New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-07
DUPE HIS OWN DETECTIVE.
ALLEGED CONFIDENCE MAN SHADo" Ell
AND CAUGHT BY VICTIM
CONTRACTOR ROBBED BY THREE SHARP
Frs IN A SALOON AND GETTING NJ
SATISFACTION FROM POLICE.
TURNS SLEUTH.

The methods by which Hungry joe gained
Dotorie,v and fortune have been revived by a
gang of sharpers In this city They succeeded
in robbng a man Saturday in Saloon Oh
the lower West Side. The victim, acting as MS
own detective last night caught one of the al
legged confidence near the Grand Central
station AT the West Thrteth-st. police station
the prisoner described himself as Cecil CorWin'
a massagist forty years DID, of No. lob Boule-
ward Letters found on him were addressed to
No 30 West Seventy
The complainant is James A. Donovan, super
intendent of construction on one of the sections
of the Western Aqueduct at South Pennington
Mass He came to this city few days ago on
business and stayed at O'Briens Herald Hotel.
in Sixth-ave. and Thirtysxth-st.
On Saturday forenoon Donovan after taking
stroll sat down bench in Madison Square
Park Corwin started conversation with him.
He said he a stranger in New-1ork, was
cashier of bank and had come here from
Louisville KY, on business. Donovan men
toned that his home was in Louisville, Ky,
although at present he doing business near
Boston
WE ARE, TWO SOUTHERN MEN.
Why we are two Southern men" Corwin
is alleged to have said. Let us go sightseeing
together" Donovan consented to this arrange
appointment to keep. Come along; it won't
take us long said the alleged sharper They
walked about for a while. when Corwfn stopped
in front of a private house and rang the bell
An old woman answered the ring, and Corwin
made inquiries. He said that the man
he wanted to see was not at home. but as ne
was engaged in the wool business he could be
found al neighboring pier.
The two travelled downtown, and in the con-
versation Corwin. Donovan declares. mentioned
offhand the names of all the bank presidents and
cashiers in Louisville
Failing to find the man he was seeking. Cor
win suggested that they spend the afternoon at
Grants tomb.
This was agreeable to me-" said Donovan.
"and had no fear when l entered the back
room of the saloon of ]. ]. Keller at Hudson
and Perry SITS. where I was robbed by my park
acquaintance and two of his confederates While
we seated at a table in the rear OF the
saloon old man, apparently in an excited
state came in and sat down at the table with
Us. The old fellow declared that he came from
North Carolina and had been buncoed
Why isn't 1t funny" remarked Corwn &C
cordng the story told by Donovan. that we
three Southerners should meet in New York.
over another round Of drinks the old man
undertook explain the game at which he had
been trcked. He produced three cards which
he said he had thought with him from the place
20 show his brother how he had been done.
OLD MAN SAID HE WAS a COME ON"
What did they do with the cards." asked
Corwin, and then the griz2led old fellow went
into details why. that game is old as the
hills, and with his eyes open should be
taken in by it," Corwin is alleged to have said.
Young man replied the other. you may think
you are wise. but there are some fellows who
are able 10 charm the pastebOards, and l ran
across them to-day to my sorrow.
II don't think YOU lost much, Donovan says
Corwin answered. Taking up the three cards
Corwin began handling them like an expert
that either of YOU men has any money 10 speak
Of And Donovan. not liking the remark.
threw down his roll of greenbacks- amounting 70
SO the table. III count II 10 see how much
you have" said COrwin, according to Donovan,
as he began to handle the bills like bank
ing to be a bartender. He grabbed Donovan,
while Corwin and the old man. ii is alleged,
made their escape with the money. Then the
supposed bartender made rapid move, and also
vanished.
In the saloon Donovan was told that none OF
ton he got little satisfaction. Then he
started out to run down the confidence men him.
self. He decided that they would seek more
dupes around the Grand Central Station. In
the rain last night he watched until he at last
espied Corwin at Park-ave. and FOrty-seCond
st He gra bbed the alleged swindler and held to
him until Policeman Forbes came up and made
the arrest Corwin had had his beard hdved off.
Corwin, to Policeman Forbes, Just after his
arrest. declared that mistake had been u,-de.
He said he on his way to Or. Carpenters
church in Madison-ave.." when he met Dona-
van and was accused OF the robbery.
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III,