Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-21
ROBBED OF BIC ROLL
Wiretappers Take SIS, 500
From a Fall River Man.
POLICE TAKE THE CROOKS
Man Who Wanted to Get Rich Quick
Calls Officers of the Law.
TRYING TO BEAT THE RACES
Morton woodman Was About to In
vest $4,000 More in Fake Scheme
When he Read q Newspaper.
TAKE THE CROOKS
TRYING TO BEAT THE RACES

NE" Iofth, February <1-MoItoA " ooO-
man. fruit merchant Of ITO Green street,
Fall River. Mass, decided yesterday, after
reading newspaper accounts of the expe-
riences of William F. Walker, the abscond-
ing New Britain banker. with wireless wire
tapping financiers of the Larry Summer
willie stripe who got $3.50. 900 out of him,
that he wouldn't invest $4,000 in the place
where he lost &c. 500 a week ago. Instead
he went around to the East 22d street sta
ton and consulted Capt. Steve McDermott.
Capt McDermott didn't waste any time
getting a patrol wagon around to 123 East
26th street, where q squad of detectives
dropped in on a group of men who were
occupying the entire parlor floor of a four
story house there, just across the street
from the new Goth Regiment Armory.
The detectives found four men in the
front and rear rooms. The front was rugged
up as an office. while the rear was filled
with racing charts and had table tele-
phone. The four men said they were James
Weir. Harry Morrison, Leo Schwartz, Sam
uel Berg and Morris Franks. Woodman
said that Francis was present when he
lost the $4,000, so he was charged with
grand larceny. The others were charged
with conspiracy to defraud.
The East Odd street police say that Weir
is known in criminal circles as "Pittsburg
Jim," but the men at police headquarters
where the men were all photographed, say
they aren't sure about 1t. They say that
the pictures of both Weir and Franks are
in the headquarters collection, however.
Directors of a Club"
Mrs. Essie Ludwig. who rented the rooms
raided yesterday, told the police that the
men told her they were going to start q
small private club. She was under the i'm
preston that the board of directors were
md in
formed the detectives when they called
Just before the board of directors ad-
journed the telephone bell rang. Detective
Cahill answered. but when he told the man
at the other end of the wire that his name
was Charlie, the man said: Il guess there's
something wrong down there and hur-
riedly hung up the receiver.
Woodman's story to the police was that
he came here several weeks ago to visit
his sister, Mrs H. C. Spratley, at sol West
151st street. He drifted down Broadway
to take in the sights and dropped in at
barber shop in the neighborhood Of Both
street and Broadway for a shave. num-
Der of men were hanging around the shop
and carrying on a breezy conversation. In
which Woodman joined. TIE first thing he
knew he had told the whole shop who he
was where he came from and how much
money he had.
Showing Him the Town.
The men in the barber shop took keen
interest In Woodman after he had told
them that he had just cleaned up good
roll on tips on the stock market given him
by a wealthy man in Fall River who had
become interested in him. After Woodman
had been shaved three or four of the men
took him in tow and showed him the inter-
esting things around town. One Of them
In particular, whose name Woodman got as
Louis Anderson, was very friendly. Louis
called on Woodman at his sisters home In
West 151st street before he was up the next
morning and took him downtown for
whole day Of sightseeing.
In the course of the day Louis casually
mentioned that 1t would be great thing
If Woodman could get in on few chances
to pick up easy money that he knew about
Having had good luck with the stock mar
ket Woodman was Immediately interested,
he said and the same old story of the
Western Union racing news superintendent
who would hold back the returns from
his money down was unfolded. He also
went down to 1875 Broadway and saw man
that he thought was the manager standing
around in his shirt sleeves.
How Money Was Lost.
That afternoon Woodman was taken
around to the East Goth street house,
which he was told was the hangout of John
W. Gates, all the Vanderbilt boys and a lot
of other wealthy men. He was advised to
make a IS bet just for fun. Woodman did
SO and won $50. Before he went away Louis
borrowed the entire $55 from him to pay
the tipsters, he said. Woodman said he
met the Western Union racing man again
that night and told him about the IS bet.
You pikers make me tired" Woodman
says the supposed Western Union man told
him. "Why don't you be sport and get
a good bet down. This is no cheap mans
game"
woodman felt a little hurt about the rae
ins superintendent's remarks. and after
consultation with Louis he started for Fall
River to get q roll. Louis went along for
company. Woodman sold sixty-three shares
of American Wool preferred for s. 500, and
he and Louis took the next train back.
They headed for the fake poolroom and
got there just about the time the returns
from New Orleans were supposed to be
coming in.
The Fall River man wanted to get the
whole Sc, 500 down in one bet, but the man
who seemed to be boss said he couldn't
think of taking such a big bet. He said
that $4,000 was the limit. After a lot of
pleading Woodman got them to let him bet
$40, and he handed $1,000 to his friend
Louis to wager. They put the money on
Field Link The horse came In second and
of course when Woodman explained that
he had backed the horse to win his friends
anpeared very disguised and told him they
had advised him to get the money down for
place.