The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-06
Frank N. vIning Under
Arrest at Boston.
SECURED 9 9G0LDwATCHEs
Fraudulent Operations Said to Have
Been Extensive.
FORMERLY IN BUSINESS HERE.

Until about TWO weeks ago one rIahn
M. vining was the general manager of
the Smith & vining Mining company
and OF the Smith & Vining Trading
and Transportation company, with an
Office in room 343. Banigan building, but
Il is said that at that time William II.
Herrick. the agent of the building.
changed the lock on the office door,
since which time vining had not been
seen tn this city. and his whereabouts
were unknown.
Now. however, there is no mystery
about his present abode, for yesterday
afternoon he was taken to the Tomps
in Boston by detectives from pohce
headquarters at the Hub on charge
of ewindling merchants In that city. 1t
is said that Vining gave his name In
one OF his Boston transactions as Ben
jamin K. Brewster, but II was unuer
thu name OF vining that he was booked
by the police.
GOT NINE GOLD WATCHES
There Is only one charge brought
against him so far and that Is one Tor
obtaining nine gold watches valued at
$1b4, from the Morrill, Bros. CO., 40s
Washington street, Boston. Beside con-
Tossing to this transaction, he also con-
fesses to scores OF others of like ma
ture. vining called on the firm and
stated that he was a general trader,
and that he was stranger In boston.
He desired TO purchase Jewelry when
he intended to sell at retail. and stated
that, while he could give no references
among Boston business men, he was the
owner of a piece Of real estate on
Maverick street East Boston, upon
which he wished the Morrill, company
would take a mortgage large enough to
secure the company for the value or
the goods Purchased from the mousse oy
him.
The firm saw no reason to doubt
sBrewster's'' story. for such was the
name given by Vining, and the result
WAS that. after one OF the firm had
visited the office OF the registry OF
deeds. and found there record that a
certain piece OF land on Mayerlck
street, East Boston, had been trans
ferred from the original owners, James
and Jane Thomas. t6 BENJAMIN Il.
Brewster. and that the value OF the
property was $500, they Immediately
took q mortgage OF $500 on the prop
erty. enough to cover the amount OF the
custome.s possible purchases. Thus
s.Frewster" walked away with nine gold
watches. the value Of which at whoie-
sale is placed at $154.
vINING ARRESTED.
Later A was discovered that "Brews-
ter" or vfning. had no proprietary In
tersef whatever in the land, and the
aid OF the police was called In by the
Boston firm, and yesterday afternoon
vining was arrested while coming from
the Boston post office. At his room on
on the International Trust company OF
Boston and the Industrial Trust COM
pa,fy or Providence. In which were re-
corded deposits, and letter heads of the
smith q Vining Mining, Trading and
Transportation company.
There was also found the written
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF a receipt OF check
FOR sos FOR ave months rent from an
organisation known as.he Gospel Mis-
sion. which held it's meetings In Black
stone hall In Providence. The receipt
was made out to "F. NJ. vining. treas
urer OF the Gospel Mission" Vining is
known to have been prominently identi-
Religious society, which gathers In
Blackstone hall. and is said to be
6piritua1istic association.
MADE A CONFESSION.
Last evening. I'm the Boston Tombs.
yining is said to have admitted that he,
had swindied the following Providence
firms: The Pawtucket Nut company,
j. H. Roberts a. Co., Congdon, Car
penter & Co., Charles w. Jencks Il Co.,
beside many lnulViouals. he Also saiu
that he had 1defrauded the A. ID. Puffer
company OF Boston out Of S625, also the
Puffer Manufacturing company. Smith,
Aldrich &. Co., and Holmes a. Blanch-
ard. ali Of Boston, out OF goods varying
from $50 TO $500 In each case.
Vinfng was quite a 'ho3tler'' In
Providence, for In addition to selling
mining stock. he has been the distribut-
1nk agent for ''Frostlene." said to be a
bottled compound for frosting cakes. He
has also dabbled In patents, and. with
George. f. Dunbar. who is secretary or
the Smith q vining company. he has
endeavored to place a slot machine ar
ranRement for operating a gate or turn
stfIe. which was TO open when a half
dollar was dropped into the mechanism
yining faced the scrutiny of 25 de-
tectivea I'm the rooms OF the bureau of
criminal investigation at Boston this
forenoon After he was photographed
and brought into court and answered
20 the charge Of obtaining goods by
false pretences.
Judge Forsaith held Vining for the
September term OF the grand jury un-
der bal OF $500. Forgery charges
against yining will be held back until
then at the advice OF the Judge.