The times., 1897-12-05
EAGER FOR GREEN GOODS
New York Shoemaker Spends
$500 for Slips Of Paper.
THOUGHT HE HAD $4,000
Told the Police He Knew He Was
Buying Counterfeit Stuff, But In
the Law Over to the Police
Came ALI the Way From Erie.

New York, Dec. Am old man and
young man with small tin box under his
arm came out of saloon at No. 1O9
| Flushing street, Long Island City, crossed
| the Newtown Greek bridge, Tecrosscd the
bridge to the Long Island City side, and
then stopped and talked earnestly FOR a
minute or two. Suddenly the old nan
started and ran along Vernon avenle to-
ward Flushing street. stop him!" the
| young man shouted, as he started In pur-
suit AT Flushing street he overlook the
old man and seized him by the overeoat
| collar.
| AS he did so the old man raised his right
| arm, but his captor cornered him with a re
yolyer and held him until Policeman II unit
! arrived. To the policeman the young man,
| who IS Lo1is Mesharka, n Shoemaker, of
| No. 1908 Holland street, Erie, Pa, cx-
| planned that the old man had TAKEN him
| to the Flushing street saloon and had sold
| him $4,000 worth OF money FOR $500.
| Mesharka said he had the money In the
| box under his arm and wanted the old
| man 10 stop while he examined the CON
| tents OF the box. The old man dt first
consented and then trieti TO run away.
''Green goodslr exclaimed the policeman
as he took both men 10 the Second pre-
cinct police station.
Police Captain Buschmann, with Ee-
| tectiye Burden and Policeman II mt, hur-
ried to the Flushing street saloon. on the
| second floor they found tue door of tie
| front room locked and burst IL in. IN
| desk they discovered some slips cf light
| blue paper cut to the size OF dollar bills,
| some clippings OF advertisements and some
| telegrap blanks. A small key found in
| desk fitted the tin box Mesharka supposed
contained $4,000.
The old man described himself as Eugene
Sullivan, of Wythe avenue, Brooklyn. He
said that he WAS employed by an insurance
agent whose office was in the front room ON
| the second floor OF the saloon.
Mesharka said that several days ago he
received circular offeringmoney that could
| not be told from genuine bills at very low
| rate. After some correspondence he left
! Erie on Wednesday night with $500 to
| invest in $4,000 worth of the money
According 10 instructions he went TO New
ark, n. j., and registered at the Continental
Hotel as L. Heshark,' and waited for q
representative of the green goods nen
10 call upon him. He said that Sullivan
came to the hotel yesterday morning and
asked for hin, and together they went TO
Long Island City.
Mesharka, in the room Of the saloon, met
Young man OF medium height with q
light complexion and light nUstache, to
whom he handed $500 in gold bills. He
SAYS he saw the man count out SO, 200
In new bills and place them in tin box.
which he locked and handed TO Mesharka,
W ho then started away with the old man,
Sullivan.
Mesharsa told the police he knew that
he was purchasing counterfeit money, but
that it was his intention TO turn the green
goods men ever to the police after making
the deal.
How did you expect to get your $500
back?' asked Capt. Buschmaun.
Il expected to get it from the law
said the shoemaker.
" hen Capt. buschmann opened the tin
box and showed Mesharka that it con-
tanned only slips OF blank paper with new
one dollar bill On top he was very much sur
prieed.
why, saw him put the other bills in
the box myself" he exclaimed.
Sullivan, the alleged 'steerer" {" was very
non-comIpunicative. He said that he would
not talk until he had seen counsel. No in
formation could be obtaine al the Flush
ing street saloon. 1t was in charge of a
German, who said he did not know the
name of the proprietor. The sign over the
saloon door reads ''Emmet Hotel" and
another sign on the building gives the
name OF H. Livingstone as proprietor,
but the police sa the place changed hands
about a week ago.