Evening star., 1901-08-09
DATE OF ! HEARING FIXED
sEMEL AND KrPrERBERG CHARGED
WITH ATTEMPTED FRAUD.
Their Alleged Attempt to Defraud the
WashfngtOn DFractfOn and
Electric Company.

Louis Semel, sialias Fink, and Samuel
Kupperberg. allies Capperbark, were TO-DAY
arraigned in the Police Court on the
charge OF attemp ting to defraud the
Washington Traction syndicate, and py
agreement Of Prosecuting Attorney Null
lowny and r. r. Iforner, counsel for the
accused, the hearing was set for Tuesday
next, the accused being meanwhile held in
$1,000 bonds EACH
According to the statements made to
Prosecuting Attorney Mullowny, the two
accused men tried to defraud the railway
company by trumping up false claims for
damages against it. 1t is further said that
Friday last the defendants boarded Me-
tropolitan car. They occupied seats In dif-
ferent parts Of the car and were appar-
emily not acquainted with each other AT
ter proceeding for some distance Semei, 1t
is alleged, fell from his seat, rolled out In
the street and claimed to have sustained
fracture OF the arm. kupperoerg look an
active interest in the matter, ana, as Is
the custom in such cases, took the names
OF witnesses to the affair, and, 1t is said,
asserted that the Injury was the outcome
OF carelessness on the part OF the crew or
the train. The man alleged to be injured
seemed to be pleased to have kupperberg
take SO much interest in the affair and
apparently was delighted to make his ac-
quaintance.
A few days later the claim agent of the
Washington Traction syndicate received
letter, which, it is said, was very carefully
Worded, in which Semel stated that he
wanted large sum of money for the dam
ages, which, he said, had been inflicted
upon him by reason of the negligence of
the railway men. Semel gave the name Of
kupperberg as his principal witness.
Receive an Important Tip.
The officials of the railway company
took up the claim and were proceeding
with 1t in the regular way when they re-
ceived information from a resident of this
city who stated that the men now under
arrest had approached him and requested
his assistance in scheme to get money
from the railway companies. They ex
planned the plan to be to get on n street
car at different places along the line of
the road, and that after going some dis
t1nce one would fall from the car and
afterWard claim damages for injuries al
legged to have been received. They further
claimed that the working of the plan re-
suited in netting them $1,000 from a street
railway company IN Boston. The man ap-
preached went to some of the general Of
hclals of the Washington Traction syndi-
cate and told them what he had heard.
General Manager Fuller at once called Sec
retary Lackey of the syndicate into CONSUL
tation, and they decided to see what Cap
tain Boardman, chief of detectives, could
do in the matter
After talking the subject over with Cap
tain Boardman, Mr.. Fuller swore out war;
rants charging. Semel and Kupperberg
with conspiracy ito defraud, and these la
pers were placed insthe hands of Detectives
Flather, Miller and Peck for execution
yesterday afternoon about 3 o'clock. Semel
was taken into custody near Lincoln Park
and kupperberg was arrested about ) pm.
at the Baltimore and Ohio station by De-
tectives Horne and Pratt. just as he was
preparing to take "A train out of the city
When arrested Semel had his arm in
sling and plaster cast.
The detectives: state that from informa-
ton they have they believe that it was the
plan of the men to remain in the city for
some time and work all the lines in a
systematic manner.