New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-27
A GPEENGOODS MAN CA UGHT.
JOHN CURLEY ARRESTED AND HIS OUTFIT
CAPTURED.
orr.Nrrry OF 1NcRIM1NATING EVIDENCE sE-
CURED IN A RAID BY CAPTAIN sCHMITT-
BERGER AND HIS MEN.


BERGER AND HIS MEN.
CAPTAIN Schmittberger, assisted by Detectives
Welch Ward and Dunn. Of the West one
hundredth-st. station. made raid on the apart
ments occupied by John Curley, a notorious
green good man. at No. 73 West Ninety-eignth-
St. yesterday afternoon, and captured com-
pIete greengoods outfit, and several packages
of opium Curey and woman VINO nved WIFI
him were arrested The woman gave ner hame
90 JuIia Curley. and said she was thirty-eight
years old.
For some time complaints have been received
at the West observation-disclosures station from per-
SIMS vho said they had been feeced by green
goods men living in the precinct On Mohoay
last Captain Schmittberger took command OF
the precinct having been transferred from ire
mont He Immediately began an investigation
Of these complaints. and soon learned 'ha' Nu'
ley was operating in his district
The Captain decided to make the raio yes'er-
dav afternoon at 4 o'clock. Curley lives on the
third floor of the house. Detective Welch went
70 tho kitchen door and knocked for admission
The woman opened the door few inches' anu
the detective told her he was sewing machine
agent and enter ed into conversation" WIFI
her while the Captain and the other TWO oe'eo-
tlves were ascending the stairs
Captain Schmittberger ordered the woman "
stand aside but she refused. 50 the ponce io''7u
their way in ard found Curley sitting IN one Vi
the bedrooms. Curley was told that ne anu i'''
wife were under arrest and the detectives '.en
ordered the surrender of his stock III 'raue' "u'
the greengoods man calmly told them u Seai'i
,ba roor,s The detectives found a large booK
containing over five thousand names OF nep Nv
ing in various towns Throughout the county
thousands OF bogus newspaper Clippings hu"
dreds Of letters from his victims. and also NUM-
eroues STYLES Of confidential commun catiohs' suc"
as Curey used to entce his customers
They also discovered number or genuine '"e
doI,or hills cut into halves which were intended
To be sent as samples to the prospective No'i'''
one Of the rooms had been fitted up as an opium
den. and eight packages Of opium lay on an au-
joining table. a.,
yybo, tho prisoner was arrested he had In his
noc,xets number Of Confederate bills. ranging IN
denomination from 81 to 800. Among the letters
bo had received was one from an egent OF Curiey
{, Arkansas who wrote: ID. c. Sparks, or FL
wood Ark. has 300 acres OF land. and he could
raise $4,000 or $1,000" r. NT"i'
Another letter from the same agent says
Joseph Twiggs. OF Gasville. Ark. Is worth iio'"
$4,000 to $4,000
The police say that Curley had agents IN all
parts OF the country and that their business wa
10 hunt I'D farmers who were likely 10 Pio'
an '.easv mark" A score OF letters hao peeh
sant 10 him from Wilkesbarre Penn; WiiHesoul >
& c.: Shady IIil Tenn; Anders IN. Mihh'' D'
las. Ore and several towns IN Illinois. uor.oa
The letters which Curley sent out assel,eu .
that ne had secured control OF some stoen pia'es
and thus made the finest possible imital3h VI
hona dde money. In Of his connde tiai le'
ters the green goods man says: The business -,
am In Is not strictly legitimate but we are oniy
iniurng a powerful government wnich can cas-
lily stand It.. -. .,a rote
He offered 10 sell his certificates at the rate
OF g 900 Of the bogus money for s2oo IN sooa
money Each customer had a number ana sisheu
ali his telegrams with the figures assigned 10
him . os,,,,, baiyht
He wears a black moustache and dresses "el
He was for a number Of years a confederate ana
nal of "B,rney' Mcclure. another notorious green
Goods man who was driven out or the CITY py
Sunerntendent Byrnes His number is Sof III
~ Rop,es' Gallery. Curley had lived III uie
same house for the last seven years. he receiVeu
his mail at No 534 Slxth-ave., where MS victims
addressed him as John O'Leary. Other letters
hearing the name John Frazer were sent 10 NO.
800 Chrystie-st. l., 1ror,o,,
Roth prisoners will be arraigned in Harlem
Court this morning