New-York tribune., 1920-03-18
Hunts11lan Tells
OF Wild Chase
After " Nicky"
Arnstein Trailed by Lawyer
and 3 Detectives From
One City to Another;
Often Near the Fugitive
Raising of Bail Awaited
Inquiry of McCee Fails
to Reveal Location of
Security Firms Assets

The story Of the famous and fruit
less quest for "Nicky" Arnstein con-
Quoted by three New York detective
sergcants under the leadership of
Eugene F. McGee was told yesterday
by the latter when he took the witness
stand in bankruptcy proceedings in
stituted against Arnstein by the Ma
tional Surety Company.
Questioned by Saul S. Myers, attor-
ney for the surety company, McGee
told Of the aimless wanderings of him
self and Detectives Gegan, Mayer and
Brown, Of Deputy Police Commissioner
Lahey's office. From city to city, from
hotel to hotel the hopeful four drifted
for thirteen days on the wings of
doubtful rumors.
When they reached the exact lati-
tudinal and longitudinal spots where
"Nicky" was supposed to enact his
promised surrender they always found
yawning vacancy, a mystifying
hiatus. "Nicky" was never there, al
though the pursuing quartet fire.
quently reached these spots so soon
still permeated with the fugitive's
favorite perfume.
Visited Many Cities
From New York to Pittsburgh, from
Pittsburgh to Rochester, from Roches-
ter to Utica, Syracuse and Buffalo, &C
cording to McGee. the "lost battalion"
was carried on a tide of intangible
tips.
Time after time they thought their
meeting with the phantom Arnstein
was about to be effected, but disap-
pointment always dashed their soaring
hopes.
that he and his partner, William j.
been in almost daily conference with
Fannie Brice, "Nicky's" wife, in an
effort to raise the 100000 bail de-
manded by District Attorney Swami
tor the fugitive's release.
MISS Brice, McGee said, had offered
to put up 100000 worth Of jewels as
we'll as real estate owned by her
mother valued at $4,000
The lawyer swore that he had not
seen or talked with "Nicky" since leav-
ing him in the lobby Of the Hotel Win
tor in Cleveland on February 33. He
said that all the unsuccessful arrange
ments for Arnstein's surrender had
been made through a man named Stern.
who visited him in Pittsburgh and
phoned to him several times during
his wanderings.
Nothing Revealed About Assets
Nothing was brought out at the cx-
animation that would tend to locate
the assets for which the National
Surety Company is looking
When McGee left the stand he asked
Mr.. Myers if his examination had been
completed so far as he was concerned.
~ should say not" was the reply.
I've got about 5000 more questions
want to ask you. We will recall YOU
at $3.50 Saturday morning"
IN answer to questions as to how
ne had come to make the trip with the
four detectives, McGee said: "It..was.
after a talk with Assistant District
Attorney Dooling. I went to hiss slice
o. on the night of February 81 With Mr.
tallon Mr.. Dooling asked me where
Afnstein was and | said that | dii-not
know. said, however, that by being
at certain place at certain time. [.
could get in touch with him. | did not
want to make the trip, as did not
want to place Arnstein in position
where he could be picked up
When | met Arnstein in Cleveland
give himself up. He said then that , he m
would not come back until bail had
neen arranged. He said he didn't want
to be planted by the Surety Company.
ne asked me to have his brother and
MISS brlce's mother and her two broth
ers sleep IN their home 80 that the
surety Company could not plant her.
ne also told me that 1000 was all
the bail he could give and that it was
enough.
Pittsburgh First Stop
when l left New York with Detec-
tives Gegan, Mayer and Brown I went
to Pittsburgh and stopped at the Will
lam Penn Hotel, registering there un-
der the name of John Rogers. The de-
tectlves stopped at the Fort Pitt
I'll NM.