The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-22
FRENCH BUNC0 ARREST.
EDWARD TIBBITTs Held ~ BRTDGE-
PORT FOR THE SPINDLE.

The Victim was John French, n Rich Brook
lyn MN Gave $1,000 to Harry Pratt"
tho Supposed son of m old Friend
A Rogues Gallery Picture Identified.
BRfpaRPoRT. Conn. Dec 2l.-Edward Tib-
bits, known to the authorities az II. q. Foster
and Boston" Tlbbitts and who. the Brooklyn
detectives say. Is q swindler. was arrested at
Ravenview Hotel in Stratiord by Deputy sheriff
Stagg last night at the request OF Brooklyn de-
tectlyes. Tibbtts IL alleged to hive been one
of two men who swndied John French, former
Commissioner Of City Works Of Brooklyn. out
OF $4,000 on Dec. 4 last. Tibbitts has been tho
proprietor OF the Ravenview Hotel. road
house. since Nov. 1. The place Is several miles
beyond Stratford on the line OF the Shelton
trolley line. but away from public travel, ex-
cent by those intending to visit the hotel. lib
bits, since no became proprietor. has kept
close to the house.
when the swindle OF Mr. French was reported
to the Brooklyn police. Detectives Roach, Null
vey and McGrath were detailed TO work on II.
Tibbitts was suspected OF being one Of the
men implicated. from the description given by
Mr.. French. 1t came to the attention OF the
police OF this city that n man named Tibbitts
has recently become the proprietor Of the
Ravcnyiew Hotel in Stratfori. The Brooklyn
authorities were notified and the thrco de-
tectves came hero last night In company
with Detectives Arnold aud CrUnan OF the local
forco and sheriff Stagg of Stratlord they went
to tho hotel Tibbits was found behind the
bar and was placed under arrest and brought
TO the city He was not informed OF tho charge
against him until the case was called In court
this morning. Then he denied being con-
nected with the affair and demanded an
attorney.
Tibbitts Is held as a fugitive from justice. tho
case being adjourned until Dec. 30 to await
requlsition papers. The detectives say Tibbitts
Is known to have been implicated in many
swindles Associated with him In the French
swiudlr was young man who represented
himself ms being the son of a lifelong business
| associate aud personal friend Of MIR. French
| On the morning Of Dec. Z. Nr French loft his
| home at Clinton and Ga'cs avenues. Brooklyn.
about 1880 O'Clock for stroll Near Fulton
| street he was accosted by a young man. who
| addressed him by hls name. and inquired after
| his health Mr.. French did not recognize the
| stranger who lost no time In introducing him
| self
why. ! am Harry Pratt son OF your old
| chum. Henry Pratt. NJ the Standard OH Com
This Was enough ior Mr. French Any. rela-
tive OF Henry Trait WIS welcome to his &C.
French had no particular destination In view,
heIcaiily agreed to accompany Mr.. Pratt
mems OF books" Arriving at the room. MOB
| FULTON street. Mr. French found II neatly fur
pss AZ SSS5 mag The T as gray Mr. nF r
said;
| They have not cot hero yet" was the re-
well that Is pretty stat 2, affair" re;
| friend. who has come all THIS way to see those
! bovss, and ~ To- be disappointed.
| After making some excuses the matter was
! dTNfigt Presently the Spptll
| hox on the table which contained a gambling
apparatus AMI invited Pratt and Mr. French to
| game a. which hig winnings could be- made;
He finally induced Pratt tn rlay, and tried hard
! The latter would have none Of IT, though he
| remained to look on.
whrR pa T over rS m by Cher man
| who. Il l. cha;g"i, wa, I.bh,is. Then they
agreed 20 ganhl" fora hlg -IaS" AMI i was
sides The alleged Tibbitts dcmnulcd tho
b I5N a. s%f he hi Pi"r YEN lad pS
| money. ! am right hero 20 pay "
Pratt arpGarcd TO be IN great distress. and
be a iay6r he would n,Ncr forget. i lie would
assist him, ~ ! go 70 nv mo'hgr noTE shg
WI 9e almost hrnST'.roS 20 'mssh 'nW
| the money myself 10 a few days"
FULLY seieyHG that he taStns to his Old ~
assist him. Taking car he went 10 his ank
drew ,.her"trom s5.ooo ara hanagt II g
NJ
tears In his eyes All Mr frrnch got in ex-
| change was rapcr nckupwl'igtn: IA" loan
mn, .5 5"n.E Good % advice bu ;hoaeS + hsst 4
say morning. Until they met agaIn Returning
home Mr.. French thought, the matter over and
! hecnme suspicious. He finally made" up his
mind 10 investigate. and ~ Ing AZ the hom' ~
the Prstt- lie l-k"i +" =" Harry Ihr real
Harry resrop ed amI Mr. French saw at once
When the case wns first reported the datcc.
tivcs went 10 the room n NpH Fulton street,
| - hiph tnev fDurl rented "A Mrs Nfupl
| She toll the tstrr'ives that short time h"-
fore sh" ha rcnt"i the room - ~ elderly
! plans which l." .rgirrt t. cNhth.' 40 varl1 ;
tlm'~ To- friends from almost a thousau
t,or- Ms stack r"i'.iv nickel out ,l'hhi''s.
1T vas u comrlrtr ease ri Identification.
said D.t"rtiyr iuarh today
Mr. Frcu~h wn~ NOT rr-tiv" in IIs rrcogul i
81 hs nv ,h., hs era" Sar S ~,
S%iGI opeTa,ioTs. G,h"rwis. NJ FrsncR
is sure that tho nhoroGr nh Of Tibhe',s is that
"WhaiE the elnc?' asked Tibhe,,. OF DE-;
'rcti,r Eoach. "Th.,o I! -" No - Won and
m" srtt,nG hn,rs. You know MY graft. and
all about me-. What's up: Am ! waited Tot
via, d, Wv Know arou, ,hn French iob''
,,on, nqth!ng, ouy you know it was in m,
Thhi,ts was reminded that Oct, x last he hnt
tried to lim fam "A farmer ot lsIip, l.. I anc
had only failed bccnu-" the woult.be victim
| stopped payment on n cheek OF >Jb.
! Il admit thnt that was my graft said Tih
bits. but we didn't got any money and how
are You going to hold mo for IT.
| Detective Sergeant Roach. who arrested Tib
bits. returned to Brooklyn last night with Mrs
Stack ot SOB Fulton avenue. She went I,
Bridgeport yesterday morning and picked Tib
bits out Of n group Of over dozen mon Sub
seGuently he took on his hat and coat. anc
approaching NJ stack. said in a loud voice
| do Won think I'm the mani"
| His tone frightened Mrs. STACK. who was
taken into the Office ~ the Chct Of Police tC
| recover She subsequently, said she was pos l.
tive that TihbIlts Mas the man who had robbed
| Mr. French.
Capt REYNOLDS will have all the witncssr,
produced before the GRIND Jury on Ncdu"sha'
| 10 have TihhlttS indicted. Az soon NJ that /
done, the police viii endravoI to get Tihb!tts Il
| BROOKLYN 10y means @! reputation papers. III
is about go years old and wears IA wig
First Cinderella Cotilion.
The first Cinderella cotillpn Of this seasol
was given last night ut Shcrrys. Mrs. Cad
walnher Jones. Mrs Arson Phelps Stokes. Mrs
| Henry T. IIow,anl uud Mrs lIpyprly l,olinsol