New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-29
POLICE CLOSE UP A BANK.
L. A. GOURDAIN ARRESTED AFTER THE
FIRST DEPOSIT.
CAPTAIN PRICE VIOLENTLY ELECTS THE
PRISONERS LAWYER FROM THE
POLICE STATION.

POLICE STATION.
Louis A. Gourdain head Of the firm Of l.. A.
Gourdain & Co., bankers, with expensive offices
in the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
building, at Twenty -third-st and Madison-ave,
was arrested yesterday at noon by Captain
Price, Of the Thirtieth-st police station after
doing business for about three hours and TAX
ing in So. The prisoner taken before Police
Magistrate Deuel., in the Jefferson Market
Court, who held him charge of attempted
swindling, the charge being preferred by Cap
tain Price himself Bail was fixed in the sum Of
$4,000
Gourdain was represented by Henry s. Davis,
of No. D Beekman-st, former Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Of Brooklyn. who later obtained
from Justice Bookstaver, in the Supreme Court,
a writ of habeas corpus directing Captain Price
to produce Gourdan in the Supreme Court this
morning, at which time Mr.. Davis says. the
bail will be reduced
AN ENDLESS CHAIN SCHEME
For two weeks or more people passing Madi-
son-ave and Twenty-third-st. have been at
tracted by placards bearing the following an
nouncement: Imperial National Bank. will
open about February /. 1900" Gourdain's
scheme was to sell purchaser a bond contain
ing four coupons for 81. The four coupons were
to be sold for % cents EACH which would give
the original purchaser his money back. and then
he to take the stub to the Imperial Ma
tonal Bank and get another book Of coupons
On the presentation Of the four original coupons
the holder of the stub was to draw SO in cash,
or S. in shares in the Imperial National Bank
Applicants for clerkships came in droves to the
new bank on Monday, in answer to an advertise
ment for college bred men at $50 month. and
yesterday Gourdain and his outfit were ready
for all the fools uncaught by Miller's Franklin
Syndicate in the Borough Of Brooklyn But
Captain Price was one Of the first comers. he
arrested Gourdain and the clerks made rush
for their coats and hats and tumbed out Of the
building as If they were afraid it was on fire.
GoURDAIN is INDIGNANT.
After Gourdain was taken to the police sta
ton he was seen by the newspaper men. 10
whom he said: This arrest is an outrage
am ready to meet any claims against me or pay
back any money to those who are not satisfied
with what they have got from me. l never
swindled any one Croker says he is working
for his pocket all the time, and Tom Platt Is
another man working for the good OF the people
/ work chiefly for fun. can aHord 10 spehu
100000 in Advertising. .
Gourdain is about forty-fve years old, about
five feet ten inches tall. and slender. captain
Price gave out typewriter statement whlch
said: 'This man Gourdan has bad record
He was indicted in New-Oreans for being con-
nected with an organization when was Grim,
inaI He then came to New-York ana rehteo
offices at No. DAB Broadway, with the ldea Oh
organizing a swindlIng scheme. but II fell
through The man Ia a thief at heart, and
will prove II and have him breaking stones be-
fore ten days will have passed over his mead
BRUSH WITH THE LAWYER.
Shortly after the giving out Of this statement
Mr.. Davis called at the police ststion and asked
Captain Price If he would be allowed to see
Gourdan The Captain granted Daviss re-
quest When the lawyer had finished his con-
sultation with Gourdan, he served the writ or
habeas corpus Captain Price
CAPTAIN Price became angry. why didn't
YOU tell me you had that writ before you sa"
Gourdan?" he asked. Davis caid he had for-
gotten about It.
You know enough law to keep you out OF
JAIL" said Price.
What do you mean by that?" shouted Davis.
| will make you prove that.
Now go out" said Price.
Davis refused to leave the police station ana
Captafn Price unceremonously eJected MIN py
throwing him out of the door. .
THE bail is outrageous" SAID Davis In the
street. "and there is no complaint against my
client In the affidavit. The company was or,
ganized to give everybody chance, and VIII
make II hot for Price"