New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-13
ARRESTS IN FRENCH CASE
TWO MEN ALLEGED TO BE IMPLICATED
IN THE SWINDLE CAUGHT.

Two arrests were made by Brooklyn detective
last night of men who supposed to have been
concerned In the swindng of Honest John
French out OF 5000 last Friday. The were
taken TO Police Headquarters. One of them. a
short, thickset man. with heavy mustache. gave
the name of John w. Carroll thirty-four years old,
but refused to give any address or occupation.
The other man said he was Thomas Kerr. OF
-hundred-and-fo urth-st. Manhattan. He gave
no number. He was smooth shaven.
The men arrested at Broadway and Bed
ford-ave.. Brooklyn. at 10 o'clock by Detective Ser
geant Kennedy. assisted by Detectives Mulvey,
Roach. McGrath and George Reynolds None Of
them would say what the had been arrested
for. but 1t was known that Reynolds and at least
OF the other detectives have been working on
the French case since II was reported to the police
Yesterday 1t developed that the bunco game had
been carried on in a furnished room at No. s0S
Fulton-st.. which had been rented for an archi-
tects office by Mrs. Mary Stack estma-
bic widow, who much disturbed when she
learned Of the operations that had been conduct
ed under her roof Detectives Mulvey. Nc
Grath and Roach visited Mrs Stack yesterday and
got her story She able, however. to furnish
little information which will be useful in apprehend-
ing the swindlers.
He was about ffty-hve years old a thick set
man with a heavy nustache" said the widow In
speaking OF her odger He wore dark clothes and
a black derby hat. which was always on his head
when him."
This man visited Mrs. Stack on Friday Decem-
Der I. Her apartment IL over store occupied by
the Echo Farm Dairy Company She had had a
small hall bedroom to let and the visitor, men
tioning that he had sign to that effect in the
window soon closed a bargain with her. II was
stipulated that Mrs Stack should remove the bed.
as the stranger desired the room for office pur-
poses only. The next day he moved in and brought
along an assortment Of pens. rulers, thumb tacks
and other things which CARRIED out the Idea that
he was an architect Each day at about o'clock
the architect reached his room. He carried a
small gripsack to and from the Office. but Mrs.
Stack rarely paid any attention TO his movements.
her rooms were in the rear. and he had a pass
key. os
Mrs. Stack said she was not aware that the man
had brought any one else to the at any time.
have nf BEEN Pra Last Friday When the
confidence man had attained his end and secured
the g 900 from Honest John French he carried
away all of his possessions In the room, and of
course has not been since
yesterday He might have lett that. But must
him. HIM p it blessing that I got my money out of
1t is quite probable that the bunco man, would
been able to do so without interfering with his
larger purpose; II was agreed that the rent OF
spite Of this last provision the stranger moved in
without paying. and carefully avoided her. She
stopped MIN IN the hal one DAY, ana, AFTER IL was
made clear that the room would have to be vacated
II not paid for the ledger reluctantly produced the
money.
Dr. George F. Little. grandson OF Mr. French,
has given out a statement in which he relates the
stems in the swinde by which his grandfather lost
s. 900. II seems that the old completely
deceived into thinking that the young man who
accosted him in the street and lured him into the
Futon-st. room was son OF Charles Pratt his
old friend. According 10 Dr. Lttles story. young
Pratt" took the leading part In the game Of
chance, and was informed that he had lost $4,000.
Protesting, that he had but 5000, and would be
ruined If his family should learn OF the loss, he
induced Mr.. French TO lend him s. 900 This the
latter did believing he would save the reputation
of the young man and spare his family the dis
grace.