The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-09
FAKE WIRETAPPERS INDICTED
THE SIMPLE FELIX HAS HIRED
LAWYERS TO GO AFTER 'EN

And the Lawy ers Say That Though There's
Nothing 10 SHOW II He's Rioh Beyond
$4,000 Bet--Reyelatf0n OF Virtues
OF steve O'Brien--W warning TO Crooks.
The sad state OF Mr.. John +. Felix, wig
says he gave $50, 900 TO a wire tapping gang
in the Fifth Avenue Hotel mot the Hon
man House. as some persons at Police Head
quarters reported on Tuesday, seemed
somewhat improved yesterday. He en-
ployed lawyers one firm to sue Lou Lud-
lum and other gambling house Keepers
in the civil courts, and another to push the
prosecution OF the wiretapping gang IN the
criminal courts.
The fret thing thesel lawyers did was to
make a public announcement that their
client was rich enough to lose $50, 900 with
out committing suicide; Commissioners
Mchaeo having had the inpression on
Tuesday that the lost $50, 900 was borrowed
money and that Felix was likely to harm
himself because he couldn't pay II back.
The lawyers said that Felix had taken the
money out of his own bank account and
that there was more behind. But they
wouldn L tell where the bank account was.
Felix Is the mysteriousest rich man that
ever fitted through the Tenderloin. There
Is nothing about his Office or his associations
in the city except what be tells himself or
has his lawyers tell for him, to indicate that
his pocketbook is an unfailing fountain
OF wealth, or why it should be.
Next to the indictment Of Mr., Frederick
Lawson Greene Williams and Mr. Charles
j. Toppin. who was also in the place when
Felix was bamboozled, Mr.. McAdoo took
most Joy yesterday in contemplating the
virtues Of Acting Inspector Stephen o Br1en.
Somebody had told the Commissioner-he
wouldn't tell who il was-that Capt. O'BrieD,
as late as Tuesday night. might have taken
S25OO OF the swindlers' alleged profts
10 FIX the case against them. Mr.. McAdoo's
yeracious informant went on to convince
the Commissioner that Capt. ObHen
spnrned the corrupting offer and sternly
settled down 70 fasten the shacKies Oh criihs
on the scoundrels.
Mr.. McAdoo made some other announce
pents which created something Of stir
about Headquarters. He said, Tor inst ance.
Il am glad 10 say that we have got the
man who went by the name OF MCPHERSON
and who posed "a the manager OF the tele-
graph ofAce in Twenty second street. L
am much gratified with the way Capt
O'Brien handled this matter. or oourse
everybody knows that less than thousand
years ago there was very grave suspicion
Ia the public mind that cases like this were
the very ones in which the police protted
bv collision with the criminals. want
the public TO know that II any one Is swindied
or loses any money or property he should
come to me OF 10 Capt. O'Brien.
IF there ever was a game OF .shoong
of the crooks. IL stops now Here the
Commissioner banged his desk with his
Asst. think it is a very healthy step when
the captain of the Detective Bureau comes
to me and tells me OF every step he takes.
| am going to have the two crooks IN this
case before me: IL any Of the money u re-
covered. the victim will get 1t. There
won't be any 'rake-off | don't say there
has ever been anything OF the kind in my
time, but have heard Of IL occurring less
than a hundred years ago
The moral effect OF the Felix case Is
a good one want thsse crooks to under
stand that they can do no more business
around this place. (Another bang) There
seems to have been an impression in the
past that such things mi ht be. | am
not hitting atYany man IN particular on
the public payroll, Let what l have said
60 at its face value. ~
Chris Tracey which ia said to DO the