The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-12-06
A BLACKMAILING PLOT
Frustrated by New York'a Central
Office Detectives.
SPANISH OFFICIAL IMPLICATED,

It Is Asserted That Consul General
Arturo Baldasano Topete Gave the
WouId-be BIackmailers Pointers to
Use Against a Brazilian Millionaire.
New York, Dec. ga plot to black
mail Senior Don Eugenio de Baria
Teixeira, a Brazilian millionaire, which
had been frustrated by the central Of
fee detectives, was revealed yesterday
by the preliminary police court pro
ceedings in the prosecution of william
b. Turnbull, who claims to be an ac-
countant, and William Elford Gould,
who has been known as a Wall street
speculator The name of Arturo Ball
dasano Topete, Spanish consul gen
eral, having been mentioned in connec-
tion with the scheme to extort the sum
OF S4.5OO from Senior Teixeira, a sub
poena was issued for his attendance
at the examination in the case Of
Gould and Turnbull, which has been
set down for tomorrow. The prisoners
were committed to the Tombs prison in
default of bail, and it is said that at
the police court investigation Turnbull
will become a witness for the prose-
cution, and by disclosing the full de-
tails of the conspiracy fasten the guilt
on his confederate, Could and impli-
cate the high Spanish government Of
ficial
The money was demanded from Senior
Teixeira under the threat to publish
"his life's history" and the alleged fact
that he had violently assaulted his wife
while she was in a delicate condition.
The detectives had interviews with
Turnbull during the course of the nego-
tiations to extort the money, the
amount Of which was finally reduced to
s., $50 and are in possession Of the let
ters written to the Brazilian millionaire.
Senior Don Teixeira, who is wild
over, arrived here in October, 1895, with
his mother, Nine. Maria Louisa Teix-
EZRA. from Spain. 1t was then an
nounced that the Teixeiras intended to
| invest their fortune of about $5O,000O00
| in this country They spent S500,00O in
the erection Of a mansion at the corner
| Of West End avenue and One Hun
dred and Fifth street, this city, and
| there mother and son have since lived
! quietly.
! Consul Baldasamo comes into the
| case because of his friendship for Gould.
| He gave to Gould a letter of recon-
! mendation, which Gould presented to
| Teixeira in applying for the position of
| private secretary When a detective,
! posing as the agent of Teixeira, con
/ Quoted negotiations with Turnbull
! the latter brought Gould into the case.
| Then the detective inquired at the
! Spanish consulate concerning Gould.
The consul said that he considered
Gould eminently fitted to act as secre-
tary to Senior Teixeira.
This was the substance Of the letter
of recommendation which Gould had
presented. The visit of the detective
to the consul generals office tended tc
block the plan to fleece Senor Teixeira
Turnbull said, because the visit hac
become known to Turnbull and Goulc
and they were warned to be careful
1.-THE Spanish consul" said Detective
| Valley, notified Gould that 1 was {
detective and Gould warned Turnbull
Gould admitted that he had told Turn
bull about Senior Teixeira, and tina
the Spanish consul had told him tht
alleged facts of the inside history o.
the Brazilian millionaire's life.
Gould told me-" said Detective Val
lely, that the Spanish consul had tolC
him that Senior Teixeira was mixed ul
in a scandal in Brazil and that ther
was an indictment against him. Goult
also said that he knew positively tha
the Brazilian government had mad
application to Washington to TAX
Senior Teixeira back there and hav
the treaty between the United State
and Brazil altered if necessary to d
It,"
Senior Teixeira has a reputation a
an artist. He painted the celebrate
picture entitled "The First Communio
in America" which took prizes /
Paris, Madrid and Chicago. He is
first cousin of Dom Pedro, once EN-
peror Of Brazil. Senior TeiXeira is re
puted to own rich gold mines in tn
= republic of Brazil.
Consul General Baldasano when tol
Of the arrest Of Gould seemed great
shocked.
''I know Mr.. Gould" he said. ''H
is an educated, courteous gentleman
and an honor to his country. I kno'
there must be some serious mistake
Mr. Gould came to me one day severe
months ago and asked my opinio
! about European art schools. kne'
. little about art, and told him so, bU
] gave him a letter of introduction {
Senior Teixeiraa with whom I happene
a to be slightly acquainted, and who
very familiar with that subject. w
talked of Senior Teixeira, and 1 mer
toned the scandalous stories which ha
been circulated about him."
The consu general admitted tina
{ he had been visited by a detective
connection with the case, but denie
! with much indignation that he ha
warned Gould.
When asked If he would obey a sun
mons to testify in the case he evade
\ the question, with shrug of his shou
ders, by saying; "They cannot con
pei me to give any testimony"
Asked what he would do If place
under arrest, he waxed warm and do
clared his intention to defy any sue
procedure. Then with a smile he added
tarhara Is no danrar of thatn