The sun., 1903-10-30
DECEIVED VANDERBILT, MAYBE
CONGER MAD 4 NEW FUEL AND
SOLD STOCK IN 1T.
Cornelius Vanderbilt's Chief Engineer,
George smith," Mr.. kresel Says. Was
One Of Those Impressed by n Coal

Detective Sergeant McConville arrested
Yesterday John CongeI, "a years DID, of
410 West l24th street, who. according to
Assistant District Attorney Kresel has
separated from some of their money a
number Of persons, including George Smith.
Cornelius Vanderbilt's chief enginee: and
perhaps Mr.. Vanderbilt himself, who also
il an engineer.
Conger WAS arrested on warrant charg-
ing him with hn wing stolen $40 from William
Reynolds, a broker at ls Broadway, who
lives at 4 West Ninet third street. The
warrant was only technical excuse for
his arrest and ii is thought that when he Is
arraigned in court there will be many COM
plainants against him. Mr.. Reynolds WIS
one OF those who were taken in by Conger's
scheme. He has been in business many
years and says he has seen a good many
clever swindlers but he never saw anyone
quite SO slick" as Conger.
A number OF complaints received at the
District Attorneys Office lately caused
Assist ant District Attorney kresel to get
the warrant for Conger's arrest from Magis-
trate Harlow in the Iombs police court.
According TO Mr. Krcsel Conger led his VIC
ting to buy stock in scheme which was
TO rsvolutionizs the changing Of coal into
power. He wns plausible talker, and
after interesting persons in his scheme
he took them to Brooklyn, where he showed
models.
He put powdered coal into a retort /.
charged the substance with electricity and
explained that a gas was given OF wi ich,
If isnited by an electric sierk, eXral dc q
and produce d more power for the amount
Of fuel thar could be gained by any other
means. I!e refused to go into details IN
explanation Of the system, but managed his
experiments SO skilfully that a number VI
I'Arsons put Thousand or more dollars
into it.
Conger had Offices fitted up in good style
in the st. Jane Building about year ago,
and until last August continued to act as
inventor, promoter and chief boomer OF his
great invention.
Mr. Reynolds went TO the Offices in
September and found that they had been
abandoned. Then he went to Brooklyn
and found that the models that had been
shown there did not belong TO the pre-
learned the same thing. ard complaints
came to the District Attorney. The COM
plainants all told the same story. and said
tat ColSer Rad promised them good, fat
dividends and other Inducements.
In August, before Reynolds found that
there wes anything wrong, ConRer went
70 his vrice one day and said that he was
one Of the executors Of the will of st:
Paul bank president named Cpham and
that box OF his papers and effects were on
their way on which $40 would be due %
express charges on their arrival. .g--
He showed notification from the Wells
Fargo Express Company that the box was
coming. and on the strength Of it got $40
to pay the charges Then no went to the
office OF James Siuunonds in the same
building and got $40 by telling tho samo
story. II wes for this transact on that
the warrsn u YVES Issued.
Conaer told several persons that he came
from st. Paul. He lived with his wife in
the l24th street house.
ST. PAUL, Oct. 2a.--John Conger Is I'M
known here. There are only two families
Of that name in this city. and they disclairn
any knowledge of the man VINO was arrested
In New York.