Carrie Brown : Murder In The East River Hotel

While it is doubtful that the man whom locals claim was in the company of Amer Ben Ali on several occasions will ever
be satisfactorily identified, I thought it might be worthwhile to post a few bits of information on those who had been
suggested as being this elusive fellow.

First: The testimony of the Capt. William McLaughlin on May 14, 1891 at the Coroner's Inquest.

There were a number of businesses at 100 Front Street, such as coffee dealers and fruit vendors.
Front Street ran parallel to Water Street....one block south of Water and a mile and a half below the East River Hotel.
100 Front was between Wall Street and William Street.



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This link takes you to the letter written by Jules Lassere, who in 1897 wrote a letter supporting a pardon for Ali.

The man he is referring to was not Ali.
Lassere was either mistaken or he had fabricated a backstory during the first month of the first pardon campaign
on behalf of the pardon campaign.


https://carriebrown.createaforum.com/general-discussion/ali-the-stable-hand-or-a-fraudulent-letter-on-his-behalf/msg2243/#msg2243

The link to what McLaughlin stated in 1891 and what Lassere stated in 1897 was a reference to a 'riding academy'. McLaughlin went to a riding
academy but gave the incorrect name at the Inquest. Lassere's academy was not the one McLaughlin referred to, incorrect name or otherwise.

Other suggested candidates were Joseph Franks and Arbie La Bruckman.
Lastly, there was George Frank.

La Bruckman said he had rented a room at 81 James Street ( Tom Bennett's lodging house) and had begun
living there since he arrived from Liverpool on April 10th. He also said that he did not spend every night at
Bennett's...in any event, he was dismissed as a suspect within minutes of his being brought in to the Jersey
City police station in late April.

Joseph Franks is a queer duck. In a few papers at the end of the first six days of press reports, he was said by
reporters to have matched Miniter's description of C. Kniclo......but Miniter, herself, says no such thing.
 He was also said to have been an Arab. He vanishes from view very quickly. Had he been Frenchy # 2 or a 'cousin'
the press would most likely have come up with more than superficial information....which is really all they came up with.

George Frank might have been our huckleberry. However, this would have meant he and Ali kissed and made up after
January 1891, since Ali was charged with robbing Frank.



Comments welcome.