Evening journal., 1897-08-04
IPORTANT ARREST.
70 Spaniards Are Charged With
Being Gold Brick Men.
NE EXPERT DETECTIVE WORK.
Was Made to swindiers
Victim That Gold was Stolen
From the Argentine Repub-
lie Government.


From the Argentine Repub-
W lie Government.
ew York. Aug. 4.--Acting Inspector
.3rien has locked up at headquarters
p supposed daring gold brick swim
Mrs wanted in New Orleans for al
ed swindling Of a wealthy saloon
eper out Of $1,000 and also suspected /
being members Of gang which has
3 srated extensively in South Americon
les and the large cities of this coun-
he two persons under arrest are |
an Antonio Magan, 55 years old, who |
es his residence as 734 Dolphin street |
w Orleans, and Rogelio Gutierrez, p |
irs old, who also comes from New |
leans, but whose address is not |
own. Both men are of the Franco |
anish or Basque type so common in
South American countries. They |
d they left New Orleans five days
he specific charge is that they swim
d Pascal Lastell of New Orleans out
$1,000 on a gold brick swindle 1t is
d that Magan went to the saloon
eper on July 27 and represented him
as Ralph Diaz. He stated, II is
eyed, that he and others were I'm the
hploy Of the Argentine government
stationed at Buenos Ayres.
While thus employed by the govern
rnt. II is charged. they said they had
~ hold Of 100000 in gold bricks.
Tried the Gold Brick swindle.
Ralph Diaz. as he styled himself, dis
- IL l.. -saI~s. a.. I
and asked to have it analysed and
sted thoroughly. Lastell had the
ick filed and was told that the filings
re pure gold dust.
rhe next time Diaz called he had with
m a young man. supposed to be the
iiterrez arrested and in custody here.
he young man stated that the elder
an was his father and that he had
q long time suffered from an affec-
N Of the heart. The reason for this
rs the great energy he had displayed
his early life in accur ulating a for
ne.
The young man stated that his father
4 not care to run any great risks and
anted some active man to share for
consideration in the gold brick for
ne he had met with in Buenos Ayres.
e further stated that It was the in
ntion of his father TO go TO Tampa
r his health as soon as the latter
I'D disposed OF his interests in the
Id bricks.
Having tested the gold brick. Lastell
as anxious to get a good share Of it.
e parted with his $1,000, but was not
ng in ascertaining that he had a lot
worthless gold bricks on hand.
II i - 49, a
leans police. A man supposed to be
member of the gang died suddenly In
ew Orleans Of heart failure, supposed
have been superinduced by the ex-
tement attendant on this transaction
ith Lastell. His name was Jose Ma
a Mayano.
Acting Inspector O'Brien received a
legram July 2S from d. s. Casper su-
srintendent Of police of New Orleans.
asper detailed the story of the gold
icks and stated that some of the bag
lge Of the members of the gang who
ad departed had been taken by the
ennsylvania company.
Chief O'Brien received a later tele-
ram that John Martinez, alias Con-
lies. As years old. 5 feet inches in
eight and with a gray beard, was sup
asper also sent a telegram that a man
whom he had no description had sent
N postal card to Juan Antonio Magan
4 New York
The Arrest.
That is all Chief o'Brien had to work
pom. He detailed Detectives Rynders.
ionnelly, Bonner. Mccarthy and Hag-
erty to watch the postal delivery. Ma
an called at the general postoffice and
sked for the postal card. The de-
ectives followed him to 1873 Lexington
venue. The man remained in this
lace for about an hour. when he came
ut. accompanied by a young man.
hey were about to part, when the de-
ectives placed them under arrest and
oolS them TO the Central office
On Magan was found S247, draft on
London bank for e41O and a ticket
or a first class passage on the st. Paul,
Jhich sails today. on the person OF
he young man was found s1O4, an ingot
pure gold Of about an ounce in
yeight diamond jewelry and a package
fake diamonds.
The detectives discovered two trunks
L 1873 Lexington avenue. which are
imposed to be the baggage brought to
his city by the Pennsylvania road.
hey contained the complete outfit for
he gold brick swindle.
There We're a pair of jewelers. scales
Weights, etc. box of jewelers. tools. a
amp a cruclble, two small boxes. con-
aiming gold and silver alloy, two bot
les containing a yellow liquid used for
painting fake bricks, six fake gold
bricks and dies for making others.
Magan admitted that he knew Maya
10. the man who dropped dead in New
Orleans. He stated that Mayano was
ais friend. and he spent seven hours
with the man before he died. He said
Mayano had owed him $500 for long
time. and just before death repaid the
money.
Both men were taken TO the Center
street court and have been remanded tc
the Tombs.
Farmers becoming Discouraged.
ST JoseDh Mo- Aug 4-With this