The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-15
THEY WERE NOT ARTISTS
Two Geniuses Who Tried to Hold Up
. a New York Company Are
Arrested.

New York, Nov. ia man giving the
name OF Harry A. Williams, but who the
police declare is Henry c. Wilson, for
twenty years chief clerk and civil engi-
neer in the department of the east, U. S.
A., with offices in the army building in
this city, was arrested on a charge Of ex-
tortion. Benjamin F. Whitmore, who
says he Is a reporter, was arrested with
him on similar charge. -... -.
The two men are accused Of trying to
hold up the Water Front Improvement
company of Jersey City, which is engaged
in filling in crib work on Rfker's island, in
the Fast river, under contract with the
street cleaning department. The men are
charged with extorting $4,000 which the
police say was given to them In marked
bills under threats Of stopping the work
Of the company by causing to be with
drawn an army tug, dredge and some
scows which had been loaned to expedite
the work.
According to the statement of Deputy
Commissioner of Police Piper, who was
formerly in charge Of the work, he was
informed six weeks ago that representa-
tives of the company had been approached
by Whittemore who professed to be the
agent of the men who had power to stop
the work. by withdrawing the government
vessels.
Captain Piper Police Commissioner
Partridge, Street Cleaning Commissioner
Wood, District Attorney Jerome and Cap
tain Lewis of the detective bureau had
conference at which it was decided that
a detective personating Oscar l.. Gubel-
man, the treasurer of the water front
company, should continue the negotia
tons with Whitmore.
After some dickering over terms, a
meeting was held in the rooms Of the di-
rectors Of the water front company in
| Jersey City Nov. 6, when, the police say,
Whitmore made the statement that he
represented Mr. Wilson, who was connect
ed with people at Washington who could
stop the work in twenty-four hours, If the
money was not paid. The detective, as
Gubelman, said his company did not want
! to pay the money unless the man to whom
| the money went could be seen personally.
Whitmore assented and meeting was ar
| ranged for to-day at a downtown cafe.
| Captain Titus says that his detective, as
a representative of the company, met
Whitmore and Wilson in the cafe to-day
and handed to each of them $3.50 In
| marked bills, Whitmore turning over the
money given him to Wilson, and the whole
| transaction being witnessed by other de-
tectives and by a representative of the
district attorneys office through a win
dow.
The arrests were then made.
| Dr. BENJAMIN Thomas Whitmore was
| born in Charles county, Maryland. He
was educated at Cote Brillante college, St.
! Louis, and at the Louisville school OF
medicine He has received the degree OF
LII. D. from Manhattan college for his
| services in medicine. He is, head Of the
! scientific department Of Parke Davis &
Co. of New York. Detroit and London, one
of the most prominent drug houses in the
world. He was for nearly ten years
member of the surgical staff of the Null
| lanphy hospital in st. Louis. and held fol
four years the chair Of physiology IN Cote
Brillante college. He has written mucf
medical literature.
Dr. Whitmore is a member Of the Lotos
club, Drug Trade club, Chicago Medica
society and Mississippi Valley Physicians
Mutual Aid and American Aid associa
lions.