The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-01-30
BIG ROBBERY RECALLED
James Names Arrested in New York
For Liverpool Bank Job.
WE'RE AFTER HIM FOUR YEARS

British institution Lost over 100000
In 1901 Through Forgery and Con-
spiracy-All Concerned But Names
Were Arrested at That Time.
New York, Jan. 27.-Central officer
detectives OF this city arrested a man
for whom they declare the police Of
the world have been searching for
more than four years. The prisoner.
who was picked up on the street by a
mere chance. is declared to be James
Names, formerly an American book
maker. who Is wanted in connection
with the famous bank of Liverpool
robbery Of November %, 1901. in which
the English institution, through for
gerry and conspiracy. was defrauded OF
more than 100000 Subsequently
$3.50 600 OF this amount was recovered
from the conspirators. the bank having
sustained a net loss of more than
100000.
While admitting hts name to be
James Names. the man under arrest
asserted that he is entirely ignorant
OF any plot by which the bank OF Liv-
orpool was robbed, and had no part in
the affair. After being taken to head
quarters and examined Names was
locked up. He will be held to await
word from the English authorities.
who have been apprised by cable of
the arrest The local police claim
there is no question as to the identity
of Names. who now Is So years old and
walks as though a victim of locomotor
ataxia. His condition, the police de-
clare. aided them in identifying him.
In the history OF the crimes of the
world the conspiracy to rob the bank
Of Liverpool will always hold the dis
tinction OF being one of the most in
genious and constituencies ever planned.
The entire scheme turned upon the
weakness Of a bank clerk, who, while
drawing a salary of $3.50 year. became
a victim of the betting craze and played
the races. His accomplices were sport
ing men, several bookmakers and a
prize fighter. Not only did the bank
clerk play into their hands through
his losses at the race tracks. but he
was deprived Of the occasional big win
nlngs he made through some pretense.
The clerk forged continually the name
of one Of the banks depositors, and
finally moro than sS0O.00 had been
taken out Of the institution and turned
over TO the coterie of race track men.
Finally. without having profited a
penny, he went 10 the penitentiary for
10 years. a sentence he is now serving
with hard labor.
The bank clerk was a young fellow
named Thomas p. GOude. His asso-
ciates were Dick Burge. an English
pugilist; F. T. Kelly. a man named
Stiles. Laurie Marks and James Names,
all bookmakers. Goudie confessed the
plot and pleaded guilty to charges Of
forgery. fraud. conspiracy and false
pretenses. Dick" Burge and the book
makers Kelly and Stiles were arrested.
but Marks and Names escaped. Burge
was given 10 years. Kelly and Stiles.
by pleading guilty TO conspiracy to de-
fraud, escaped with sentences Of two
years each. Marks Is believed to have
committed suicide by jumping from an
English Channel steamer Names never
was traced.
From Burge the police recovered
$4,000. The authorities subsequently
learned that Marks had 100000 and
Names $4,000 to their credit In an
English bank. This money was seized
and returned to the Liverpool institu-
ton.