New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-25
BUNCO WIEN GET
BRITON'S $1,000
BUYS $4,000 Auto Parts
for Army-AlsO Learns
Wiretapping Game.
"BIG PONY KILLING
PRELUDE TO DEAL
To Prove He Had Money, He
Shows II, Then-TWO Arrested
on Grand Larceny Charge.

Claude Cleborn, who describes HIM
solf as an agent of the English govern
rnent sent TO purchase $4,000 worth
of automobile supplies for war use, put
the finishing touches on his assipila-
ton Of the quaint customs Of his
American cousins yesterday afternoon.
His education was completed when ne
positively identified two men who he
swore had initiated him INTO the mys-
teries of the great American game OF
overlapping. The initiation fee, he
said was just $1,000.
He arrived in this country from Bath,
England, in early August, and headed
straight for Detroit, where he found
parts enough to suit his requirements.
His business finished, he came back to
New YORK about three weeks ago and
then his troubles began.
Cleborn is in the automobile bust
ness in Bath, ard il was natural that
his first morning in the city should find
him gazing into the window OF a Broad
way automobile dealer. His eight
cylinder thoughts were interrupted by
a voice at his elbow.
"Pawdon, but | say, old chap, have
you the time ," the voice inquired, with
perfect Piccadilly accent"
Welcoming a fellow countryman with
open arms was the best thing Cleborn
did It was the strangest coincidence,
for The new friend had come from Bath
rot over month ago. and was feeling
a bit homesick, too. His name, he said,
was Charles Smith.
While Clcborn and Smith were dining
together a few days later. who should
walk in but the man who used to be
betting commissioner for Smiths uncle
back in Bath. Il was old John Lee
himself. Smith said Introduction fol-
lowed. and when by the merest chance
the three happened 20 meet again soon
after Lee mentioned that he had Just
made $4,000 on the ponies.
Being only human Englshmen, Gle
born and Smith could hardly be ex-
pected TO miss a chance like that.
They didn't, and the next day Lee
brought them a crisp 81 900 bill he said
they had won on their first modest
venture. 1t happened that he turned
it over 10 Smith.
The three met again a week later.
Lee had just received a tip from the
inside" and he was pretty sore, be-
cause he had only $4,000 handy TO put
up. He wanted $50, 700, to make a real
killing. 1t ended by Smith offering to
help out with $4,000 and Cleborn chip
ping in with $1,000. Because his friend
did not happen to have 81 900 right in
his pocket Smith offered to put up the
whole $4,000 and let Cleborn pay him
back if necessary.
Luckily the tip was the real dope
and the big killing went through a.
least that was the glad tidings Lee
brought the next day. They repaired
to a hotel to divide the plumber. But
Smith grew suddenly suspicious. Sup
posing, he said, they had lost. How
did he know that Cleborn would have
made good?
Have the money? Of course he did,
said Cleborn, and to prove it he drew
$1,000 from his wallet and gave il TO
the doubter, when they were settled n
Il private room and all ready for the
distribution.
Just then Smith remembered that
he had TO telephone q friend. That
reminded Lee of message he had for
gotten. They said they would be back
IN few minutes. Cleborn was to wait.
He did-all afternoon and most of tho
evening. Then he went to the Fourth
Branch Detective Bureau.
Detectives Leonard, McGee and Boyle
walked up Broadway with Cleborn yes
terday afternoon, and at Forty-seventh
Street the Englshman spotted men he
said were his former friends. They
were arrested and locked up at Head
quarters on charge of grand larceny.
The man called Lee gave his address as
500 West Seventy-frst Street and the
so-called Smith said he lived at the
Hotel Plymouth. Both claimed TO be
statesmen and denied the charge against
them. Cleborn was positive in his iden-
tifcation, however, and they were held.