The evening times., 1897-05-06
HE PASSED BOGUS CHECKS
Alleged Cousin of Senator Hanna
Arrested i'm New York.
SAYS HE WAS HIS PARTNER
A Arthur b. Meeker Had Many VIC
tims-His Son Telegraphed That
and That All Claims Would BE
Promptly Paid Upon Presentation.

New York, May 6.-Arthnr B. Meeker,
who says he is a cousin OF Mark Hanna,
and formerly associated with him in the
iron business, was before the YOrkvillc
police court yesterday morning, charged
with paying bills in worthless checks. He
said he was sixty-one years old, a native
OF Utica, and formerly president of the
Illinois Iron and Steel Company.
Soloman, the Broadway florist, charged
that Meeker had given him a S11 check on
the Knickerbocker Bank in payment for
flowers DR. Richmond, dentist, of No.
10 West Thirty-fifth street, appeared with
warrants in other cases against the &C
cused He said Meeker had swindled him
out OF $1OO; also the jacobs Brothers,
tailOrs, out Of S23.
Dr. Richmond afterward produced war
rants issued to other victims He said
Meeker had come to his office about April
/ with letter of Introduction from Mrs
Joaquin Miller, wife of the poet Meeker
has been boarding at her house. The den
tist had hardly begun TO work on Meeker's
teeth before Col. Savage, the author Of
"My Official Wife, dropped in. He was
introduced to Meeker during the dental
picnic
Meeker spoke familiarly of Mark Hanna
as his cousin and former partner in the
iron business, said he had introduced Han
ma to his present wife, when she was Miss
Rhoades, the belle OF Ohio. and daughter
OF ''Uncle Rhoades, ,"the welE-knOwn Demo
crat. The daughter and Mark Hanna
were ardent Republicans, and her Demo
cratic father opposed the match. Meeker
finally won him over in favor OF Hanna
and the marriage took place. Meeker
related his experience in business with
leading men Of the United states, most
OF whom Col Savage, the novelist, said
he had met or knew by reputation.
: The result Of this preliminary converse
tion was a three days talk. and the dentist
lost much time and patience, but he heard
enough good stories concerning members
OF the Union League and the big men or
the country TO fill book.
Meeker enlarged on his enormous" bust
ness transactions. and the manufacture OF
steel rails for the trunk lines OF this cOun-
try and Of Europe. He gave facts and
figures about his mines and land improve
ment schemes He said his zinc mine in
Ontario county was bonanza. Incidental
~ he said he could draw his check for
hundred thousand and it would he honored
in any reputable bank. 1t was such state
ments as these made with easy grace that
beguiled the dentist and Col. Savage, the
novelist.
When Meeker's mouth had been filled
with new teeth he drew a check for 500
and said he would pay the remaining 500
in few days. 1t was on the Knicker-
booker Bank, and DIR. Richmond deposited
it for collection. 1t came back in few
days with mo funds printed across the
back. The dentist proceeded to iRyesti-
gate, and found that halfdOzen similar
checks had been drawn on the bank, in
which Meeker had no deposits. Detectives
found that Meeker had offices for his min
ing company in the new Bowling Green
building. On the door appears this legend
in gilt:
"Ontaro Zinc Company-A. B. Meeker,
Southwestern Land Improvement Company,
Of Arkansas
a telegram vest terday said the zinc mines
exist only on paper.
Mrs. Joaquin Miller, of No. 175 West
Forty-fifth street, received one of Meek
er's checks: Or. TheIbert, of West Thirty
third street, was charmed with Meeker's
stories Of his big mines, and one day ad-
vanced him $500, it is alleged War
rants for Meeker's arrest We're issued yes
terday in behalf of several claimants, but
later in the day Arthur Meeker, sUperin-
tendent for Armour < Co, the Chicago beef
packers, telegra phed Lhathis father was out
Of his mind and irresponsible: that all his
checks would be paid at once.
Emerson FoOte, the iron man, repre-
senting the son and members of the Union
League, of which Meeker claims to be
member, visited lawyers In Wall street and
paid the claims that had been presented.
He said the others would be settled on
presentation.
The prisoners examination was set for
Friday, and the $500 bail was furnished
by Thomas J. Connor, Of No. 159 Lafayette
boulevard.