Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-25
PLANNED BIZ BOY OF 10
SCHEME FOR THEFT EMBRACED
MANY COUNTRIES.
Ferdinand MessnieE confesses to Re
markable Life of Thievery-Stole
s1o,oooss Jewels.
e New York Jo;,f,ia, today SAYS:

IT,
The New York Journal today says:
In the arrest of ferdinand Louis Mess
nier and John CuIIen, shotel thieves. Capt.
Kear and Detectives Douglass and Cole
man of the West 6sth street station believe
they have thwarted one of the most ex-
tensive schemes for theft ever planned.
The two young prisoners, the police be-
lieve. were not alone In their scheme. A
woman known to the detectives only as
Rose" Is said to be the one who led young
Messnier on. and other women. all of whom
live In Both street near 7th avenue, are be-
ieved to be members of the band.
That Messnier. the nineteen-year-old
leader of the band. was infatuated with
Rose, the police know. and they also be-
1eve that the other women acted
fences for the thieves.
Detectives were securing the Tenderloin
last night for the women, aided in their
search by Charles Elmer Tauther, room
mate OF the two prisoners, and several ar
rests are expected.
Of International Scope.
From the mass Of correspondence found
In the room Of Cullen and Messnier the po-
lice believe that the young men had been
at work on the Organization OF what might
be called THE International Association Of
Hotel Thieves"
Scores of photographs Of young men and
soung women. believed to be hotel enl-
Qioyes and their friends, were found and
dozens. of letters written on the letter ia
per OF hotels In London. Paris and every
clty OF the Union contained extravasant
recommendations of Messnier, Cullen and
others.
These letters are believed to be forgeries
TO be used for securing employment
wherever the band desired to place man.
inrenology, stenography and French were
eiuoleo py these young men; text books on
all these subjects were found in their
rooms, ana big, roughly drawn map of the
route of King Edwards coronation process
sion was almost covered with shorthand
notes that could be OF material assistance
to any pickpocket who planned to rob the
crowd.
Messnier admitted that he had planned a
trip to England to take in the coronation
festivities but the receipts here were too
good to leave.
A trip to Paris had suggested the studies
in French.
The police are puzzled over the bouts in
phrenology, but accept them as evidence of
the scientific way in which the young men
entered upon their profession Of preying
Admits $4,000 Thefts.
Messnier yesterday admitted that he had
stolen $4,000 worth of property from hotels
and clubs since he came here from Califor-
MIA In October last. A note book found in
the room contained names and addresses in
London, Paris and every great city in this
country, notes about hatels and clubs and
other information that would be of service
the police believe. in the carrying out of
the international achenie
Ferdinand Louis Messnier is but nineteen
years of age, with Innocent blue eyes and a
particularly winning smile. He is we'll edu-
Gated, a graduate@of sthe Joliet Academy Of
Montreal, and his father is manager of the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company office
at Salem, Mass. q i5f
Cullen. his fellow prisoner, is twenty-five
years of age and o. nephew Of John e. Cul-
len of No. 251 High street Brooklyn.
p Messnier, in his confession to the police,
made yesterday, takes all the blame upon
himself, in spite OF the overwhelming evil
dence again, Cullen, and the police believe
this was done enlargement between the
two young men, as Messnier Is too young to
be sent to PRISON. while Cullen, being Of
age, could receive long sentence