New-York tribune., 1905-02-08
VICTIM LOSES 100000.
Office of Vel Kno7cn Broker and
Big Names Used.

of the boidest and most complete swindles in
this city, according to Commissioner McAdoo,
on John s. Felix. of No 80 East 2ist-st. The
Commissioner says that the owners of big
gambling house. after taking $4,000 away from
Mr.. Felix at roulette, got $4,000 more from
him in wire tapping scheme.
Mr.. McAdoo declares that after the gambling
houses were closed up by District Attorney
Jerome recently the big gamblers sought new
way TO make money. The uptown office of
prominent broker In one of the best known
hotels used; also the names Of men in wall
Street. After fake" Western Union telegraph
Office had been fitted out the victim received
through 1t his tip on the race, and on single
bet the gamblers got away with $4,000
Frederick Williams" whom Mr.. Felix identi-
fed from picture in the Rogues' Gallery, was
arrested Mr. Felix said Williams" played the
part Of a prominent official Of the Western
Union.
Mr.. Felix Is wealthy. He is a native or
Cologne. Germany. He Is married and has
two children He told the sharpers before CIV
ing up his money to be placed In the transaction
that it was all he had. that he would commit
suicide if he lost It, and that his wife would
probably follow his example. Mr.. McAdoo says
they We're utterly unmoved by his plea, although
after fleeing him they actually pretended to
weep when he accused them of having swindled
him.
Mr. Felix occupies the third floor of the build
ing No So East 21st-st., where he is a dealer
in imported stringed instruments. Late in the
afternoon the elevator man declared that MT
Felix had gone to his home in Princeton. II. j..
eariv in the dav, that his Office was closed, and
that orders had been given not to take any one
to the third floor. knock at the office OF MT
Felix brought detective to the door. He said
Mr.. Felix had gone away, ana would not see
any one. The detective explained his presence
by saying he there to save MI Felix from
annoyance and that the report of his loss had
been much exaggerated.
FELIX TALKS OF SEVERAL THOUSAND
1t was learned later that detectives from the
Central Office, including Detectives Fogarty and
Munday. were in the room. They were joined
in consultation by Mr.. Felix and his counsel.
Rose & Putzel. Mr. Felix said 10 reporter
that he had lost several thousand dollars in
gambling house, and afterward met man who
put up a wire tapping scheme. He would not
say how much he had lost. and would only say
that the whole story would come out in court.
Police Commissioner McAdoo yesterday said
that he regretted TO have 10 state that the laws
providing for the punishment of wire tappers
were defective. and that the District Attorney
had told him there was little relief likely. He
was in favor OF legislation that would correct
this deficiency. He continued:
I'VE have n very remarkable case of a victim
of this nature before He was down here
with me for two hours last night and told me
his story.
He lost the largest sum of money by this
swindIe that has ever before been lost-S100.00O.
He didn't lost all IN the wire tapping game. but
had parted with a great deal Of IL in other
forms of gambling. The operations were con-
tinued in one of the best known hotels in New
York"
Before he went home last evening Commls-
sioner McAdoo gave these further details of the
swindle
very pathetic feature about the case is this:
money When he gave these swindlers the money
not afford to lose it. telling them he had borrowed
large pd sF oO of b6pof it om & 1anK 6e wSnd in
few days. and he also asserted iInpressveiy that II
se eH anS ha In 9s turn ne ead to other
suicides From what they knew OF the victim m they
story OF how he got the money and yet it never
Ss fsem IEo most remarkable case The amount
of skill and detail with which every bit Of 1.-THE the
the gang heard that their victim had drawn the
water and they doubtless had their fears that their
sucker would get away from them. They then
villain. who went to the victim.
sympathse Gssn with hA yoS know you don't want ms
to tel you the name an of of the gambling house where
100000 But here's a, chance to get even" Then
foe from the western Union Teegraph Com
pany on horse races ss ,-,,,x T.. r,-..,,,,, % o.,
into this business on a bigger scale than ever. he
said. II have friend in charge OF one Of their
then took the d yc rSsT to What
more clerks We're at work all under the orders Of
a gray haired man. who was in his shirt sleeves.
The victim was introduced TO him. but the gray
hdired man. turning to the steerer, ~aid
Now really. old man, you ought not to- bring
in your friend to-day I'm very busy. as you can can
Well. let him wait for half an hour and I'll ind
Mr. Gates says to put $4,000 down for him.
called out a young man at telegraph instru-
"Mr Vanderbilt asks US to lay $4,000 for him.
Gates corrects his bet to $4,000 called the first.
Mr. Hartman wants to get down s5O.O0O" said
By this time the victim was all wrought up.
Finally he took from his pocket envelope in
which were five $4,000 bills and. with the name OF
the horse marked on IT, he handed II to the busy
After little while the result was read off, and
congratulate the man. who was almost hysterical
"A mistake in the colors.' called out the opera
tor Then he named another horse to win. The
denounced them swindlers. They protested and
fold of good things on the following day and he
the be S Ta nd sTSy pce hair in a Ses o s
known brokerage firm. it being about o'clock.
Commissioner McAdoo asked how such a
gang ever got permission TO this office for
such q scheme.
'eI am convinced" he said. that the firm of
brokers never knew thing about II. We think
that after they had gone home left
the key in the door and the gang boldly took
possession until they pulled off their game"
The Commissioner told the reporters OF his
interview with the prisoner Williams. who is
under arrest
~ was so angry the CASE said the Com
missioner. that it was all could do to keep
from striking the scoundrel. told him that