The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-08-06

IMPORTANT ARREST.
Two Spaniards Are Charged With
Being Gold Brick Men.
SOME EXPERT DETECTIVE WORK.
Representation Was Made to swindIerS
Victim That Gold Was Stolen
From the Argentine Repub-
lie Governments.

OBrien has locked up at headquarters
two supposed daring gold brick swim
dlers wanted in New Orleans for al
legged swindling of a wealthy saloon
keeper out Of $1,000 and also suspected
OF being members of gang which has
operated extensively in South Americon
cities and the large cities of this coun-
try.
The two persons under arrest are
Juan Antonio Magan, 55 years old. who
gives his residence as 734 Dolphin street,
New Orleans, and Rogelio Gutierrez, 81
years old, who also comes from New
Orleans, but whose address is not
known. Both men are of the Franco
Spanish or Basque type so common in
the South American countries. They
said they left New Orleans five days
ago.
The specific charge is that they swim
died Pascal Lastell of New Orleans out
of $1,000 on a gold brick swindle. It is
said that Magyar went to the saloon
keeper on July 81 and represented him
self as Ralph Diaz. He stated, it is
alleged, that he and others were in the
employ Of the Argentine government
and stationed at Buenos Ayres.
While thus employed by the govern
ment. it is charged. they said they had
got hold of 100000 in gold bricks.
Tried the Gold Brick SwindIe.
Ralph Diaz, as he styled himself, dis
played one of the gold bricks to Las
tell and asked to have It analysed and
tested thoroughly. Lastell had the
brick filed and was told that the filings
were pure gold dust.
The next time Diaz called he had with
him young man, supposed to be the
Gutierrez arrested and in custody here.
The young man stated that the elder
man was his father and that he had
for long time suffered from an affec-
ton of the heart. The reason for this
was the great energy he had displayed
in his early life in accommodating a for
tune.
The young man stated that his father
did not care to run any great risks and
wanted some active man to share for
a consideration in the gold brick for
tune he had met with in Buenos Ayres.
He further stated that it was the in
tention of his fs gAer to go to Tampa
for his health as soon as the latter
had disposed of his interests In the
gold bricks.
Having tested the gold brick. Lastell
was anxious to get a good share of it.
He parted with his $1,000, but was not
long in ascertaining that he had a lot
of worthless gold bricks on hand.
He reported the matter to the New
Orleans police A man supposed to be
member of the gang died suddenly in
New Orleans of heart failure. supposed
m
citement attendant on this transaction
with Lastell. His name was Jose Ma
ria Mayano.
Acting Inspector O'Brien received a
telegram July rs from D. s. CASPER. gu
perintendent of police of New Orleans. |
Casper detailed the story of the gold |
bricks and stated that some of the bag
gage of the members Of the gang who |
had departed had been taken by the |
Pennsylvania company.
Chief O'Brien received a later tele-
gram that John Martinez, alias Con-
zales, As years old, feet inches in
height and with a gray beard, was sup
posed to be the leader OF the gang. |
Casper also sent a telegram that man |
of whom he had no description had sent |
a postal card to Juan Antonio Magyar
in New York.
The Arrest.
That is all Chief OBrien had to work |
upon. He detailed Detectives Rynders. |
Donnelly, Bonner, Mccarthy and Hag- |
gerty to watch the postal delivery. Ma
gan called at the general postofTlce and |
asked for the postal card. The de- |
tectives followed him to 1873 Lexington |
ha
place for about an hour, when he came
out, accompanied by a young man.
They were about to part, when the de-
tectives placed them under arrest and |
took them to the Central office.
On Magyar was found $247, draft on
a London bank for e410 and a ticket |
for first class passage on the St Paul, |
which sails today. On the person of
the young man was found $104 an ingot |
of pure gold of about an ounce in
weight, diamond jewelry and a package |
Of fake diamonds.
The detectives discovered two trunks |
at 1873 Lexington avenue, which are
supposed to be the baggage brought to
this city by the Pennsylvania road
They contained the complete outfit for
the gold brick swindle.
Ihere were pair or jewelers. scales
weights, etc, box of jewelers. tools,
lamp, crucible, two small boxes, con-
tanning gold and silver alloy, two bot
ties containing a yellow liquid used for
painting fake bricks six fake gold
bricks and dies for making others
Magyar admitted that he knew Maya
no. the man who dropped dead in New
Orleans. He stated that Mayano was
his 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 to
the Tombs.
News For ex-volunteer Officers.
Washington, Aug. 9.-Acting Secre-
tary MeikeljOhn has written a letter