Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
NURSE IN CUSTODY
Charged With Conspiracy to
Defraud His Employer.
POLICEMEN FORCE WAY IN
Residence Of Hermit Millionaire
Barred to Visitors.
AN ECCENTRIC MANS WHM
Floor Of Room Uttered With Money
and Securities-Furniture Cow
cred With Dust.
POLICEMEN FORCE WAY IN
AN ECCENTRIC MANS wH1M

NEW YORK. February 17.-Georse H.
Fl. Decker, employed as nurse in the
Brooklyn home of Samuel E. Haslett.
known as the hermit millionaire. who
for twenty-five years, and until his re-
cent illness, had allowed no one to enter
his house, was arrested tonight. charged
with conspiracy to defraud his employer
out Of his property by criminal means"
A warrant was also ISSUED for a lawyer
who, according to the alleged confession
Of Decker. drew up will whereby Decker
was made the chief beneficiary Of the
aged millionaire.
The arrest Of Decker followed q raid
made upon Haslett's residence on Rem
sen street. known for years as the
house OIL mystery" when Chief Magis-
trate Otto Kempner and two policemen
were obliged to batter down Q door to
gain admission, their object being to
ask about the alleged revocation by
Haslett Of his power Of attorney held
by John B. Lord, Haslett's attorney for
the past fifteen years
Lawyer Denied Admission.
Earlier in the day Lord also had been
refused admission to the house by a man
who, he said. showed him a power Of
attorney, supposedly signed by the aged
hermit" and witnessed by Decker. Hold
ing court by the sick mans bedside,
Magistrate Kempner was told by Has
lett that he had never signed any power
Of attorney and that he supposed that
Lord was still acting for him.
The magistrate then ordered the ar
rest of Decker, who afterward con-
feSsed, according to the magistrate. not
only to the falsity Of the power Of at
torney which gave to his alleged law
QHpnnnlfNo full the mil.
1fonaires bank account, but to having
drawn up a will under which he re-
cedved q large share Of his estate.
locate the alleged accomplish In the case,
q Manhattan lawyer. Decker had been
In the house scarcely two weeks, having
been employed by Lord. with another
nurse, to care for the eccentric million
The lawyer for whom the warrant was
issued, Magistrate Kempner stated late
tonight, Is q former state senator Of
race track investigation notoriety. He
section Of Brooklyn within few hours
Of the time the warrant was issued for
his arrest, but detectives tonight had
not located him.
The existence of "house Of mystery"
In Brooklyn was disclosed today by
physician sent to attend the recluse, who
Is said to be dying.
Money on the Floors
Tho physician, together with tho nurses
who came later, found the floors Of the
magnificently furnished house covered two
inches thick with dust and littering the
carpet or swept into rubbish filed corners
were more than $4,000 in paper cur
rency, together with stock certificates ana
bonds. Boxes of gold and silver coins
lay exposed in various rooms, and hun
dredS Of rare books that had never been
opened, apparently, were found in disor-
dered heaps
Since his wife was burned to death
twenty-five years ago Haslett has prac-
and refused admittance to friends, rela-
tives or strangers. He never went out
except to see his attorney, in whose office
today he was taken seriously Ill. He oc-
cupied but one room In the gloomy DWELL
ing and cooked his own meals.