The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-10
ALLEGED
SW|NDLER
ARRESTED.
B. 0. Smith Used Namss OF
J. PIsTponl Morgan and Rus
sell Sage 10 Secure ChsCk

New York Feb 10-By playing upon
human credulity. b. o. smith. whom tho
police took into custody Saturday. is
said TO have made a comfortable living
for years. Like Irving B. Smith. arrested
on Thursday for obtaining money from
the Rev. Dr. Greer. of ST. Bartholomew
and the Rev. DR.. ID. Parker Morgan. OF
the Church Of the Heavenly Rest, B %.
smith belonged 10 the Blue Pencil club.
but the police say he was out for larger
game than his namesake.
Detective Sergeants McConville and
Savage, of Captain Titus stan, who made
the arrest, said that Il. O. Smith used the
names or Russell Sage. j. Pierpont Nor
gar aud William G. Whitney in his opera
tions. The specific charge on which he
was arrested Is that OF obtaining n check
Tor $50 from Spitzer a Co. bankers. OF ~
Nassau street. on false representatio
According 10 the detectives. Smith call
ed at the office OF Splitter a Co. and said
that he was c. A. Dana and was connect
ed with the Age Publishing company, OF
2S0 Broadway, which was. he said. engag-
ed In getting out "a biographical work,
containing sketches OF the most promi-
nent financial men in the United States.
lie ~ alleged To have produced con-
tracts prporting to be signed by MIR.
Sage, Mr.. Morgan, Mr.. Whitney and 9TH
er giants of finance, and 70 have pointed
out the advantage OF subscribing TO the
work and going down TO history In such
good company
Cellan Splitter was so impressed by
these representations that he gave his
caller check for $500. He however asked
Smith TO write out a receipt, which he
he says was laid on the papers which
Smith was exhibiting. After Smith had
gone. Mr.. Splitter was unable 10 find the
receipt lie suspected that Smith had
taken II away, and, fearing that all was
not right I'm the matter. he called up Rus
sfl Sage on the telephone.
Mr.. SpitZer said that he was assured by
Mr. Sage that he had never contributed to
the work, had not signed and contract 90
do so and never saw the man Smith or
Dana.
Mr.. Splitter then communicated with
police headquarters. and after long
search u. o. Smith was arrested.
The detectives were unable 10 find the
Age Publishing Company" at 22o Broad
way. They Were assured b. Mr. Sage, Mr.
Morgan and others that IL their names
had been attached 10 contracts TO buy a
biography OF financial men the signatures
were forgeries. BY inquiry among mem
bers or the Blue Pencil club the police
learned that &. A. Dana was no other
that B. o. smith They say he has been
written up extensively in Philadelphia.
Boston, Detroit and Buffalo newspapers.
Smith has recently been living I'm hand
somely furnished apartments i'm the Pa
lais Royal, at Seventh avenue and l23d
street His wife is said TO be seriously iu
there.
He was arraigned before Magistrate
Cornell, i'm the Certre street court, yester-
day. lie said that the detectives had no
right TO arrest him. payment on the
check had been stopped and he got no
money. lie was held I'm default of $1,000
bail for examination on Tuesday. The
detectives said that they expected to have
other oomplainants besides Mr.. Splitter
when the case is called.
AT the offices of the Railway Age. go
Broadway, and the Age OF Steel. 256
Broadway, IL was said that Il. o. Smith
was not known,