The Washington times., 1902-01-05
FAMOUS BEAT
OF 0'REILLY.
How Bl0WitZ'S Predecessor
"ScOOped" World.
PREVENTED FRAUD OF S., ,00O,0A
Discovered The Existence. of q Plot
to SuiutIc t!i.. E:,B!.a Of Europe
spondcnt OF the ..ionton Timcs''-
The NcmOr! OF the Wan.

The retirement of NJ de Blowitz from
the position OF Paris correspondent OF
the London Times" recalls the fact that
his predecessor Mir. O'Reilly, was also a
Journalist of genius. and effected one OF
the greatest "coups" in the history OF
newsra per work.
In 1Sil Mr. O'Rcilly. then Times" cor
respondent in Paris, received secret in
formation of an enormous fraud that was
said TO ne in course OF preparation on the
Continent There were fourteen persons
English, French, and Italian-concerned,
headed by French baron. who possessed
great talent, great knowledge of the Con-
tinentGl world, and 4 most polished ex-
terror. His plan was one by which Eu-
ropean bankers would have been robbed of
at least q million pounds sterling, or So
0oe,o9e, the eonspiratcrs having reaped
about $50, 600 when they were discovered.
The scheme was TO have been to pre-
pare number of forged letters of credit,
10 present them simultaneously at the
houses of all the chief bankers in Eu-
rope. and to divide the piunder at once.
How Mr. O'Reilly obtained his infor-
nation is one OF the secrets OF newspaper
management. But as he knew that the
CHIEF conspirator was man who would
not scruple 10 send pistol shot into
anyone who interfered with him, he wise
ly determined to date his letter from
Brussels instead OF Paris, TO give a false
scent. It is believed that this precau-
tion saved his life.
Exposure Causes Sensation.
The letter appeared in the Times" on
tine Goth OF May. Ii produced a pro-
found sensation, for it revealed to the
commercial world a conspiracy OF start
ling magnitude. One OF the parties i'm
plicated. partner in an English house
at Florence. applied 10 the Times for
the name OF its informant. But the pro-
prietors resolved to bear all the cOnse-
quences. {:
An action was brought against the
printers OF the paper. the prophet ors
OF course. being The parties who bore the
brunt of the matter. Immense sums of
money ana great eXertion were lavished
by the TIMES" on unraveling the entire
conspiracy, and. though the verdict was
acquttal, each party had to pay his own
costs.
Gratitude Of Commercial world.
The signal service thus rendered TO the
in which the Times had carried through
the whole matter from beginning to end,
and the liberal way in which many thou
sands OF pounds had been spent in so
doing. attracted much public attention. a
meeting was called. and subscription
commenced to defray the cost of the
trial, as a testimonial to th< proprietors.
Unique Memorial.
This money was nobly declined in a ffty
digniiied and grateful words, and then the
committee determined to perpetuate the
memory of the transaction in another
way. They had in their hands a sum
amounting 20 $13, 500. and this sum was
appropriated as follows: 1000 for
Times" scholarship at oxford Univer-
sity for boys in Christ Hospital; Gl,000
for a similar scholarship at Cambridge
for boys of the City of London School.
and the remainder Of the money for four
tablets. TO bear suitable inscriptions, one
to be put uD at the Royal-Exchange, one
at Christ Hospital, one at the City OF
London School, ana one at the Times"
printing Office.