The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-17
FOOLED THE WIRETAPPERS.
PRITCHARD HAD BEEN TAPPED
BY THEM BEFORE AND WAS on.
Kept Them Fooled TIL Grand Coup Was
Due Then Called on the Police-Plant
In the Manhattan Theatre Building
Found in Working Order-One Arrest.

Kept Them Fooled TIL Grand Coup Was
Due, Then Called on the Police-PIant
In the Manhattan Theatre Building
Found in Working Order-One Arrest.
Arthur H. Pritohard, who lives In Astoria
and works for florist at 1923 Sixth avenue,
met an interesting stranger on train
coming from New Haven two weeks ago.
The stranger said he was Robert Sells,
partner OF Barnum d Bailey's circus, and
that he would throw many orders for flowers
In Pritchard's direction during the coming
circus season. He added that he knew
man named Miller in New York who was
head operator for the Western Union and
who would be glad to give Hritchard tips
on the races.
Pritchard told Capt. Cottren last night
that he had been victimized by wiretappers
three years ago and so fell in with 'Sellss'
suggestion in order to lead him on and 30
get even with the whole race OF wiretap-
pers-
After Pritchard had been back two or
three days Miller called him up by tele-
phone and made an appointment to meet
him. The florist quickly fell in with Miller's
schemes for making easy money. He was
taken to the top floor Of the Manhattan
Theatre Building 1855 Broadway, and
there shown what appeared to be very
busy poolroom. The room was scene OF
great activity. One telephone instrument,
at which an operator sat, clicked con-
stantly. Nine telephones stood upon tables
In the middle OF the room, and there were
several men talking into them. Pritchard
appeared impressed.
The next thing that Miller and his associ-
ates did was to engage room on the hrst
floor OF 6S West Thirty-eeventh street, as a
sort OF meeting place in which to talk over
their plans for beating the races. On
Wednesday Miller advised Pritchard to play
on Princess Rupert. The florist won 500,
but was told that this first winning would
have to be given to certain operator down
town to keep him in good humor. Pritch-
ard gave up the money.
Miller and his associates appointed yes
terday as the time for the grand coup.
Pritchard was to bet 81, 900 of his own money
on Brooklynte, and friend was to give up
IS 900. As the friend didn't want to have
his name known, according to Pritchard,
N. Christatos, his employer, was to act as
sort Of agent.
When the time came actually to put up
the money Miller found that Pritchard
didn't seem to show up. He sent him
the florist answered that he didn't quite
understand whether to Tlay Brooklynite
for first or second. Miller said he would
explain matters and the two met near
the corner Of Thirty-seventh street and
Broadway.
Pritchard had in the meantime notified
the Tenderloin police that he had a swinder
to be arrested. Detectives Sullivan and
brennan were sent to see what was the
matter, but before they arrived the arrest
had been made by the policeman on post,
The detectives then went around to 90
West Thirty-seventh street in search OF
some of Miller's accomplices, but they
had all got away.
Miller told Capt Cottrell in the Tender
loin station that his real name was Albert
Bruner and he admitted being in the
rogues' gallery. He said he was 40 years
old and lived at the Imperial-where he
does not live. He was held as suspicious
person.
top floor of the Manhattan Theatre building.
The telephone and the telegraph instru-
ment were there, but the room was deserted.
The negro porter said that the room had
only been .quipped about d week and that
it had been used for only few days.
None OF the apparatus was connected
in any wav outside the room. The tele
graph INSTRUMENT that clicked DC loudly
when Pritchard visited the place was merely
connected by wire with push button
the screen could make an answering tick
by merely pressing button. The tele-
phones connected with batteries under the
tables on which they stood. All the ap-
paratus was taken to the Tenderloin sta
ton in n wagon.
In the back room on the first floor Of 6s
West Thirty-seventh steet, DR.. Robert w.
Steger has an office. His name appears
on the front window OF the house. He was
questioned by Capt. Cottrell, but seemed
to know nothing about the men who oc-
cupied the front apartment, although his
mama ANNA red on their window Cant
Cottrell was satisfied that he had no con-
nection with the wire tapping game.
T. According to Capt. Cottrell OF the Tender.
loin station, Bruner ia we'll known card
sharper who has been barred from several
transatlantic liners.