Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-08
HAD A PEAT SCHEME.
Another Chapter in Or. Flowers
Sensational Career.
VICTIM WAS IN new YORK
Doctor Was in a Big Deal While
Detectives Sought Him.
INTERESTED MAN OF MEANS
Prosecutor Garvan Has Completed
His Preparations for the
Extradition.
VICTIM WAS IN new YORK
INTERESTED MAN OF MEANS

NEW YORK, January S.-Dr r. C. Flow
er. who was arrested few days ago in
Philadelphia. after having been missing
more than three years, spent a year and a
half OF that time in New York. He was
here until about four months ago although
an Indictment was hanging over his head.
and meantime hundreds Of his victims and
half a dozen detectives were looking for
him. ignorant of the fact that he was near
ly under their eyes day after day.
Under the assumed name of Dalney, and
with brown beard trimmed to a point and
heaVy brown mustache, DIR. Flower sue
ceeded in floating patent process for man.
ufacturing peat, and established a plant in
Paterson. N. j., and an office in this city
lncfdentaily, he added about Sli 900 to the
half million or SO that had already been in
trusted to him by Mrs. Frances Hageman-
DeIebafre. He also interested a new victim
VINO learned only by accident, after it was
too late to withdraw, that IL was Flower
and not "Dalney'' with whom he was deal
ing.
While Flower was in this city he had
1urnisned room In West S4th street and
another room near an old foundry in pat
erson, where experiments in the manufacture
OF peat were made. Part of the time he
was living In the Passaic Hotel in Passaic
N. ].
Meanwhile, Mrs. observation-disclosures was
dividing her time between Boston and this
city, staying In the Holland House when
IN New York. Contrary to current report
II Is said she was possessed of several hum
dred thousand dollars until short time
ago, and may still have it. It is certain
that not later than last spring she had
most OF the diamonds which she took pleas
ure In diplaying while she was living in
the Waldorf-Astoria at the time of Mr.
Hagemans death. and until she left there
to join Dr. Flower in Mexico to keep in
touch with investments which she believed
he was making for her.
Frequented Large Restaurants.
DR.. Flower dined almost every night
from year ago last summer until last
spring In restaurants down town, includ-
ing the Astor House and Hams cafe, in
the Park Row building He frequently
dropped into the Hotel Imperial. and
openly met his sons, one of whom is a
lawyer and the other O promoter. al
though 1T was supposed that detectives
were trailing them in hope of gaining a
clew as to the fathers whereabouts
Chemists have been experimenting for
years to find process Of making at a
low price peat that will stand the ac-
ton OF the atmosphere. Most of the
processes tried resulted in making bril-
quotes. which at first were satisfactory
but which, when merely left in the open
air, soon dissolved into mud. DR.. Flow
er, however, got hold Of patent by
which he promised to make briquettes
which would bear even the action of
water without injury and would burn
much like hard coal. For nearly a year
he rented foundry in Paterson. and
there he installed plant worth several
thousand dollars.
Among others. he interested an Eng
l1shman, who was convinced by expert
ence that great profits awaited the dis
coverer OF successful process of MAX
ing peat. This man was in the foundry
one day when DR.. Flower was trying to
get his son. A. D. Flower on the teIe-
phone. There was delay in getting
the connection and meantime DR.. Flower
was called to another part of the build
ing. When the telephone bell rang the
Englishman answered the call, knowing
get A. d. Flower.
Hello. is that you. Dad?" he heard a
voice say.
This struck him as strange, and he led
the speaker pea on until he had no doubt
He asked "Dalney' point blank as to
his identity a few minutes afterward.
and, realizing that concealment was no
longer possible. Flower admitted who he
was.
Still Believes in Flower.
In spite of this, the Englishman con-
tinued to repose confidence in Flower.
and even yet. as he yesterday admitted,
he retained. as have almost all of DR..
Flowers victims, strange belief in the
good intentions Of the physician-pro-
moter.
DR.. Walter E. Delabarre of No. 90
West 45th street Is in ignorance of his
wife's whereabouts. Although he and
Mrs. Observation-Disclosures lived together
only few weeks and have now been
separated for more than three years.
they are not divorced. neither one having
instituted an action.
Assistant District Attorney Caravan
yesterday completed his preparation of
papers In an application for the extradi-
ton of DR.. Flower, and they were taken
to Albany last night. They will be
placed before Governor Hughes this
AS soon as the governor signs
them they will be taken to Harrisburg
Pa, and there placed before the governor
Of Pennsylvania for his action.