New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-01
BURNS WILL Be WITNESS
To Testify at Montreal in Suit
Against PinkertOnS.
MILLIONAIRE ASKS S25O,00O
Complainant Says Detective
Agency Tried to Put Him in
Insane Asylum.

William J. Burns. the well known detec-
tive, was in New York yesterday On his
way 20 Montreal, where he is 70 testify in
the suit for $4,000 brought against the
Pinkerton Detective Agency by David Rus
SELL a Montreal millionaire.
Russell charges the Pinkertons with
having conspired TO place him in an insane
asylum after. he declares. they had played
him false in a badger game which he
says had been worked on him. and which
he had employed them 10 investigate. The
alleged badger game" took place IN the
Windsor Hotel IN Montreal, last October
a woman named Mrs. Frances Allen. Of
the Hotel Maryland. in this city, and a
man named J. s Patterson, OF Pittsburgh,
being implicated IN it.
Russell engaged the Pinkertons 10 In
vestigate the case and says that after a
few DAYS they reported 10 him that he had
better drop the matter, as Patterson was
a Pittsburgh millionaire Russell then be-
gan 20 investigate on his own hook, where
upon. he says, the Pinkertons attempted TO
place him in an insane asylum.
Mr. Burns who has been engaged by
Russell to look into the matter. talked
freely about the case when seen Yesterday
at the Herald Square Hotel. He denounced
the Pinkertons in no uncertain terms, de-
claring that they had conspired % place
Mr.. Russell in an insane asylum.
Mr. Russell is a very rich man. and
there are financial interests in Montreal
which would be only too glad TO see him
IN an insane asylum" said Mr.. Burns. IL
have made d careful investigation Of the
case and consider IT one Of the diruest
games I have ever run against. Mr.. Rus
sell refuses TO be caught by the Allen
woman and Patterson, and turns TO the
Pinkertons for help. What do they do?
They tell him that he must have been mis-
taken. that Patterson is Pittsburgh
millionaire, whereas he is really nothing Of
the sort.
Russell, not satisfied with their report
d!snlisses the PinkertOns and announces
that he viii 20 himself 10 Pittsburgh TO IL
vestigate. Then the Pinkertons endeavOr
TO have him declared insane. They get a
DR. r. c. Roddick 20 write a letter saying
that Russell ought 20 be examined though
Pcddick had never even seen Russell Then
they try 10 get Or. carlos Macdonald anu
Br Pritchard 70 declare Russell insane. but
neither OF these physicians would have
anything % do with the case. Roddick then
goes to Atlantic City where he has been
ever since I am firmly convinced that Mr.
Russell has been the victim Of an Infamous
conspiracy As for the Allen woman, she
has been living at the Hotel Maryland, in
West 18th street, and Patterson is any
thing but a millionaire
According 20 a dispatch received last
night from Montreal. Mrs. Allen was on the
stand yesterday and admitted that last
October she had come TO Montreal with J.
:. Patterson, Of Pittsburgh. She confessed
TO having tried 20 meet Russell in a hotel
there. but denied knowing any alleged CON
spirators Russell she said. would not
meet her except in the reception room, and
had acted very rudelv toward her
Patterson. whom Russell says the Pink
errous defended as a thoroughly respect
able business man after he had engaged
them 10 trace him. ccrroborated the wom-
ans testimony. but said he had never seen
Russell until the latter came TO Pittsburgh
and told him Of his suspicious.
Patterson said he was president Of the
EramelIed Metal Manufacturing Company
NJ Pittsburgh which the Pinkertons rCld
him. Russell says. was capitalized at 5000
010 This Patterson declared, was not so
though the company did a large business.