Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-30
FREED WITH APOLOGY
J. Howard Ford Formally Re-
leased in London.
MISTAKEN FOR ANOTHER
Supposed to Be Doc Waterbury,
Wanted by Police.
NEW YORK OFFICIALS BLAMED
American Ambassador Sends Letter
to Bow Street Court Regret
ting the Occurrence.

LONDON, December 30.-The presid-
ing magistrate of the Bow street po-
lice court today formally discharged
J. Howard Ford. the American who
was arrested by mistake at Dover at
the request of the New York police
authorities when he landed from the
steamer Lapland. The police magis-
trate expressed his deep regret at the
mistake which had been made.
American Ambassador Regretful.
The magistrate also read a letter from
the United States ambassador, who. on
behalf Of his government, said that he
desired the court to express keen regret
that an upright and honorable citizen
of New York should have been subjected
to the indignity of such an arrest. The
ambassador also wrote that he could
plead only that in accordance with the
cablegrams received by the embassy Mr.
Ford seemed to answer to the description
and to the name of the man wanted.
Whitelaw Reid. who is sailing for
America on board the Lusftauia today,
sent one of the secretaries of the United
States embassy to the Bow street police
court to deliver personally his letter Of
regret.
Police Magistrate Bennett also depIored
that man of Mr.. Ford's character and
standing should have been brought before
the court without warrant, and wished
him to know that he was leaving the
court without stain upon his name.
No Resentment Against English.
Mr. Ford today said that he did not
feel that he had cause for action against
the English authorities. He had not de-
cided what action, If any. he would take
against the American authorities. he
naturally felt the matter very keenly.
Mr.. Ford will remain in London. where
he will be Joined tonight by his wife, who
was in Berlin at the time of hts arrest
and was greatly upset by the report
The man really wanted by the New
York police is julius Ford.
Just before midnight last night q
cablegram reached Scotland Yard from
police headquarters in New York city
which threw officials OF the Englisf
detective department into a state ol
high excitement.
.By heaven! Here's a row" exclaim'
ed the official who opened the dispatch
which referred to the arrest OF Ford
who was held on q charge of abduc-
tion.
Not "Doc" Waterbury.
pears. is not the Ford who was wanted
The man who is wanted by the New
York police is the notorious Doc
Waterbury. who is believed to have
sailed for Europe under the name OF
Ford.
The London police declare that
the fault lies with their New York
brethren.
Mr.. Ford had engaged a suite of
rooms at the Ritz Hotel, where his
wife had been staying until a few days
ago. when she left for Berlin.
When Mrs. Ford went away she told
the hote! people that she expected her
husband to arrive December %, and re-
ouested that any mail coming for her
be handed to him. When Mr. Ford did
not turn up at the hotel inquiries were
made with the result that it was found
he had been arrested, compelled to spend
the night in a prison cell at Bow street
where he was brought up yesterday.
ONLY formal evidence of arrest was
taken. Mr. Ford being remanded for d
week pending instructions from New
York.
New York Police Blamed.
Scotland Yard officials are confident
that no blame may be attached to them
They say the New York police cabled
the full name of Ford, who was pas
senger on the Lapland: his description
and even the number Of his cabin.
Inquiries by Scotland Yard men since
they heard from New York in response
to their cablegram advising the New
York bureau Of Ford's arrest led the
officials here to say that although the
man they arrested answers beyond ali
doubt the description supplied by New
York. they are satisfied he Is innocent
of the charge against him
When arrested Ford said:
II know nothing about It. It looks Hike
blackmail."