ARREST OF A POLITICIAN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 254, 26 April 1912, Page 6

ARREST OF A POLITICIAN

ALLEGED PLOT TO SEIZE A MILLION-

AIRE'S ESTATE.

New York, February 21. What is alleged to be a plot to seize the estate, of a dying millionaire resulted in the arrest of Mr. Frank Gardner, a prominent lawyer and former Senator of New York State, and Mr. George Decker, a professional attendant. ■.....'. They are. accused of forging a power of attorney, purporting to be signed by Mr Samuel Haslett, a rich recluse of Brooklyn, seventy years old, who was cared for by a man named Stapleton. The old man falling ill, Stapleton engaged Decker as assistant nurse, Stapleton was recently refused admission to the house by Decker and applied at once to Mr. fflaslett's lawyer, Mr. Lord. Mr Lord called upon his client and Was met by Decker, who showed him a document under which the invalid revoked his will and all previous instructions and appointed Gardner in Mr. Lord's place. Mr. Lord applied to a magistrate, who after an entrance was forced, found Mr. Haslett extremely weak, and barely able to speak It is alleged that the old man asserted he did not know Gardner and had not given any power of attorney except to Mr. Lord. Decker was prompt, ly arrested, and Gardner was seized at his house. flardner was a Senator until last year, when his constituency failed to re-elect him after he had been acS f f •l Bptin ? ■ a k ' ibc ' He was tried lor bribery but acquitted. Both men have been releasod on heavy hail