Harry Phillips' Mode of Accumulating Riches.
Harry Phillips, a real estate agent, living at 321 W. 14th St., New York, was arrested Wednesday last on an order issued by Judge Andrews, of the Supreme Court, in an action brought by T. A. Myers, 51 Maiden Lane, New York, to recover $3,000, the value of diamonds which he claims Phillips obtained from him by false representations. Phillips was taken to Ludlow St. jail and Judge Andrews fixed his bail at $3,500, which was furnished Saturday and Phillips was released.
To a Circular reporter, Mr. Myers stated that Phillips went to his office last November and told him that he had the opportunity of selling a quantity of diamonds. He stated that he was worth $100,000, but had no ready cash, and offered to give notes for the amounts due. He named as his backers some prominent men, one of whom is the brother of ex- Mayor Chapin, of Brooklyn. After some conversation, Mr. Myers concluded that he would be safe in trusting him with the $3,000 worth of diamonds asked for. A few days later Phillips received the stones and gave for them four notes, two for $1,000 and two for $500, the date of maturity of the first note being Jan 31st. The notes were indorsed by Phillip's wife and by Leavitt & Co.
Some time before this, Phillips had obtained about $1,200 worth of goods on credit from Ernest Adler, 21 Maiden Lane. Mr. Adler obtained from Judge Barrett an attachment against Phillips' property on the ground that the goods had been fraudulently disposed of. Emil W. Weber, the manager of Phillips' real estate office, having sworn that Phillips made a practice of obtaining jewelry on credit and pledging it with private individuals or at pawnshops. An account of this matter appeared in The Circular of Jan. 1.
Mr. Myers called on Phillips shortly before the first note became due and asked him if he would be able to take it up, and was informed by Phillips that he was penniless and could neither take up that one nor any of the notes. He admitted that he had pledged the diamonds for $1,400; but coolly remarked that it would be useless to arrest him, as he had bought the diamonds, and given notes in payment, and if the notes were worthless, that was Mr. Myers' concern, not his.
Lawyer Louis Steckler, 275 Broadway, who is conducting the civil action for Mr. Myers,
has gathered a pretty complete history of Phillips' erratic career, from which it appears that Phillips is an Englishman by birth, whose right name is Joseph H. Bebro, but he claims to have had it legally changed to Phillips by the County Court of Hudson county. He has been previously arrested in London and Durham, England, and also in Brooklyn, where he was charged with running a bogus intelligence office. Among the firms whom Phillips still owes accounts for jewelry obtained on credit are Leopold & Weil & Co., Gorham Mfg. Co. and Ernest Adler.
Source: The Jewelers’ Circular and Horological Review, Volume XXVI, February 15, 1893; Pg. 128
