The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-21
ELLIS EXPEDITION TO MENELlK
DIDN'T TELL FRIEND HERE
MARINES WERE GOING ALONG.
C,is In Well Known in New York and
Figured In the Fayne Moore
Case Here and Described Himself rs
the Abyssinian Kings Fiscal Agent.


SARATOGA, Sept. 2O-The despatch from
London, printed in THE Sun this morning
regarding the possibility Of the negotiation
nj a commercial treaty between the United
states and King Menelk OF Abyssinla
had particular interest for many persons
now in Saratoga because of the per-
sonality Of William H. Ellis, who. according
10 the London and Paris reports. has gone
INTO sort OF partnership with Robert
2 Skinner. United States Consul at Mar
seilles. in the negotiations with the willy Old
Ahyssinian monarch. The Consuls pro-
POSED expedition ia news. Ellis has been
talking for some months about his end OF it.
Ellis ia as we'll known as he ia in certain
,rcles in New York on account OF his
hing connection with the Hotchkiss estate,
1t one time a large holder Of the stock
Of the Congress Spring Company.
Ellis looks like negro, but he some
times passes for a Cuban. He has had an
office for several years in the Drexel build
Ing at Broad and Wall streets. New York.
The rooms he occupies are also the offices
nf the Westminster Water Company, Of
which he used to be president and is now
the receiver. He carries on brokerage
business there also. One of the men with
whom he has been associated in arious
transactions is Camille Weidenteld, who
with the late Gen. Sam Thomas and w.
Bourke Cochran was mixed up with George
Alfred Lamb In the Northern Securities
Great Northern-Northern Pacific htiga-
ton.
Just where Ellis came from no one mere
abouts seems to know, but many wears
ago he was employed by the late Henry
n. Hotchkiss, inventor OF the Hotchkiss
gun. When the millionaire inventor died
Ellis became the business manager for the
widow, who lived for many years at the
Plaza Hotel in New York. In the course
of time Ellis accumulated considerable
money. dressed rather conspicuously. wore
many diamonds and cut something Of a
figure in Wall Street.
He never was widely know n to fame.
however, until Fayne Moore and her hus-
band, who il now in Sing Sing prison
were arrested on the charge OF blackmail-
ing the late Martin Mahon. then the pro-
prietor OF the New Amsterdam Hotel
Ellis figured in that case as Mrs. Moore's
friend from Cuba. and when the then As
sistant District Attorney John F. McIn.
tyre, had the woman on the stand and
referred to Ellis as her negro friend she
got highly indignant and insiste, that
Ellis was Cuban gentleman Of high de-
gree. In July. 1901, Ellis was arrested
The complainant being Young woman
who said she had gone to Elliss Office to
answer an advert isement for a stenog.
rapher. and while there was subjected &c
indigpi,es He was held for the Grand
Jury. but the case was not pushed.
Ellis was preparing for his visit to Abys-
LIMA as early 90 last March or April. Fol-
some time previous to that, so he told his
friends, he had been the American fisca
agent of King Menelk, purchasing for the
Abyssinian ruler here cotton goods firearms
and ammunition. He finally conceived ar
idea that there was great deal OF money
10 be made in forming company whose
business it would be to trade with the ma
lives of Abyssinia, exchanging American
goods of which they had need for Abys'
sinian products that might be sold in the
When Ellis sailed from New York he told
his friends that he would cross over from
Europe into Africa He said that he had
arranged with Menelik so that when he
reached the Abyssinian border he woulc
be met by bodyguerd sent from the King
o conduct him and his party to the Abys
sinian capital, where he was to have ar
audience with the King and where no white
man had been before.
He did net go into many details. bu
he said that as result Of the visit he ex
pected to make such arrangements as woul'
net him and his associates a great deal o
money ard be of the greatest possible i'm
portance to the United States He SAT-
nothing of an American Consul going nlon
with warshp and guard OF marines
which London hears will happen.