The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-10
NAB FAKE BALL TICKET MAN.
MRS. BILLINGS CALLED UP REAL
TELEGRAPHERS.
Police Got Suaye solicitor at Her Door
with Dollar Won by False Pretences
Had Been Looking for Him-SSOO
Coup Tor The "NewsDOys' Magazine

Had Been Looking for Him -SSUO
Coup FOR the "NewsbOys' Magazine
A Young man who talked with all the
suavity OF the born solicitor tried yesterday
afternoon TO interest Mrs. {. X. q. Billings,
who lives at e73 Fifth avenue, in a bal TO
he held March II at the Grand Central RAJ
ace by the Telegraph Clerks and Lazy
Operators' Association" Mrs. Billings was
interested to a degree, but also a little sus-
plcious. She told the young man that II
he came back to her house a intIe later
she would probably have $40 for him ano
the worthy object for which he asked IT,
1t was then about 8 o'clock.
Mrs. Billings, when the young man went
away, called up the nearest Western Union
office, at 2 East Fifty-eighth street. Inc
manager told her that as far az he knew
there was no such organization as the young
man mentioned. She explained the details
The telegraph manager called PoliceHead-
quarters and the East Ffty-frst street sta
tion house was notified.
The police of that station were already
looking for the young man. They had
been on his trail once before, only to lose
him. Detectives Summers and Conroy
vent to Mrs, Billings's house and pre-
pared for the reception OF the friend oil the
telegraph clerks and lady operators
The young man went back at s o'cloc
and walked up to the front door. He told
the butler, John Mckay, that he had an
engagement to see Mrs. Billings. Inc
butler had an envelope for the solicitor
and handed 1t to him just as the detectives
strolled up. They arrested him and TOOK
him to the East Fifty-frst street station
house, where he was held on complaint
of Mrs. Billings for obtaining money under
false pretences. The envelope contained
81. He had the money when arrested.
The prisoner said he was Arthur Ester,
% years old. He said that he had been
married four years and he and his wife
had their home in Woodmere, Long Island.
He did not appear eager to talk much, but
told a few things about himself. he SAID
that he had be en- around to several
people for money for the enterprise that
he was backing, but that he had failed to
get two or three. He said that there were
two other men on the job. He would not
tell their names, but said that they were
messengers in Wal Street. That was a
job hat he also had at one time.
He said that he had at one time been a
solicitor for the Neusboys' Mage 'ine, run
by Kent Holmes and a few former members
of the Blue Pencil Club. AS a collector for
that publication he said he got $500 from
Mrs. Coils p. Huntington. James Notice,
who got S. 1000 from Jackson Wallace for
the magazine, was a friend Of his, he SAID.
All this he old to the detectives IN the
station house.
The police got wind OF his doings a few
days ago when he visited the home OF Ed
mInd Randolph, a broker at Q East Forty
eighth street. He presented a printed form
to Mr., Randolph setting forth that the pan
was coming off and that he would like to have
some money for it. He suggested that
Mr.. Randolph could fill out a check to James
Masters, carded as assistant treasurer OIL
Association and that Ester would return Tor
the check II it were made out. he got 20
cash from Mr.. Randolph.
He came back for more a little later, and
the butler, Patrick Thorn, thought that s,is-
picious. He sent word to the East Fifty
first street police station for a policeman.
Sergt. Ennis sent Detective Crotty, who ar
rived just a few minutes after Ester left.
The police say hat Ester got $40 from
Randolph Guggenheimer of 923 Fifth ave-
nue. and the same amount from j. r. Pal
menberg Of 1924 West Forty-seventh street.
Nathan, secretary of the company that
runs the Grand Central Palace, both say
that the place has no date with any such
orga nizatio as Ester represented. They
win be in court this morning when Ester
is arraigned, because they say this IL the
has been mixed up with a fake ball.
Ester il to be taken to Police Headquarters
first. The police there are supposed to
know something about his doings and
they are looking up his record. They say
that he was arrested a while ago when he
was a messenger boy but they do not say
what the charge was. He was discharged
at thai time.