . linguist of marvellous ability.
and has, in tho course Of his highly successful
swindling career, passed, without exciting sus-
picion. az German, q Portuguese, q Persian, o
Greek, Bulgarian. an Argentine. q Creole of
Mozambique. . Brazilian, an EnGlishman, and
Franchman. His victims have included somo
Of the biggest people in Europe and many
Americana. male and female. Four European
Governments are now claiming his extradition,
but tho Saxon police have little account to
settle with him hrst
Two years ago signor Notarbartolo. the for
NOR Mayor Of Palermo and general manager Of
the Bank of Sicily, was stabbed to death in n
railroad carriage when travelling between Ter
mini and Palermo. The body was thrown on
tho track. Tho murderers were undoubtedly
two well-dressed mon, who entered the carriage
At wayside station. but beyond that the police
utterly failed TO throw any light upon tho
mystery, which agitated the whole Of Italy
at the time. 1t is now announced that
Signor Notarbartolo was murdered In Or
der to prevent the exposure of a great finan-
cial and political scandal in which several
Of the most notable public mon Of Sicily were
implicated. One Of the murderers died last
week after making full confession which has
already resulted in the arrest of several railway
officials, and in an earnest search for a half
dozen Sicilan notables who suddenly disap-
peared the day after the murdorer's confession,
of which they had a hint from highly placed Of
fcers of the State, who did not wish to see them
in the felon's dock. Signor Crispi is credited
with tho intention to have tho whole scandalous
affair dragged to light
Tho mysterious Russian. Prince Nakashidza,
has turned up in Leghorn. and, as is customary
whenever he visits . new country. he has been
thrown into prison as a suspect. The Prince
has been wandering about Europe for ten years
now. Win nlS WHO anu blbLoE-lu-lbW, WttuOuL
visible means of subsistence, varying tho monot-
ony of his travels by spells Of Imprisonment.
All that is known of him with certainty is that
he was condemned to death in Russia for COM
plicity in some revolutionary plot, and man
aged to escape. The Russian police regard
him an exceptionally dangerous man,
and by their persistent attentions have
secured his expulsion from nearly every
European country. Tho Princess and her
| sister say they are related to tho Duke
Of Wellington and are entitled to an immense
property. but the trio are often in sore straits
for money. and, when arrested in Leghorn the
other day, they wero living together in one
poorly furnished room. It Ia tho custom Of tho
two ladies. when their unfortunate Prince 10
serving . term Of imprisonment, to earn their
bread by lecturing upon the socialistic move
ment in Russia and by giving lessons In English
and German. and this they are preparing to do
at Leghorn. The action of the Italian police
seems to have upset the Prince. He has not
spoke en- q word since his arrest and Is said to be
like man hypnotiZed.
Mr.. Blaokburne, the English chess champion,
regards the game as q dangerous intellectual
vice which is spreading to rather an alarming
extent. Discussing the matter, after his game
with Mr.. Bardeleben on Thursday. he said: Il
know a lot of people who hold the view that
chess is an excellent means of training the mind
in logic and shrewd calculation. provision. and
caution. But don't find these qualities re-
fected in tho lives of chess players. They are
just as fallible and foolish as other folks who
don't know a rook from pawn. But even II It
were q form OF mental discipline. which
doubt. should still object to 1t the ground OF
its fatal fascination. Chess is Q kind of mental
alcohol. 1t inebriates tho man who plays 1t
constantly He lives in o chess atmosphere. and
~
have known many an able man ruined by
chess. The game has charmed him, and, as a
consequence. he has given up everything to the
charmer. No, unless q man has supreme self
control. 1t Is better that lie should not learn to
play chess. l have never allowed my children
TO learn 1t, for have seen too much Of its evil
results. Drsughts Is : better game, If you must
have game"
It is announced in Birmingham that the Rev.
DR.. Amory Bradford of tho First Congrega-
tional Church. Montolair. N. j., has been in
vited and has consented to occupy tho famous
Carr's Lane Chapel for a time and a strong
local desire exists that he be pressed to accept
tho permanent pastorship as successor to the
late DR.. Dale. The position is certainly his
should he care to accept 1t. According to a local
newspaper when less than TWO years ago. he re-
fused an invitation 10 take charge of West
minister Chapel. "he intimated that he could
not be induced to leave America permanently
| The present invitation. however. will reach him
| In o very nattering and tempting form, and his
| New Jersey friends would do well to keep an
| eye upon him should they desire to retain his
| services
representative of tho French Government
| who recently made an elaborate inspection OF
| tho Manchester Ship Canal made q very eulo
gistic report thereon, with tho result that 1t has
| been decided TO apply the experience gained In
| Lancashire TO the work of Improving the tida
reaches OF the lower Seine from Rouen tc
| Havre. The work 10 to cost about 50,000,00C
| francs. Of which Rouen and Hsvre will con
| tribute 2O.000.000. 1t 10 q matter Of some In
tsrest 10 Americans, because Havre proposes te
raise its share OF tho cost by increasing the
dock dues and poll tar on people landing in th'
port from foreign ships.
| Highly important and significant arc thu
| figures Just issued, with comparisons, showing
| the wealth of England In spite of twenty lear
years of depression. Tho taxable property o.
England and Wales In 1894 was el61 100000
| .o.,o.r.d to 4 nI mn mn In 1870 This In