The times., 1901-05-15

-SatN lie " as ohSE eN shHAtN
Out of $4,000 by the Prisoner
Out Of the mystery OF the robbery al
the residence Of Mrs. Olivia c. Starring
1855 Massa chusetts Avenue northwest, ont
week ago. light was apparent yesterday
both as to the true identity of the man
held on suspicion Of the theft, his char
acter. record, and past life. Lewis Fran
els Mortimer-Monroe is the name Of the
prisoner. whose identity has haflied the
local police. and who is now confined al
the District Jail, charged with the larceny
of diamonds. jewelry. and cash to the
amount of about 5000.
Monroe is an Euglishman and he came
to this country prior to 1852. A S. Col
var. his counsel yesterday took steps u
secure the release Of his client by habeas
corpus proceedings. 4 petition to file a
bill for a writ was presented to Justice
Bradley of the District Supreme Court,
in the afternoon. Owing to other press
irg matters, Justice Bradley deferred ac-
tion in the case temporarily.
As the case began TO unfold yesterday.
the statement Of Frank Barto. business
man of New York City. gave the police
additional information respecting Monroe.
Barto came to the city yesterday morning
and is stopping at the National Hotel.
He may play an important part in the
solution Of the mystery. BaTto claims to
recognize in the prisoner Francis Morti-
mer, who he says. practically defrauded
him out OF about $500 more than five
years ago. Last night Barto was shown
a photograph of Monroe and pronounced
it to be that of Mortimer. II is possible
Barto may bring charges of false pre-
tenees against the prisoner in New York
City. the police say. which might ensure
his trial there If the case against him in
this city falls through. Barto is a dealer
in iron supplies and stocks. He has offices
at 133 Fifth Avenue, and a home at S1i
Putnam Street, Brooklyn. N Y
Il met Mortimer FIVE years ago in New
York City said Barto last night at his
hotel. He was then pushing a patent for
a bicycle device, which proved worthless.
Mortimer interested NE in the device, and
finally | invested about 5000 in ready
money in the enterprise About the same
time Guy Reynolds, d prominent business
man of New York City, was approached
by Mortimer, with a view to securing ad-
ditionaI funds. Reynolds was also inter
ested in the device, and. believe, entered
somewhat into the plans OF Mortimer for
patenting it.
'As time passed the patent hardly met
expectations. and Mortimer suddenly left
the country, going to England In Lon
don he get into trouble, and he fed from
England. going to South Africa. Since
] have lost track of him entirely. I may
go to the Jail today TO see the prisoner.
Barto said he was &C ming here on busi-
ness, and read the story Of the Starring
robbery. and the mystery Of the suspect
while en route The name Lewis Morti-
mer Monroe, as first given by the priso-
ner. attracted his attention, because Of
the similarity 10 that of Francis MOrti-
mer, the name given by the inventor at
the time Of his loss by investment in the
bicycle device patent. Upon his arrival
here, Barto went to see Mrs. Starring,
with whom he talked about the robbery,
aud the methods employed by the sus-
pect.
During the conversation. Detective He
Ian called at the Starring home, and from
Barto learned much about Mortimer. said
TO be the same as Monroe, the prisoner.
Later Darto went to headquarters and
told his story to Inspector BoSrdman.
Prior to leaving America, says Barto
Monroe interested DR.. CisseI, President Of
the Backus Motor Company, I74 PennsyI-
vania Avenue. Newark, y. J.. in a scheme
which is said to have resulted disastrous
ly FOR DR.. Cissel. Others in New York
and elsewhere, according TO Barto, like
wise fell victims TO the plots and intrigues
Of Mortimer.
It is known that Mortimer-M Monroe was
in Denver. Col. in the fall Of 1882. There
he was married. in the Little Church
Round the Corner by the Rev. DR.. Red
dick. pastor. to Miss Helen Bradley, OF
Kentucky, on September G. IsS2- The bride
is said to be a distant relative Of ex-Gov-
ernor Bradley. Of that State Until the
summer Of 1889 Mortimer Monroe lived at
Denver; then he came East. settling at
Philadelphia. For a time he boarded
with Mrs. Mary Hull, at 1924 Chestnut
Street. At that time Mortimer Monroe
was working as an electrician, and was
known by the name of Frank Morti-
mer"
Late in 1891. Mortimer Monroe was en-
gagged in real estate dealing in New York.
During several years following he
claimed several inventions, and had them
patented * is said under the name Of
Frank Mortimer" II was this fact that
bafTied the police IN Their efforts to iden-
tify Efortimer-Atorroe as Charles Rohan.
the burglar and thief q was early es-
tablished as a fact that Rohan was sery-
ing a term in the Denitentiary at Sing
Sing, y. \. in is3I. and for three sue
ceeding years, and again, in 1896. was in
prison at Columbus, Ohio. Records Of
the prisons showed this. and yet il could
not be discroven that Mortimer Monroe
was a free citizen in New York City 1ur-
ing the years aforementioned. Slightly
dissimilar marks, especially on the neck
were also noticed. and gradually the
police were forced to abandon the effort
TO identify the prisoner as Rohan.
Finally. friends of Mortimer Monroe
make this explanation Of his continued
silence while under arrest here: That the
prisoner recently came into possession Of
about Sc. .00o: that his Indebtedness, espe-
ciaIIy in New York City. probably exceeds
this sum and that 10 protect his interests
from financial ruin. because Of suits Of
creditors. he must keep his identity. to-
gefher with the facts respecting himself
his standing and his newly acquired
wealth from the public eye.
Mrs. MoTtimer-MOnTOe, as she pro-
claims herself to be. is registered at the
Metropolitan Hotel She is here 10 assist
her husband in his trouble. She says she
has paper 20 prove that her husband had
secured several patents through the firm
of Mum & Co, New York City. as has
all along been claimed by the prisoner.
Mrs. Mortimer Monroe visits the jail fire.
qHently II is said. 20 see her husband
She may make q statement ia defence of
her husband in a few days.
Nothing has yet been learned as TO the
missing diamonds and jeweIry taken from
the Starring residence. Pawnsh0ps aad
second hand dealers everywhere have
been notified % look out for the propertv
The police have sent out several tbousar nd
cards giving a good description OF the
property. The police Of other cities, like
wise. have been informed Of the robbery
and the value Of the missing goods
FRY the Century. .Iafcst waltz. nroop,s