New-York tribune., 1907-06-20
TRIO GUILTY OF FRAUD
CLEVER SWINDLTNG GAME.
c. Z. 4cAron Hits One of His Com
fedcrotes for "SqueaIing."

Charles Z. Ackron, of Ttvon fame, a well known
character in the Tenderloin who said he lived at
No. Ola Jamaica avenue. Brooklyn: Frederick Rob
inson. restaurant keeper. OF No 3o1 West 121st
street and William II. Houghton of Ns. 81 South
Eighth avenue, Mount Vernon. We're found guilty
yesterday in Special Sessions OF the charge Of CON
spracy to defraud. 1t alleged that the trio.
through a saloon deal. swndled the Plymouth In
terror Construction Company out of 5000 Hough-
ton expected be candidate for Mayor of
Mount Vernon this fall
on the way across the Bridge of Signs" Ackron
turned on Robinson and before Lieutenant bar
ney" McConville could interfere ne struck him
square In the face, knocking him down.
You dirty squealer." shouted Ackron, he
struck Robinson. "youH send innocent man 10
duck. viii you?"
Houghton was practically carried over TO the
Tombs by court officers and prison attendants who
came in answer MCConvIlle's call for help.
Ackron. a powerful man, was In rage and it IS
thought he would have killed Robinson had he not
been beaten off by the two detectives. Both men
We're arraisned in the Tombs court before Magis-
trate Walsh. Robinson said he did not want to
make complaint against Ackron. but Assistant
District Attorney krote insisted, and he finally
did so
Robinson tried TO talk 10 me" said Ackron. in
explanation OF the fight. 4 told him he
squealer and that I didn't want have anything
70 do with him Then ! pushed my hand into his
face 10 shove him away from me. and he fell
%Wel, guess you're going where you won't hav"
much opportunity 10 hit anybody" said Magistrate
Walsh. IN hold you in $500 bail for trial In Spc-
cial Sessions. and YOU can explain matters 70 the
justices. They ought 10 know YOU quite we'll"
The three men convicted of violating sub
division of Section l6S Of the Penal Code Rob
inson sot off with a sentence Of two months In the
penitentiary. Mr.. Krotel said he had been OF
material assistance 10 the county in the prose1u-
tion.
"Houghton was innocent" said Ackron Il don't
care so much about myself. but there was no rea-
for innocent man being sent to jail"
Houghton was sentenced 10 serve three months
in the penteutary In spite the eloquent plea Of
his counsel that he he LEI OF with fine.
Robinson pleaded guilty. so the decision In his
unanimous among Justices Mexican
Wyatt and Mayo. They agreed in the Of
Ackeron. but as the punishment of HouGhtor
Justice Mexican dissented from the opinion Of mis-
colleagues.
Amos H. Evans. counsel for Ackron, asked that
his client be renanded Tor few days TO give him.
Evans. a chance 10 draw up and offer motion
for a trial. This done. Then sentence
was pronounced on the other two. Assistant DIS
trict Attorney krotel asked for clemency for Rob
nson In view Of his ninety days imprisonment
Robert J. Haire. counsel for Houghtou. asked that
a fine be imposed instead of a prison sentence lie
said Mr.. Houghton's previous business record in
this city first class and his social and po-
ltlcal standing in Mount Vernon OF the best
Mrs. HoURhtou IN court with a big roll OF
bankbils with which to pay her husbands fine
She swooned when it explained to her that
Houehton had been sent to jail for three months
without the alternative OF a fine
The charge upon which the thre> men were found
guilty followed trausaCtiG1 extending through
several days and involving about $4,000. Ackrof.
and Robinson were II open saloon at No. 424 Co
Iumbus avenue, >nd negotiations begun with
the Plymouth. Interior Construction Company by
which the company to fit up the place at a cost
not exceed 5000. Ackron introduced Robinson
10 representative Of the construction company
a man OF wealth and tine lessee of the prop
erty Mt No 424 Columbus avenue.
Aokron dealt with tho construction company to
extent that made sort OF payment nee
essary and Robinson note to the S5, 600
This was on October %. 1906. 4 week later the
company demanded something more substantial
than the At this point Mr.. Houghton was
introduced. He supplied security a hundred
shares Of Norfolk & Western stock, said be
worth 10000 This November l. and all
the parties to the transaction gathered No.
Beekman street. Here the Norfolk & Western Ger
tihcate placed in envelope to be scaled and
put in safe deposit box subject to the order Of
the construction company in payment the
note defaultcd.
Before tho envelope had been sealed a bottle of
mUcage the table accidentally" upset
and the contents smeared the table and a
number of the papers lying it. In the confusion
body exchanged the Norfolk & Western certificate
for a bogus cancelled certificate calling for the
same number of shares. but absolutely worthless.
The substitution not discovered by the repre-
sentative of the company at the time. He per
sonally sealed the envelope containing the bogus
certificate and deposited II with the Phenx Ma
tonal Bank When Robnson's note became due
and not paid officials OF the construction com
pany went to the bank. opened the envelope and
discovered the fraud. Robinson. who expected. ac-
cordnE to his testimony sell out the newly
fitted saloon. had been unable to do so, and
sequently. not prepared to take up his note.