The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-06
THE GOLD BRICK FRAUDS
THREE MEN WERE ARRESTED, But
rWo or THEN TURNED LOOSE.
Parker IL Locked Up I'm Rishmend SAFE
sud seusd. but the Lvachburg Men arc
fres-A Letter from wili'ams.

eWindic. which resulted on ri"oS ~ -
c,eap sweep OF s, 900 from A. w. Withers
nj Gloucester. closed with the escape Vi
~, least three characters In the meio-
drama In real life. o.-
1nsr,er If. opens with a clever spec'-
,,..n ~ aetcetiye work. one oil the "
,srt adventurous now hngushc, pe a,a.
sna nr,son HAIRS. while II is not aitogethe,
unlikely that some new deVeiopHisii.e wa
sc,k out I'm the course OF Few oAy
Serrcants Alexander Tom'lnsoh anu 'o Ia
Hall. assisted by Detectives ocnieta a., 49,
.Iohnson. were each wearing q ies''"si "
mis- ,,fy,clal cap yesterday. And great U.s
5easher n was. for the man claiming ~
no Thnmas H. Parker, the assayer' rum
abe PHILADELPHIA mint. within nine houis
after the plot was executed Sazeo o"'
through the prison bars for inspiration.
a few hours later 1t was stated
mat the alleged John WIZ
Hams. who trlImVcd up the fairy taie 'hat
coaxed Mr.. Withors 10 klchinohu' anu
the mysterious Indian. who did the role
assigned 10 him so cleverly as TO arouse
no suspicion that his realistic countenahce
and long. coarse black hair were but an
Adjustable mask and wig, were under
arrest before they could get OF Virginia
soil. 80 IL was thought There is
reason 10 believe the trio had operated
on a grand scale elsewhere. But inns
time they encountered a snag vivid
illustration OF highly creditable head
work crowned with success.
THE ESCAPE.
Williams, Il will be remembered by
those who read the first chapter In yes
ferday's Times. drove down 10 Suther-
lands stable from Ford's Hotel about
O'Clock, leaving Parker and young With
ers in the lobby. In company with the
Indian, whose name has never been as
certaincd. ne got away In some
mysterious fashion probably on the even-
ing train Their appearance had been
changed. A few minutes after Parker's
escape Sergeant Tomlnson and Detectives
Schleif and johnson sent kilograms with
descriptions OF the men to all the prin-
cipal cities in Virginia and elsewhere.
Telephone messages TO all the police sta
lions helped matters considerably, so
that every railroad station in the city
was keenly watched.
II was settled beyond doubt that the
Adventures did not take either of the
evening trains for Petersburg. the $50
train for the West. nor the York River
line for Baltimore. Information soon
proved that no efforts were made 10
board the northbound train for Washing
ton.
Sergeant John Hall was detailed TO
accompany the other officers 10 the Ches-
apeake and Ohio train. which leaves
Tor The West at 1890 r. NJ. The game
was not there. Hurrying up town three
OF the detectives boarded the train which
leaves Byrd-street station for Petersburg
at 1:3o. Sergeant Hall had gone to EiDa
10 board the Atlanta Special from Wash
ington, which arrives at 1923 \. NJ. Mean
time the other detectives went as lar
as the railroad shops in Manchester
thinking IL probable that the fugitves
might attempt TO board the train there.
Not so. III dead run the detectives
started for the Southern Depot, with a
view 10 Inspecting The train which leaves
for Atlanta al l2:Sj n. NJ. Ii was found
that by so doing they would not have
time 20 join Sergeant Hall on the Atlanta
Special for Petersburg.
PARKER ARRESTED.
Instructions were sent to police head
quarters 10 have the Southern tram
watched. and officers were detailed for
that purpose. Then Detectives Tomiinson
, and Hall boarded the train FOR Peters
burg. A message was handed them at
Byrd-street station to the effect that
Parker had been arrested in the Cockade
city. while i'm the act of boarding the
Norfolk and Western train for Lynch
burg. Detective Ragland made the ar
rest. Then the Richmond officers wired
instructions about the other two fugi-
tives and in half an hour We're In the
Cockade City. When they arrived Detec-
tive Ragland told them that the other
two men had purchased tickets NO. b2l
for Bristol and that he had wired the
conductor OF the train, who was
friend of his, to nave the hold
ers of tickets No. 52l arrest
ed. a message came from the conductor
stating that 1t was impossible to secure
a police officer before the train reached
Lynchburg. Accordingly he kept his eye
on the adyenturers. and instructions were
wired to Lynchbnrg. When the tram
reached the Hill city, a couple of police
officers entered the coach. The rest was
a matter of form. Thus, 1t was thought,
all three men were secured.
WAS IN SIZE PER.
"When Parker was arrested said De-
tcctivc Ragland ''he was In sleeper
lust leaving for the West. He claimed in
nocenco of course. and stated that he was
en- route for Roanoke, which was true.
he told me he was a horseman, and knew
nothing of Withers.
Parker hired morse and buggy from
Bennett Brothers stable on west Broad
street. Friday night about o'clock lie
appeared TO those al the stlble TO be
out on the pavement. lie said he had
telegram calling him to Ches err and mad
10 be off AZ once. Mr.. Bennett let him
have a horse ana buggy, and sent with
him a driver. The man was driven over
10 Chester. When he arrived he arranged
with The driver 10 carry him TO Peters
burg, where Detective Ragland did the
rest.
The Theory is that the other two men
got away Friday evening on one
OF the trains. conceahng themselves
somewhere in a coach
On Saturday. December 29th, a man
&ho is thought to be one of the gold
brick fakirs, called at 5. Stern's pawn
SHOP and attempted to secure a loan on
nugget of some mineral which was
heavily plated with gold. The pawn
broker tested Il with acid, which, how
lever, had no effect on the coating. Upon
breaking off piece OF the lump the
fraud was disclosed.
IDENTIFIED HIM.
Sergeants Tomlinson and Hall gathered
up their prisoner In Petersburg yesterday
mornirg and brought him over To Rich
mond. When the party arrived at the
Byrd-Street station quite group of NOR
bidly curious people gathered about the
station 10 get a peep at the man. That's
one OF the gold-brick swindlers," said
an Interested spectator. The information
spreh like wild-fire, and any number
Of people followed the officers and prisons
er uptown 10 the Capitol Square, where
Mr. Nithers. the victim, was standing
A glance at Parker was sufficient. That's
one o. them" said Mr. Withegs, and the
prisoner was soon lodged in the Second
station. A charge of swindling A. w.
Nithers out Of 5000 was entered against
he h<tatk of.