Man Begs for Food with $83 In Pocket

1920

Claims He's a House Cleaner — "He Sure Is," Says Cop.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri. — Four pocketbooks and $83 were found on Steve Crumply by David Kepler, a Wyandotte County deputy sheriff, after Mrs. Kepler had responded to Steven's backdoor plea for food.

Crumpley explained the pocketbooks and cash by telling the dubious deputy sheriff that he was a house cleaner.

"House cleaner is right! Come with me," commanded Kepler. He led the man from the Kepler home to police headquarters.

Crumpley told Judge A. J. Herrod in the police court that he lived at the Helping Hand Institute. He refused, even tho he had $83, to pay a $50 fine, so he was locked up.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 5.

Loading Up Chickens

1920

Some twenty-five tons of real estate in the form of sand and gravel and masquerading as 30 cents a pound chicken almost got into the New York market this week to be sold to the ultimate consumer — or goat, notes the Hamilton (Ont.) Times. The 60,000 pounds of sand and gravel reposed in the crops of 50,000 live chickens which reached the Jersey City yards in eight carloads. They were detected in time. Is this a new or an old wrinkle?

Must Face His "Gold Brick"

1915

Also Victims Who Claim to Have Been Fleeced

PITTSBURGH, Pa., Dec. 16. — E. A. Starkloff, an alleged "gold brick" king, recently arrested in Altoona, is accused of defrauding wealthy French and English persons of considerable cash. Starkloff's alleged scheme was uncovered in 1910, when he was arrested, placed under a cash bond of $22,000 and, after securing his release, jumped the bond. He has now been returned to Philadelphia, where a big brick, apparently of gold, which figured in the indictment, has reposed in the safe in the postoffice building since 1910.

According to Inspector Calvert of Altoona, who made the arrest, Starkloff would address letters to English and French people who had visited this country, but who had since died. The letters, written as tho the writer was ignorant of the person's death, would fall into the hands of the heirs. The letters always referred to "Frank Thomas," a prospector who had staked out a claim in Wyoming gold fields, had struck it rich and advised the purchasing of an adjoining claim.

Substitutes Mustard for Electricity

1900

A street faker in Kenton, Kansas, had a thriving business selling electric belts until someone examined one of them. Then it was found that beneath a strip of gauze was a layer of dry mustard. When the wearer perspired a little the mustard was moistened and set up a burning sensation and the deluded victim believed a current of electricity was passing through him. Before all this was discovered, however, the faker had smelled danger and was on his way to another gullible neighborhood.


Debts Make Life Bitter

Ex-King Milan finds it more difficult every day to borrow money. His debts and his difficulties make his life very bitter. He has arrived at that stage of his continental career when he is looked on with suspicion and is placed on the ominous black list of Carlsbad's business people, who warn all their friends against "a certain Milan, formerly king of Servia," and announce that no goods should be sold to him except on a cash basis. — James Gordon, in Chicago Record.

Man Profits by Limp Wrist, Claiming Injuries

1915

Hand Would Fall Limp After Fall in Rail Car, Insurance Claim Following

Minneapolis. — How an obedient wrist bone served as a means of livelihood was told in court by Lester Edward Mills, who confessed that it had netted him $2,000 in the last year. It finally caused his downfall, however, and he will serve an indeterminate sentence in the Stillwater penitentiary as the result of sentence by Judge W. C. Leary, before whom he pleaded "guilty" to a charge of attempted grand larceny on complaint of Ralph Wellington, claim agent of the Duluth Street Railway company.

All that Mills has done to separate $2,000 from railroads, street railway companies and merchants within the last year has been to fall prostrate over a suitcase in the aisle or any obstacle on the sidewalk, gasp for breath and allow his left hand to hang limp from the wrist. Six rides has he taken in ambulances, six fair nurses have smiled at him as the color slowly returned to his face. Five claim agents have drawn checks against their companies and as many times has Mills pocketed the same.

Among the recent settlements made with Mills, according to his story in court, are:

Kennedy Brothers, $400; Northern Pacific, $1,200; Great Northern, $125; Great Northern, $250; St. Paul Street Railway company, $250.

"I have been in just one wreck," Mills told Judge Leary. "That was March 13, 1905, at Fond du Lac, Wis. I was brakeman on the old Wisconsin Central. My left wrist was broken. About a year ago I thought I could use that injury to collect damages from others. At Duluth I got a fellow with a suitcase to get on the street car, and when the car was rounding a curve I fell over the suitcase. I complained that my wrist was hurt. They took me to a hospital. Later I came to Minneapolis and met the claim agent at the West hotel. It was only a few days afterward that I was arrested."

