The Washington times., 1902-01-30
HELD BY POLICE
ON SUSPICION
Central Office Sleuths Arrest
Inventor Kellar.
AN ALLEGED CLEVER SWINDLER.
Asked Detectives to Forget the Past
and Dehed Them to Prove That
He Was Not Travelling the
Proper Path.

One of the most important arrests made
by the local detectives for months oc-
CURED last Qkht, when Detective Ser
geants Helan and McNamee, of the Cen
tral Office, took into custody Oscar Kel-
lar, Russian inventor, whom the police
allege has served more than ten years in
| New York and Tennessee penitentaries
| and who is regarded one of the clever
| est swindlers in the country
Kelar was locked up last night because
| of his past reputation. Only charge OF
in order that ne might be held pending an
investigation.
Released Inst October.
kellar last October, according to the
police, was released from the Sing Sing
penitentiary, where he served more than
four years on two charges of grand lar
| ceny, preferred against him in the Empire
City. At that time, four years ago, he was
arrested by Detective Sergeants McNamee
and Helan, in this city, charged with hav-
ing swindled Mr.. Clark a prominent mer-
chant on Pennsylvania Avenue. Carried
to New York he was tried, convicted, and
! sentenced 10 fOur years IN sing sing
prison, which time he served.
Kellar arrived in this city Sunday night
and was seen by the two detectives on
the street. He was recognized at once,
but the police, before arresting him, de-
cided to await further developments. He
was watched closely, and last night De-
tectiye Sergcants Helan and McNamce
went TO the house where he was stopping
on Twelfth Street northwest and took him
| into custody. Kellar was very indignant
when escorted to Police Headquarters.
| Why don't you give fellow a chance TO
| do the square thing without pinching him
at once said he TO Detective Helan upon
arriving at Headquarters.
Would Forget the Past.
Il know l have done wrong in the past,
but | was hoping it had been forgot en-,
| and 1 defy you to prove that l have not
acted on the level since my release
He was informed that he had only lCcn
arrested on suspicion and that if his story
was true one he would be released ard
not bothered again.
The prisoner claims to be an inventor
of what he terms a hydro pneumatic
phonometer and transmitter an ilven-
tion which he claims he was given the
privilege 10 make during his stay in Sing
Sing by special permission OF President
Roosevelt, who was at that time Cover
nor OF New York. He claims TO have test
ed the apparatus on the Hudson River and
says it wor;is perfectly.
Used on Ocean Vessels
When asked what the invention was he
stated that it was to be used on ocean
steamers for the purpose of signaling by
sound. instead of light. and was more
readily adapted for the prevention of col
lisions between two vessels at sea. He
had in his possession when taken INTO
custody a little scrapbook containing
large number of stories regarding his
invention.
The detectives claim that Kellar has
paid visits to the Navy Department and
asked them to support his invention, as
well as to the Japanese, German. and
Russian Legations in this city, the naval
attaches of which place are said to be
highly Interested in the invention. All
he needed, the detectives claim. was suf-
ticient money to give test of the inven-
tion.