New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-12
BROOKLYN NEWS.
CLEVER SWINDLE WORKED
HONEST JOHN" FRENCH LOSES $1,000 BY
A CONFIDENCE GAME.

A BRIGHT YOUNG MAN NAMED pratt GOT
HIM TO DRAW THE MONEY FROM BANK.
Ex-A'derman John French for many years trus-
tee of the Hanson Place Methodist Episcopal
Church, and at one time an active power In BrooR-
lyn politics, who account Of his strict integrity
known Honest John" was swindled out or
$1,000 last Friday. Two scoundrels who took ad-
vantage OF the old mans connding and gentle dis
position wormed their way into his good graces ana
| then playing upon the fact that old age has duhed
some of his old time shrewdness. heeced MIN OUT
OF n large sum or money. The police are making
every effort to locate the men and succeeded IN
keeping the story quiet until yesterday
A Tribune reporter called at Mr.. Frenchs mousse
No 1863 Clinton-ave. in order to get tho story from
him personally. but told that Mr.. French woulu
see reporters Although the police are also en-
deavoring suppress the facts. the details OF the
confidence game given below are known 10 NC
substantially correct.
Mr.. French. although eighty years old Is
still able to take a walk almost daily. Shortly be-
fore last Friday he was walking down Fulton
st. when he approached by a well dressed
young man.
How are you Alderman" said the stranger
| 81 glad to you looking so well.
why you certainly know me. don't YOU as
| look of surprise and wonder crept over the young
mans face II young Pratt. son OF MT. Pratt
| the oil man."
! As was intended Mr. French at Jumped to
| the conclusion that the young was related 10
! Charles Pratt. the we'll known founder OF IRA"
! Institute, who died some years ago. Ihihhihs
! that he might perhaps have appeared for an III
slant to snub the son of Mr.. Pratt, who was
neighbor and close friend. and chagrined 10 ti,nN
| that perhaps his memory had gone back on MN
| Mr. French at once attempted to make up tor HIS
seeming neglect.
LURED TO AN UPPER ROOM
| He allowed the young man to link their arms
together and listened interestedy 10 'he con, 49,.
| ton of his companion. The latter was "u'"s
! talker and soon was rambling on about men anu
| books in way which showed MIN 10 DE " man "
no mean education. Finally he said: mas ,ue, on
! ,.Whv Alderman when l met YOU was 1 JUS oI
bGve way SSar % Know YOU Would be interested in it.
! and perhaps you could get one TOO you '0'"0
harmed by the presence of the supposed scion OF
the Pratt family Mr. F FTemSn near vanderbilt
ave it was that Mr. French paI h nn, her Of
The house but it is said to be on the south SIDE OF
| Fulton-st. 49,. ,o,so ,,yo men were seat
| Cd u. a table. They greeted Mr.. Pratt and were
profse in acknowledging the honor Of Nj fre ,be
| rnreeonce when he had been introduced 10 theHl'
After the book subject had been discussed for
short time the two men began 10 dnv had been
playing In way the men ,i in'e res been
French in their same ~ iH W Sorms Of underhanded
dealings and questionable methods OF re getI ~
mo siorv Mr. French was finally told that he had
won 81 900. The ex-Alderman dec,atSsu [u't fried
the came e' out of curiosity But at last it is SAID
through strange infuenfe ne VIZ" Ssd also won
I, S0 The TWO left the house and walked doW IN
Fulton-st On the way the youI1S 1 e game 1t
wdsI.'no gambling about it, something nke d AZ a.
Thsh s T9s mr French protested that such
methods OF making money were aphoIIe!uLt ~ heck
and he wanted to go back ana ak however that
:" IN Tine the Two had reached the Borough nan
oo French a hit it d is n tSe
Similar was to be S drawn tWo ny met again
! and returned to the house in Fulton-st
| PARTED WITH HIS MONEY.
t1oro according 10 the accredited version OF the
.rair Mr. French soon parted with his SoVV III
hills and the ST. 900 check. which had been give" "
him "Mr Pratt also had hard luck anu hia
81 600 was also lost. lie seemed TO be eXceulnsH
| excited about it, and expressed great amount VI
| uneasiness for fear Mr.. French might blame MN
| ~, 1,ro,ob however attempted to reassure MS
| sunnosed friend and when the two parted MI
French II Is said. had not the slightest suspicloh
| that the nice hammered young man Win "io"i III
| had spent the afternoon was in any way 'e'pO'
sibe for the loss of his money When friehus No.
| tho story however. they at once recoghiZeu INC
| WORK NJ experienced swindlers. and no llme "d0
LOST in calling for the assistance OF inc PoIe men
There is little doubt that the GoI monnty chef
| - escaned to some other city, nut Deputy
Mackellar is in hopes of running mem uOT sbnuid
only natural that the friends OF MI b TO
| he .sirnrised at the occurrence. ana DC dh"io"' ~
| void nublicty as much possible ,r.or mara
Mr. French began his career AS aoadom nu Of Music
Is one OF the structures built by MN AZ served
| he was Commissioner or cry Wos hT1dtormen He
@ bairman Of the Aldermanic committee WH ii
Supervised the construction OF the nd IN he ex
huiIdino Such exceeding care was used II, .,e tba
dtnre Of the money that not only N6oo
cost Of the building kept wi ssmrprsed the Board
J Of Aldermen by retIrnng Para az active life.
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