New-York tribune., 1901-02-25
LURED BY GOLD BRICK" SWINDLE
COUNT Won FINCKENsTEIN SAVED FROM
FALLING INTO GANGS HANDS BY
POSTOFFICE OFFICIALS.

The examination OF George Howard before United
States Commissioner Shields this afternoon is
pected 10 disclose interesting facts connected
with recent operations Of a gang OF gold brick"
sNinders. Howard was arrested last Tuesday al
the Hotel Cadillac when he went there and asked
for letter addressed TO John W. Adams The
arrest was made by Postoffce Inspectors Jacobs
and James by order OF Chief Inspector John D.
King, and the letter which Howard received and
opened at the hotel previous the arrest, was
decoy letter which had been sent 10 Adams" the
supposed head OF the gang Of swindlers, from
Europe.
Information had been obtained by the Postofice
Department In Washington from postofice officials
in London that the swinders had lured several per-
sons OF wealth 10 this country by means OF cum
nirgly devised letters and cable messages and had
robbed them by means OF the well known gold
brick swindle. One Englishman named Wright
had come TO this city and had paid 5000 for brass
bars which he had been induced 10 believe could
be coined into gold soveregns worth many thou
sands OF pounds II has been ascertained by cable
messages that Howard seems 10 answer to the
description Of the swindler who sold the gold
bricks" Mr.. Wright. Howard was released on
bail Saturday for his examination to-day.
The arrest OF Howard and the timely warning
given by the Postoffoe inspectors prevented
ing between the sWindlers and Count Finck
F1nckenstein, captain OF the Third Foot Guard
Regiment Of the Germany army, who came 10 this
city on Thursday representative Of the heirs
The field marshal died at the age cf ninety last
year and later his family received a letter which
had been addressed TO him by John ". Adams"
speaking Of a mythical person. mentioned as
Thomas" who had discovered gold mines Of great
value in Alaska and wanted TO divide some Of the
gold. he had obtained with the field marshal, his
''benefactor."
The family knew nothing about Thomas" but
cable messages were exchanged with Adams, who
was at the Cairo Hotel in Washington, with the
result that Count Finck Finckenstein sailed on
the steamship Lain as a representative OF the
family, expecting 10 meet Adams" at the Grand
Union Hotel in this city. The Lain arrived on
Thursday and the German officer went 10 the
Grand Union Hotel but he met there by
Building and see Chief Inspector King. He had
with him the letter which Adams had sent 10 the
he learned that he had been duped by sW1ndlers
into coming this country. He saw Howard ~hen
Then he went on 70 Washington 10 make inquiries
at the Cairo Hotel. He probably VIII return 70
Germany with some feeling OF satisfaction that ne
escaped being sRindled because of the alertness OF
the American postOfhce officials.
II was learned that while Adams was exchang-
ing cable messages with the family OF the iate
field marshal in Germany he was trying 10 get INTO
OF Queens Gate, London MI SanoyS IeCelNeu IeCe.
letter similar 10 the Mr.. Wright had received
ter-General The posoflce AUTHORITIES ln IJ9hdon
with the knowledge Of the postofhce authorities IN
Sandys, addressed to Adams at the Cairo hotel
in Washington. 4 week ago the authorizes IN
that the sandys letter had been received at the
Cairo Hotel and had been forwarded TO Aoanls
al the Hotel Cadillac IN ms clty;a 1,Hd m'n f S ,S
letter and arrested. ,.,, ;, ~,
Howard does not admit that he Is AGams, cams ne
says he met Adams" by accident IN B2stoh ato M
agreed 70 call for the letter at the Cadillac. lie
says ne Is i b vii baT@ 70 explain several
charges at his examination to-day