New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-31
]. HOWARD FORD FREED|
Magistrate Regrets Mistake OF
Arresting American in England.
ANOTHER MAN WAS WANTED
Ford Feels That He Has No
Cause for Action Against
English Authorities.

| trate Of the Bow street police court to-day
formally discharged J. Howard Ford, the
! American who was arrested by mistake az
Dover at the request OF the New York
police authorities when he landed from the
transatlantic steamer Lapland.
The police magistrate expressed his deep
regret at the mistake which had been made
and that Mr.. Ford had been made to I'M
dergo the ordeal OF appearing as prisoner
at the London police court.
The magistrate also read an expression OF
regret 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 10
the indignity of such an arrest. The Am
bassador added that, In accordance with
the cable dispatches received by the en-
bassy, Mr.. Ford seemed to answer to the
description and to the name OF the man
wanted
Police Magistrate Henry Curtis Bennett
also deplored that a man of Mr.. Ford
character and standing should have been
brought before the court without warrant
and wished him to know that he was leaV-
ing the court without a stigma or stain on
his name.
Mr. Ford, who was notified only tnis
morning OF the mistake that had been
made, was brought into the Bow street
police court In an automobile from the
Brixton prison, where he had spent the
night He was not placed in the prisoners
inclosure but took seat beside counsel.
After his release Mr.. Ford said:
when the steamer Lapland reached
Dover was approached and asked whether
my name was J. Howard Ford. ! agreed
and in reply TO further questions gave the
number of my stateroom and other partcu-
lars. The person who had spoken 10 me
then told me he was a detective and SAID
Then YOU are the man we want and told
me the charge that was alleged against me.
| received the information with astonish-
ment and assured the officer that grave
mistake had been made. | gave my occu-
patton and my New York address, put
without avail
Il have been treated in the most kind!
way by the English authorities. Ihey gave
me a comfortable room in the Dover lookup
and also in Brixton prison. but added MI
Ford. 1T wasn't the first class motel AT
which | expected 10 put up when arrived
Yesterday the London representative Oh
the United States Rubber Company ldenu-
fed Mr. Ford but no action toward MIS-
release was taken until this morning. MT
Ford to-day said that he did not feel that
he had cause for action against the Ensish
authorities. He had not decided what ac-
ton. II any. he would take against the
American authorities. He naturally feit
the matter very keenly.
Mr.. Ford will remain in London. where
ne will be joined tonight by his wife VINO
was I'm Berlin at the time OF his arrest ana
was greatly upset by the report.
The man really wanted by the New York
police is julius Ford. The police have not
ascertained whether he was Oh board the
steamer Lapland.
Whitelaw Reid, who is sailing for Amer
lea on board the Lusitania to-day, sent one
Of the secretaries of the United States EN-
bassv TO the Bow street police court 10 de-
liver personally his letter of regret
Tho unwarranted arrest at Dover OF j.
Howard Ford, the New York cluplnah anu
director Of the United States Rubber COM
many. which brought profuse apologies 10
Mr. Ford from the British authorities anu
the American Embassy. incidentally came
near demoting Detective Thomas from MS
nosition on District Attorney Whitman
staff TO the job of pounding the pavemen's
I'm Canarsic.
Mr. Ford was arrested by mistake Tor
Julius Howard Ford, alias Doc Water
hurry. a noted swindlcr, who was wanted
here for abducting a seyenteen-year-old
cir, I'm New York Samuel II. London, a
LAWYER. who had interested himself IN
some white slave cases in the West Side
court. told Detective Thomas more than
a week ago that j. Howard Ford was on
the passenger list of the steamer Laplahd'
Of the Red Star Line.
Charles A. Perkins, Assistant District At
torney in charge Of grand jury cases asked
the police of this city TO instruct Scotland
Yard I'm England to arrest J. Howard Ford
AS he aIighted from the LApland at Dover
The arrest accordingly was made.
When the mistake was finally rectlhed'
Commissioner Waldo took steps TO denote
Detective Thomas. Assistant District At
tOrncy Perkins. however, went TO Head
quarters and took upon himself the entire
blame. Detective Thomas, he said, acted
merely as a messenger between Mr.. London
and the District Attorneys office. Commits
sioner Waldo at once rescnded the order
committing Thomas to the wilds of Canar-
sic
The wrong Mr. Ford, after spending two
days in English jails. was released yester-
day, and rejoined his wife at the Hotel
Ritz in London.