The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-01


 last Tuesday morning sent for Broker Rich to come 10 his office In the Mercan- tile Library building, where he accused him of having forged the bonds. An al teroatlon followed. Rich denied his guilt and Briggs grabbed him at the throat and demanded under penalty Of summary treatment that he then and there sign written statement exonerating Briggs. from all knowledge of his criminal trans- actions and Rich signed. This docu- ment Briggs has in his possession at this time.
 Tn the meanwhile MT. Woolley In Cleveland, found that the genuine bonds to the extent of s100OOO were safe In the vaults of the Cleveland bank. These bonds had been sold at Bowling Green, Ohio, October g, 1905. Desiring to catch the noon train, and not having time in doing so to reach Cincinnati by telephone or telegraph, MT. Woolley hustled to the depot. While he was doing this Mr. Briggs, in company with Charles Shaw, the attorney, concluded to shadow Rich. While having the altercation with Rich in his office Briggs had told him that he would be watched day and night until he made good his defalcations. The two Briggs and Shaw, went down to the Grand hotel on their way to meet Wool- ley at the 6:30 train last Tuesday and, to their surprise, saw Rich sitting in the billiard room, his suit case beside him. They got to the depot ahead of time. When they saw Rich it was about 5;5O
 :" I am going after Rich, eowhide him, and if he attempts to escape from this city I'll kill him. said Briggs in an ex- cited manner. Shaw counseled calmness, urging that up to date they really had nothing in their possession but rumors
 :" On the other hand, contended Shaw, let's play game of billiards, just as though we knew nothing of his presence. keep sharp lookout, and if he makes a move shadow him. I'll follow the scoun- drel to h-l and get him if it's neces- sary.
 Gave Them the Slip.
 "This course was finally decided upon. Scarcely had the game begun when Briggs noticed Rich making a quiet get away and sounded the alarm. Briggs directed Shaw to go hurriedly to the Fourth street side of the hotel lobby and watch that as well as the Arcade exit to Third street, and took up his position on the Central avenue side. Rich jumped into cab on the Fourth street side. Shaw suddenly re- membered that he was practically without funds and hastily got S5 Of Briggs and hurried on after the cab. He found it at the Grand central depot empty and rushed on down to the ticket offices where he saw Rich buy ticket. As soon as Rich left to pass through the gates for his train Shaw rushed to the ticket seller and remarked: Give me a ticket to the same destination of my friend Johnson there pointing to Rich as the latter went out
 "'You want ticket te Buffalo too re- piled the agent, but Shaw having only So couldn't put up the money. By this time Briggs came up, and he got s20 more, but by some hook or crook had already se- cured the ticket to Buffalo, the agent say ing he would stand good for him until he had time to remunerate him. Then Briggs and Shaw boarded the train to find that Rich had taken the stateroom in the car, and had locked the door, leaving instruc- tions hastily with the porter and con ductor that he was sick and didn't want to be disturbed, and on no condition for them to permit anybody to enter his apartment Then Shaw began his vigilant watch at the door of that stateroom. Never did he take his eyes off, and, as the train bowled on and on into the darkness, hunger began gnawing at the vitals. He had tried every ruse, had pleaded and pro- ho tv Qfeiq n nd apaDloVnc to be allowed to enter the door. On and on they went, and still the mysterious door remained shut.
 "rhe last call for dinner in the dining car came after leaving Springfield, and Shaw got up, and, walking to the porter, said that he was going to get into that stateroom if he had to break down the door. He would get in there if he had to whip the whole crew, and if he had to kill somebody, for that matter. He had not been talking long when the porter began to evidently weaken, but there was 8 knowing twinkle in his eye.
 "Yes, sah, sho you kin walk right into dat stateroom We doan keep noboddy fun goin in dere. De dooh am wide open and then, as Shaw, turned to- ward the apartment the negro guffawed loudly, and he saw the door open. Empti- ness greeted him as he bounded toward it. Only Rich's suit case remained. Rich had climbed out of the window of his stateroom at Dayton, and is known to have doubled back to Cincinnati on the first train, and Shaw got off at the first opportunity and returned-to Dayton. It was reported soon after that Rich had taken the Il D. m. train from Cincinnati over the l.. and N. road for New Orleans, and from there had taken the 10 o'clock morning boat for Honduras Thursday last.
 Took Big Money.
 'It is said that Rich flashed s170o0 at the Grand hotel to a porter when he en- gagged three cabs at one time to take him to B. and o. S. w.. train leaving at PAS o'clock in the morning, and that he intended catching it at the Eighth street station He is also understood to have had a large amount of securities. Be- fore leaving Rich sent a note to Charles H. Rosenthal, dentist in the Weave building. before mentioned. inclosing checks to the amount of S3000 and $500 in cash. and requested him to give them to his wife Mrs. Rich and Broker Briggs visited Rosenthals office, where Mrs. Rich begged and pleaded and demanded the money and collateral, but Rosenthal declined to turn them over It was re- ncrted yesterday that Rosenthal had de- posited the checks to his personal ac- count at the Market National bank. Ar ter this refusal Mrs. Rich engaged kramer X Kramer in her effort to get the money.
 "When Woolley returned he made 1t