Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-29
PONz| ARRESTED
POSING AS SAILOR
Traced by Texas Deputy
Sheriff to New Orleans on
Way to Italy.

by Inc ASSetiAteu fre-SS.
NEW ORLEANS, June 29.-Luci-
ami Andrea reached New Orleans last
night as "a captains messman on an
Italian shin. and Charles PonZi,
sought as a fugitive by Massachusetts
and Florida authorities, will reach
Houston, Ten. this morning.
The financial wizard" who IS
credited with making millions of dol
lars was arrested here yesterday by
George Lacy. a Houston deputy
sheriff. and accompanied the Texas
officer to Houston last night.
Ponzi's appearance here was the
first positive Identification of the
fugitive since he left Miami, June 4.
He vigorously denied his identity, but
finally admitted that he was not
Andrea but Ponzi.
It's just as well. anyway he was
quoted as saying. Il wasn't at all
sure that 1 was doing the proper
thing in fleeing the country, but l saw
that | couldn't save my bondsman
any money by staying and I had fairly
reliable information that l was due
70 go right up if | went back to Bos-
son, so l just decided to run. 1t was
The only chance-but here l am"
Recognized in Houston.
PonZi's apprehension dates back to
he docking at Galveston Of the Sic
Nos Non Nobis on which he sailed from
Tampa, June 16. He went from Gal
weston TO Houston and attracted the
attention OF Deputy Sheriff Lacy, who
was convinced that the sailor fitted
the description of Ponzi. The deputy
was not able to catch another glimpse
of the Andrea" he believed to be
PonZi, but following a clue that he
was aboard the Sic Vos Non Bobis,
he went to Galveston. only to see the
vessel steam away. New Orleans and
Norfolk remained on the ships
schedule before she was due to pro-
coed to Genoa and the Texan came
here.
He communicated only with custom
officials, telling them that he sought
'swindler aboard an Italian ship"
1t was explained that it would not
be possible to arrest the man sought
aboard the ship, but an inspector was
assigned to aid them in an effort to
identify the fugitive. 1t was under
stood that PonZi was prevailed upon
to leave the ship by his selection as a
member of the crew who could speak
English to check some papers in the
dock office.
to taxicab and driven to a hotel.
where questions were asked in an eff
fort to establish his identity. Pro
Tossing but a slight knowledge of
English, he retained the character of
Luciani Andrea for time. but even
tually admitted that Andrea" and
PonZi were the same when he saiG
Here l am" The prisoner agreed to
a program that would take him to
Houston or one that would lead di
rectly to Boston.
Agrees to Go to Texas.
The Texas officer proposed that he
be taken to Houston. His only re-
quest was that his clothing be brought
to the hotel from the ship, and his
first action, after admitting his iden.
tity, was to shave his mustache. He
welcomed especially several suits of
pajamas. These We're not part of
a messman's sleeping garb on ship
board.
Ponzi was believed to entertain hope
that he will be deported without serv-
ing sentences placed against him in
and Florida He said
deportation proceedings are pending
against him.
Ponzi landed here from Italy %
years ago.
Florida authorities will offer no OBJ
lection IL Ponzi is taken to Massa.
chusetts to serve his prison term
there, according to l.. d. Howell
county solicitor at Jacksonville. When
has punished the
financial wizard" the State Of Flori-
da will take steps to enforce a years
sentence pending against him for
fraud in connection with his Charpon
land syndicate, in which he sold lots
near Jacksonville, giving certificates
OF indebtedness as receipts for cash
and guaranteeing purchasers a return
Of 200 per cent in so days.