"This may be your first arrest," said Judge Leary, "but it is not to your credit, for all these other claims have been faked the same way, have they not?"

The prisoner glanced to the back of the courtroom, where was seated his young wife. When he raised his eyes to the judge he admitted that he had done nothing but work up fake claims for the last year or more.

Although Mills was arrested at No. 1604 Stevens avenue, his wife gave her address as No. 86 Thirteenth street South. She said she had no idea that her husband had been collecting money in the way he admitted. She thought he was working for a railroad company, she said.

Under the sentence Mills may be confined to state prison not to exceed two and one-half years.

Hired 'Wife' To Weep For Him

1914

But Court Learns of Trick and Sentences Pickpocket

New York, Jan. 22. — When, nearly a year ago, Samuel Berman was arraigned before Judge Nott in the court of general sessions on a charge of picking pockets, a wistful woman, with four children clinging to her skirts, wept pitifully.

The prisoner said she was his wife. The court, touched, suspended sentence and a collection of $100 was taken up for the family.

Berman was in court again on a similar charge. The court eyed him wrathfully. He had learned that the prisoner's "wife and children" of a year ago had been hired for the occasion.

The prisoner pleaded guilty to duping the judge and to picking pockets. He was sentenced to five years in Sing Sing.

Worriers Mark Woman Victim

Iowa, 1914

Des Moines, Jan. 15. — Professional "worriers" have marked Mrs. Lena M. Ellis, 827 West Fifth street. She has appealed to the police. Here are some of the "things" that "happened" to her:

Between 5:30 and 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the following arrived at her home:

An undertaker looking for a dead person.
A woman masseur who "came to massage Edna."
Taxicab.
Packer of ice cream.
Case of pop.
Case of beer.
Box of flowers.
Telephone call for "Edna" to meet her "lover" at a downtown cafe right away.
About fifteen telephone calls from "women" asking for Mrs. Ellis' husband.

Mrs. Ellis says she is on the verge of nervous prostration. Her telephone rings almost constantly and sometimes a woman and sometimes a man addresses remarks to her. A local store called her yesterday, informing her she had ordered sherbet glasses and asked her to again state how many she wanted.

Mrs. Ellis admits she is acquainted with two sisters who were connected with similar deals several months ago. She declares, however, that she has not done anything to offend them. Who the man in the case is Mrs. Ellis says she does not know. The police, however, have suspicions. "Edna" is unknown to Mrs. Ellis.

Since two of the girls implicated in the former "worrying stunts" were caught in a trap set by detectives, residents have been at rest. However, this latest outbreak leads the police to believe that the "gang" is back in the city. For that reason people are urged to be on their guard.

Mrs. Ellis says that her husband has not been at her home for six months. She does not believe, however, that he knows anything of the case. She says that the things sent to her home were not ordered by her, but that the deliverymen always insisted that a woman who claimed to live at 827 Fifth street gave the order.

Starts for Money But Never Returns

California, 1917

A Mariposa street shoe store is short just one pair of $9 shoes and an attractive dark haired woman weighing about 170 pounds and standing five feet eight inches, is ahead one pair of $9 shoes.

According to a report made to the police department yesterday by the shoe store, the fashionably dressed woman, said to be strikingly attractive, entered the store Saturday night and after trying on many different shades and heights, finally selected a pair, and said she would wear them at once, and would the clerk please have the old ones wrapped up.

She said her brother was waiting for her outside and she would get the money from him, but she never returned, according to the report. The clerk was able to give an excellent description of the woman.

—Fresno Morning Republican, Fresno, CA, Sept. 10, 1917, p. 3.

'Healers' Swindle Aged Norfolk Man

1939

NORFOLK, Va., April 23.—(U.P.) Police Sunday night were seeking two negro men and a white woman "healer" who swindled a 100-year-old negro out of $1000 life savings by promising to cure his many ills with a "money poultice."

Charles Gandy, the victim, said they made a huge poultice from the bills, put it in a sheet and applied it to his side. Later, when no improvement came, he opened the sheet to find only paper.

Co-Eds Swindled Out of Stockings

1920

Woman Agent Collects Girls' Money -- Departs

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Kansas University sorority girls are holding the sack for the amount of $100. The deficit is on account of some extra fine silk hose, which they thought they had purchased for $3 or $4, when the retail price is $7 to $10.

It all hinges on the visit of "Miss A. B. Court" to Lawrence six weeks ago. Miss Court, as she introduced herself to the sororities, was a very well-dressed and fashionable woman of about 25. Her brunette complexion was admirably set off by a strictly tailored suit, expensive black straw sailor, with face veil, and her pleasing personality easily "got over" with the sorority girls.

