The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-20
BAD MONEY FOR COLOMBIA.
SOUTH AMERICAN HIRES SECRET
SERVICE MAN TO MAKE 1T.

Advertised From an Onico just Over the
Secret Service Hcadquartcrs-SimOn
BOehm and Samuel Otero Arrested
and Another south Anne rican wanted
When Secret Service Agent william j.
Flynn read in an evening newspaper on
September IS last an advertisement for a
first class steel plate engraver TO go to Cuba
he thought, after his recent experience with
Capt. Boynton and the scheme for financing
a revolution in Venezuela with bogus Vene-
zuelan money, that it would be well 10 have
one Of his own staf apply for the job. 1t
took about three months TO get enough
evidences to warrant the arrest yesterday
afternoon of Simon Boehm and Samuel
Otero for planning to make a fortune for
themselves at the expense OF citizens Of
the Republic Of Colombia.
Secret Service Agent W. H. Dohm, who
is an engraver, was asked to apply for the
job in Cuba. He answered the advertise
ment and got a reply signed with the initial
Of Boehm, who also signed a letter ap-
pointing an interview with Dohm. Dohm
opened his eyes when he found out that he
was to go to room 112o in the Morton Build
ing, on the floor above the New York head
quarters Of the Secret Service, and at once
| 4 WI thu hC "Obld AAAohO
his reports to him elsewhere than in room
1904, on the floor below.
On Dohm's first visit to room 1l20 Boehm
said that he was associated with Pratto
a Co., importing and exporting agents to
the Argentine Republic and the Rio de la
Plata country. He introduced young Mr..
| Otero, who is said to be a native Of Bolivar,
Colombia. According to Mr.. Boehm, Otero
was the representative Of several foreign
capitalists who had a scheme TO go into
cattle raising.
1t was essential that the s~trictest secrecy
be maintained. Could Dohm be depended
upon TO keep his mouth shut? Dohm
certainly could, provided he got those good
wages, which Boehm said be had no objec-
ton to paying. The thing looked so good
ohm indeed, that he didn't mind breaking
up his pleasant associations in this country
and going Town to Cuba.
Having won the confidence Of Dohm;
Boehm unfolded the scheme to make money
in live stock. Dohm was to go ahead and
make a set OF steel plates, which were to
be taken to Cuba and there employed in
the counterfeiting of 800 900 Of the 100 pesos
notes issued by the Colombian Government.
lie wouldn't have to go to Colombia at all,
so there wa really no risk, as the other
gentlemen concerned would see that the
money got into circulation in Colombia.
IL would be an easy matter to turn the
notes into $40, 900, 600 Of real money and
then buy cattle.
Dohm said he wouldn't like to 20 to Cuba
until the United States had pacified that
country. He kept things hanging On until
on December 4 Boehm. Us a guarantee of
good faith, paid him over 500 on account.
and on December IL another 500. With.
this evidence the arrest of the two men
was ordered. but IL was deferred until
yesterday in the hope OF landing another
South American.
When the prisoners were brought before
COMMISSIONS Shields by Marshal Henkel,
Boehm declared that the arrest was a mis-
take. He refused to give any information
in regard to himself beyond saying that he
was connected with the firm OF Pratto Ia
Co, in which Salvador A. Pratto is sole
partner. Otero had Joel f.. Marx. who was
retained az counsel, call up the Office Of d.
A. De Lima a Co.. commission mercha nts
at II State street, and ask a member Of that
firm to furnish the bail. The request was
declined and both the prisoners were sent
to the Tombs for the night in default Of
81, 900 bail.
DOnm ulu not appear III tOuTt' NclHeF
Boehm nor Otero seemed to know that they
had been negotiating with a Secret Service
man..
At the Office OF F. Zittel, agent for the
Morton Building, IL was saia last night that
Salvador A. Pratto leased Office Room
1I20 about a year and a half ago. He came
highly recommended by the Consul-General
Of Venezuela at New York, whose Gov
eminent, il was said, he was supposed to
represent in this country as special COM
missioner. Mr.. Pratto, was described as
special commissioner for Venezuela at
the st. Louis fair. OF Boehm, who looks
like a prosperous middle aged merchant
nothing was known beyond the fact that he
had desk room with Pratto Il Co.
Otero said he would appeal to the Colom-
bian Minister at Washington. As the Colom-
bian Consul in this city was advised by
Secret Service Agent Flynn several weeks
ago Of what Otero and Boehm and their
alleged hackers were planning to do it is
not expected by the Secret Service that the
Washington representatives OF Colombia
will put themselves out to intervene.
Carlos B. Figueredo, the Venezuelan Con-
sul-General here, said last night that he had
never heard OF Pratto. He said that the
name is Colombian.