The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-10
PLOT TO ROB FATHER NEIL.
KNOCKOUT DROPS FOUND IN HIS
SERVANTS POSSESSION.

no Servant. who IL q Negro E1-Convict. Com
spired with Another EH-Convici. Vow in
tho Tombs Tor Forgery. TO Drug tho Ritual
istic Clergyman and Loot the Patronage.
Two OF Acting Captain Nice usky's detectives
captured a negro eN-convict late Wednesday
night and thus completed the baking of a
conspiracy to drug and rob the Rev. Edwnrd
Wallace Neil OF the Ntualistic Church OF st.
Edward the Martyr in Harlem. The capture of
another ex-convict for another offence two
weeks ago was the FIRST step toward the defeat
OF the scheme Of robbery.
The man arrested Wednesday ia William
Highly, who has been in tho employ OF the rector
Of the Church Of st. Edward tho Martyr. in the
parsonage at ID East lO9th street, for moro than
year. In the directory he is named as sexton
Of the church. which is one Of the highest in
New York. Higby's partner in tho conspiracy
IL William f.. Clark, alias Woodruff, alias
Maltby. whose picture is in tho Rogues' Gallery
and who Is now In tho Tombs Prison on q charge
Of forgery.
Among Clark's effects the police found q plan
OF Mr. eil's house, and this led them to suspect
that some one in tho house was his accom-.
plice In a plan to rob tho place. They
accordingly arrested Highly. When they
searched the negro's room they found in q
valise enough evidence, in the shape Of letters
AhoNAoh -" Ah'et
but his white pal. Clark. When confronted
with this evidence Highly broke down and con-
fessod that he and Clark had boon preparing to
do q number OF jobs and that only the arrest of
Clark had prevented their attempting them.
Father Neil. Higby's employer, was to be tho
FIRST victim. In his house he kepta gold and sill
yer chalice and sacramento Of great
value. the gift of Elbridge T. Gerry. first vestry-
man OF the church. in memory of Mr.. Gerry's
HAo1 daYrhtar lillian Sayaral nnpnfhs n
while out riding on his bicycle, Highly
ran across Clark. They had known each
other in tho penitentiary, and renewed
their acquaintance. with tho result that q
plan was laid to rob the parsonage. The priest,
who was the only occupant of the house besides
ayoung student. was to be drugged with knock
out drops and the house looted. Another victim
was to be a diamond broker named Robertson.
who lives at 20 East 1o9th street with his
brother.in.law. Samuel Spiegel, but this scheme
fell through with the other when Clark was ar
rested on Aug. 81 for forging n 81, 800 check on
the Riverside Bank. 10 was held in 5000
bal. and having no friends with money. was
On the day that no was arrested Clark left a
knockout drops in a barber shop: This worried
him. 1t meant sure conviction i it were found
K bombs tbs TO p0l Fo to 50 tho he bS MISse . a5P0S and dFG se. the the
valise. This Highly did and carried II it TO the par
sG1n sSseei ns T fhis pe TO gl ando ah date be 81 es sep done !. So
"FRiEND BILL: 1 got your note ali o. K. can
not tell you how sorry ! am that you cannot do
$751; Send me what you can. Those drops in
the bag contain two doses. I inclose you an
70 to physician and get the same, for 500.
They wont give S It to You SO you see how yslH,
three doses. When You get, tbs on Monday
p9rning, IL you have succeeded II getting s2s
This ie,tsf was 70 found IN the vnlise w sHasf Zig
knocs-out drops, considered % valuable 10y
CLARK; They were in Clerks h~andwrit pG. One
Dr.. j., N. Kennedy. The CHIEF inEredient was
oh oral. A ysician in the Health Department
fui would render a man unconscious, and might
prove fatal ,,.,
ferred to. It was a foqr-ounce bottle. hall tuil
OF the 9ro drift Hisb A1 to G1sri le wsil. in tb the ,.. yslise was IS
liberty; It 5 as foIloWs: LING = A'''f was ~
,o "H s,, a diamond anon broker. ,v His nam st is Robert,
Is on the bell or not. for he only Tive lives with
bis s5ssss. li ses' At ,hs 90 0H Esi ! sos ICsts sd s,Tss,, w ndsa
name am. rs sRieseI, I don't know as | have
but this much 1 do Know. He. goes out every
day to business at 9 or 2 o'cloek 1cannot say
band living Or not. I also think it Would Be a
Preatsb o + foS b. Il , executed ted! t9 2. 70 S,d man would
very valuable. Yours u terly, WILL.
"P. S.-De troy this after perusal."
A book of blank. Riverside Bank checks was
among the other things in the valise. Acting
Captain McClusky says that he will have Clark
indicted for forgery, second offence. Highly will
Ro;sssssionl the penalty for which is five years
Highly is 80 years. old. He was born in Guate-
mala, Central America, but speaks English
without accent. In 1892. under the name of
Arthur White, he was arrested and sent to the
penitentiary for three years for assaulting and
robbing O man on Houston street Sargente. his
pal, was also sent up. and 10 now serving an
other term of twelve years for a similar offence.
Highly procured his place with Father Neil soon
after getting out Of the penitentiary, q year
ago. through an employment agency. He has
given satisfactory service, and. 30 far as the
minister knows. has never stolen anything.
Clark's criminal career has been longer than
bis partner's. He was first arrested Aug. %,
1888, for forging the nam of Louis do Bebian,
the then agent of the French steamship line, to
ASSOC check. There were twenty similar com.
plants against him. but he escaped with a short
second Regiment OF this city: On Sept. IL
1880. he was again arrested for having forged a
$3.50 check drawn on Mime. Donovan. dress
maker, at $50 Madison avenue. For this offence
be was sent to the penitentiary for ten years
He Is now about 35 years old. His father was
respectable. and his grandfather was at one
time o sexton Of Trinity Church.