Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-19
BOLD CONFIDENCE MEN
GEORGE HOLDEN REPORTS LOSS
OF HIS CASH.
Rogues Ply Trade in Various Lines
Auto Owners Part With Lamps
and Robes.

Complaint was made to the police last
night that three confidence men had robbed
George Holden, an English butler of SIT
while in a pool ROOM Holden says he spent
number of years in London, but that
most of the past eighteen months he has
resided in New York.
And" he added, I've been about the
country enough to have known better and
1 don't expect to get any of the money
back"
Holden stopped in this city for a few
days on his way to North Carolina and
yesterday afternoon, while at the corner of
Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street, he
was accosted by stranger who tapped him
on the shoulder and addressed him rather
Familiarity.
I'm stranger in the city," said Holden
And added the stranger, so am l."
A game of pool was proposed by the lat
ter, but Holden said that he knew moth
ing about the game and that he did not
care to tackle 1t. The stranger said he
they might spend a pleasant afternoon to-
gether knocking the balls about the
table, explaining that he intended to pay
for the games. The proposition sounded
good to Holden and he accepted it, but be-
fore the pair reached pool room on D
street they stopped and INDUCED in glass
of beer. When the pool room was reached
the pair started game and man who
was seated in the room said he would like
to join them. Bets were made on the game,
the two confidence men exchanging consid-
cradle money. The last shot made by Hol-
den resulted in his getting the 10 ball
in pocket.
Loses Rare Chance.
Now said one of the other players,
''if you had been betting you would have
won $12O'
Holden then exhibited disappointment 1t
<Io<
ball in his pocket but he could not have
won because he had no money with him.
He had some in his room at 100 e
street northwest, however, and there was no
reason why he could not get it and do
some betting at night. 1t so happened that
the fourth member of the alleged gang of
confidence men had impersonated the man.
ager OF the room and had accepted tho
stakes from his confederates, and Holden
thought there was nothing wrong in his
giving him his money to hold. When Hol-
den had turned over his ST to the alleged
manager the suggestion was made that
more money was needed by two Of the quar-
tet.
Holden accompanied one Of the men who
said he wanted to go to the telegraph Of
fee. A short distance from the office the
man tried to get away from Holden but
the latter called him to account. A plaus-
ible excuse was given and Holden was sat
isfed. few minutes later, however, the
man left him suddenly and mysteriously,
swindled. Detectives Pratt and Cornwell
heard his complaint and are investigat-
ing the affair. 1t Is believed the money
was obtained by crooks who are work.
ing their way to the Jamestown expo
sition.
Lamps and Robes Stolen.
Petty thieves have caused owners of auto
mobiles some trouble and annoyance this
spring by stealing robes, lamps and other
7O7 18th street northwest, is the latest one
to make such a complaint. A robe was
taken from his automobile last night when
he left it near the corner Of 18th street and
New York avenue for a short while. The
robe was not particularly valuable one,
but the theft caused Mr. Sullivan discom-
fort when he started homeward. Other au-
tomobiists have been similarly treated dur
ing the past month
Used Duplicate Key.
Samuel Finckelstein, who conducts a tai
loring establishment at 721 9th street north
west complained to the police this morning
that his place of business had been entered
during the night and robbed of $125 worth
of clothing. About 6:45 o'clock the proprie-
tor of the establishment discovered that an
intruder had been in his place while he
slept. The establishment was entered by
means of a duplicate key, the person who
had visited the place having locked the door
when he departed. Detectives Weldon and
Burlingame were assigned to the case,
Other Thefts.
The police have been told of the theft of
a ring from the apartment of Mrs Rust
Smith in the Westmoreand. She COM
planned that ring set with rubes and dia-
monds valued at 500 was taken from her
! apartment during her absence, and In
spectcr Boardman detailed Detectives War
| rem and ODea to make an investigation
Moore & Hill, real estate dealers have
| asked the police to investigate depredations
upon vacant property in their charge They
complained that a house at Virginia avenue
and Sd street southwest was entered and
robbed of plumbing fixtures.
The theft of two-stone' diamond ring
and some money was reported to the police
by Erma Slike of 140S H street northwest.
1t was stated that the ring and $40 in cash
We're taken from the house Saturday
Mrs. Bartis Beckett, a member of the
James X. Hackett company, called upon the
police yesterday afternoon and complained
of the loss of iler suit case, which, she
stated contained manuscripts worth $3.50 a
feather boa and toilet articles. The case,
she stated, disappeared from the Baltimore
and Potomac depot.
The railway commission at Ottawa Ont,