Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-23
SW|NDLER'S GAME BIG
Meyers Interested Wealthy
Pittsburg Financiers.
THREE MEN UNDER ARREST
As Agent of Rothschilds, Principal
Piled His Scheme.
HE HAD GOOD ENDORSEMENTS
Procured Options on Oil Lands, but
Allowed Them to Lapse-Col.
Guffey and r. B. Sheridan
Interested.
THREE MEN UNDER ARREST
HE HAD GOOD ENDORSEMENTS

authorities here have made two other ar
rests in the case of ]. Montefiore Meyers,
said to be from Australia, who was taken
into custody at the Hotel Schenley last
Saturday and held for the New York po-
lice on an alleged charge Of grand lar
ceny.
Shortly after Meyers left this city yes
terday in charge of Detective Sergt. Nell
son of New York for the east, the Pitts
burg police arrested w. A. Fitzpatrick in
a bank building. where he was talking
| over an oil deal with a. business man.
Last evening John A. Fitzpatrick.
brother, was also arrested as he stepped
from Baltimore and Ohio railroad train
in this city.
The Fitzpatrick brothers are said to be
from Ionia, n. J., and are alleged to be
confederates of Meyers
Supt. of Police and Detectives McQuaide
of this city arrested the Fitzpatricks on
information furnished by Richard Brins-
ley Sheridan, a wealthy coal operator of
Wikesbarre. Pa, and John A. Garman OF
| the same place, chief counsel for Col. j.
| NJ. Guffey. the millionaire oil operator Of
Pittsburg.
| According to the police T. n. Barnsdall.
| also a millionaire oil operator Of this
| city. had been interested in the several
deals by Meyers.
What the Scheme Was.
| Meyers and the Fitzpatricks are al
legged to have been promoting a deal to
| buy options on coal and oil lands.
| Meyers it is said. represented that he
controlled several million dollars of the
Rothschilds.
Meyers. who has an engaging person
o1t l,AI ;v, frx~ fiv,rv e.
Sheridan. Col. Guffey and Mr.. Barnsdall.
Just how many more wealthy Pitts
burgers were interested the police refuge
to say at this time.
Referring to Meyers and his deal, Mr..
Meyers came to see me in Wilkes
barre some time ago. ! have not seen
John A. Fitzpatrick in connection with
| this transaction. but have known him
| for some years, and as letter from him
introduced Meyers to me.
Meyers said he represented the Roths-
childs, and thought Wilkesbarre would
| be an excellent place to build. factories
ands mills on account of its contiguity to
starting to build it would be a good
| idea to get options on coal lands, to
insure fuel supply.
He insisted that local capital support
the project. as some favors might be
wanted from the legislature.
Meyers Gained Good Will.
Il will confess that Meyers won my
complete confidence, which was strength
ened when l learned that he had inter-
ested Col. Guffey. 1 introduced him to
| a number of men, who, I thought, might
be of service to the project. and spent
considerable money in boosting the thing.
ITO make the thing look still better.
Meyers brought Col. Guffey to Wilkes
barre. do not know what caused it, but
Garman and myself grew suspicious. AS
Meyers said he was from New York We
| asked the police there about him.
1T was then his record in that city
was uncovered. His arrest on a charge
| of grand larceny followed on Saturday."
! Supt. McQuaide said today:
From all I can learn. Meyers and his
| confederates secured little, if any, money.
| but they were just about to unload a
| swindle that would have torn things
| wide open in financial circles.
II am not liberty now to divulge any
| names in connection with the affair, but
may do SO in a day or two"
Grand Larceny Is Charged.
NEW YORK, November 23.-Claiming g
to have the backing Of European capt.
talists to the extent of 5000, ,OOO. 900. &C
cording to the story told by the police,
Joseph Monti1ers Meyers. who has spent
| the last few months in Pittsburg, en-
deavoring to interest capitalists of that
| city in various plans requiring large
| amounts of money. was brought to this
| city today and charged with the larceny
OF five bonds valued at $500.
Meyers, it was said. claimed acquaint-
ance with many prominent people both
| in this country and abroad He was
| introduced at the clubs and dined by
| Pittsburg financiers. whom he interested
| in his various plans.
| Some time ago Meyers secured an option
on oil properties owned by Col. j. NJ.
| Guffey of that city. Failing, within the
time limit, to pay the purchase money,
negotiations came to an end.
Previous to going to Pittsburg Meyers
had spent three years in this city. By
means Of letters of Introduction bearing
the names of well known men, he sue
ceeded in meeting men and women of
prominence in a social and business way.