Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-04

ing slowly. and rode as far as 51st street.
| on the block between 7th and sth avenues
took out a key and entered . house.
BY inQuirtng In the neighborhood we
| found that the house was furnished room
| house OF good repute
The next morning we again followed the
man with the white cowlick to the st. Paul
building. but this time we had boy with
us, who was often used for such purposes
The boy went up on the elevator Win our
man. and when he returned informed US
| that the man had entered an ONCE on the
ninth floor. on the door OF which was paint
ed in gilt letters r. II. Seifridge. Real Es-
] tate and Investments
We found r. II. Selfridge was a tall. thin
brother named Austen Seifridge who an
swered our description. The tanftor did not
know the latter's business. but told US that
he received every couple OF weeks, by ex-
press. heavy, bulky bundle.
Getting Near a Quarry.
When the tall man again emerged from
the building we followed him to the 51st
street house, from which he came out at
1890 with a tall young woman with auburn
hair. They went to the Hotel Lincoln.
where they took lunch. After they had fin
ished we entered the hotel and made our
selves known to the proprietor, who looked
over the restaurant receipts with us. but
we found silver dollars therein.
At o'clock that evening my partner
and / engaged room in the 51st street
house and by night we found that our man
and his wife occupied double room on
TIE second floor front. while ours was
on the third floor rear.
The following day we awaited our man
at the st. Paul building, and were reward
ed by seeing him enter and go up on the
elevator. Within twenty minutes there
after an express messenger entered the
building with a small box which seemed
heavy and was plainly marked with the
name of Selfridse.
We at once proceeded to the Office OF the
express company on lower Broadway, and
learned that the box in question had come
from Norfolk, Va.
We were back at the building In time
to see our man leave there with the box
wrapped in paper. with which ne went Oh
rectly to 51st street.
The same afternoon both the man and
the auburn-haired woman left the house
and separated at the corner. MY partner
Fred followed the man. while l trailed the
woman.
She entered many stores along Sth and
9th avenues, and whenever l could MADE
quick entry after she had again appeared
upon the street. In each case 1 ROUND
that she had made some small purchase
and left In payment silver dollar, when
was minus the NJ. At about o'clock she
returned home. Fred. my partner, VINO
came in later. reported the same experience
At 7:3O that evening the, people we were
watching went to the theater, which we
learned would be out at 11:15.
Planning for the CapturS.
At 1f:3O. with a skeleton key, we forced
open the door of the front room on the
second floor The bed was large oak
one, with low side boards, but rather open
at the ends. 1 at once crawled under the
bed and Fred went out and locked the
door. We had agreed that he should hold
himself in readiness to break in when 1
should signal him to do so-he being on the
stair above and watching-after the occu-
pants had returned
At Has o'clock the key grated In the
lock and Selfridge and his companion en-
tered.
They lg'hted the gas and at once pre-
pared to retire. After both were in bed
they began speaking of their experiences
In showing the queer" that day. Suddenly
the woman asked:
Austen, are you sure that you locked
the trunk, and did you cover up the coin?"
Austen answered that he had done SO.
1 had heard and learned enough to make
my next move. / dragged myself quickly
out from under the bed. Naturally my
moving was heard, and the woman ex-
claimed, IL in fright
OH There's some one under the bed!
Selfridge sprang to the floor and ran
around to the end of the bed, but / was
halfway out by this time. Lying on my
stomach, I confronted him with a cooked
Slx-ShOoter, saying.
Make a move and III blow your head
Off"
With the revolver pointed straight at him,
he paused and I let out loud yell for my
partner. Crash! and in came the door
and Fred together.
A Quick Struggle.
This reused Selfridge. and with a Jump
he was upon Fred. Both being powerful
men, a grand struggle resulted. But Fred
was the stronger. and. trained by many
years OF experience with desperate men,
he soon had Selfridge down and snapped
pair OF handouts on him.
In the meantime the woman was sitting
UP In bed and filling the air with her
shrieks. which brought In the other occu
pants of the house, in all manner of dis
habille.
| explained to these who we were and
the reason of our presence. and advised
them TO return to their rooms, which they
very sensibly did.
Fred now took Selfridge. backed him into
a chair threatening him with all sorts of
injury if he moved, while l burst open the
trunk. In the bottom | found couple of
hundred of silver dollars without the M.
These | gathered and placed in valise
which was in the room. Fred then left for
the Federal building. taking his prisoner
with him, telling me to follow with the
woman
piteousy. l approached her and ordered
her to get up and dress while waited out
side.
At last she was ready for the street. and.
taking the valise with the spurious dol
lars. l accompanied her to Broadway. Here
we boarded a car, and soon thereafter ar
rived at the Federal building. which Fred
had reached some time before with his
prisoner
We took our receipts for our captives
and went home to bed. The following day
both were held In ZOO ball by the United
States commissioner. This they were unable
to furnish and so both were locked up to
await trial.
Getting the Woman's Confession.
Having made our report to Washington,
we received Geographic orders to go ahead
and find the plant and place where the coin
had been made.
Fred and I then left for Norfolk. Va.
Upon arrival there we proceeded to the
office of the express company that had car
rled the packages to Selfridge.
A new receiving clerk had been there
for about a month. They traced our mat
ter and found that the packages for Self
ridge had been shipped from the Office d.
rect, but the clerk could not remember by
whom.
As the shipper OF the coin would be apt
to know that his confederates in New