"Miss Court's" line, as she demonstrated, was silk hose, her assortment of samples was a wonderful collection, and, coupled with her plausible explanation that her company was in competition with an already established national hosiery company, enabled her to take several large orders for hosiery. The Chi Omegas invested to the extent of $30, and the Sigma Kappas, Pi Beta Phis and Kappa Alpha Thetas each bought $20 worth.

Just before Miss Court left each of the houses she is reported to have said:

"Would it be too much trouble for you to pay me the whole amount now? You know when I return with the hose half of you will be in classes, and you know how hard it is to collect from a bunch of girls, anyway."

And she was paid.

The lucky buyers gloated over their sisters who had not been so lucky in getting the wonderful bargains, and waited. "Miss Court" failed to show up and one of the prospective purchasers of hose telephoned to the bank in which her money was deposited and found that the checks were cashed the day they were made. Then she learned "Miss Court" had "skipped out."

The latest campus rumor is that as soon as spring starts in earnest certain of the sororities will discard stockings altogether.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 10.

Con Men Selling Electric Money Making Machine

1920

BOORS ARE NOT ALL DEAD;
BUY MONEY MAKING MACHINE

By United Press Leased Wire

Milwaukee. -- Two men in jail here are said by the police to have fleeced several Milwaukeeans of hundreds of dollars by selling a new money making machine. The men are Frank Goeber, 39, and Samilo Bargieb, 35. Five of the bills used for demonstration purposes were of $50. The machine has electric equipment and the practice, say the police, was to give the intended victim a shock before selling him the machine.


PREACHER'S SON LEADS GANG OF HIGHWAYMEN

By United Press Leased Wire

Chicago. -- Henry Olson, alias Johnson, who claims to be the son of a Peoria, Ill. evangelist, was arrested today and charged with leading a gang of thirteen hold up men who have terrorized Chicago for several weeks. Police say Olson confessed.

Olson with seven companions was arrested after a revolver battle. Two of the bandits received minor injuries.

According to police, Olson confessed his gang had committed at least eighty holdups with the last few days. He also confessed, police stated, to shooting Patrolman John McNamen when the officer attempted to arrest them following the looting of a south side jewelry store.

--The Appleton Daily Post, Appleton, Wisconsin, January 6, 1920, page 1.

Grocer Swindled by Small Boy

San Antonio, Texas, 1906
----------
SWINDLED BY BOY.

Lad Worked on Groceryman's Sympathies and Got a Loaf of Bread.

A small boy about seven years old went into Earnest Broggie's grocery store on South Laredo street the other day. The lad was crying in a strangled sort of way, and, when asked what was the matter, he said that he had a pin in his throat.

The groceryman started to phone for a doctor, but the boy wouldn't hear of that. He said that if he could get something soft to swallow, it would be all right. The scared groceryman gave the lad a cake, but that didn't seem to remove the pin.

By this time the boy seemed in a bad way, but he managed to gasp out for some bread and a little oil. The excited groceryman rushed around and procured the bread and oil, in haste to relieve the boy, who was a son of one of his customers. When the loaf of bread and bottle of oil was given the boy he promptly removed the pin -- and himself, also, from the store, and gave the laugh at the kind groceryman.

Mr. Broggi, the groceryman, now ponders often on the wisdom of the young.

--The San Antonio Daily Light, San Antonio, Texas, June 28, 1906, page 8.

Comment: The grocer's name is given both as Broggi and Broggie. In the original article the boy manages "to kasp out," which doesn't sound right.

Bride Fools Many As Fake Heiress

Girl-Wife's Acts Inspired By Famous Novel.

Law Steps in When Winsome Fabricator Gets to "End of Her String."

TWO RIVERS, Wis., May 20. - Day dreams of a winsome lass, coming true for three thrilling months by reason of her own forceful imagination and convincing inventions, went all to smash when detectives brought Mrs. Harold Haltaufderheide here to face charges of obtaining money by false pretenses.

It was revolt against the unmusical names of Herzog and Haltaufderheide and against the prosaic role of a factory worker's wife that impelled Helen, whose name before her marriage last summer was Herzog, to enter upon her romantic adventure.

This is the story, as Helen constructed it:

Helen, the beautiful daughter of a stolid farmer, lives and toils in obscurity until she is 16. In an amusement park she meets the clean-cut, tall, wavy-haired youth whom, at a glance, she recognizes as the man of her heart.

Heroine Elopes With Harold.
From the dull farm, her hard-working father and an unsympathetic stepmother she elopes with Harold. Harold returns to his labor in a veneer mill. The honeymoon wanes and the high cost of living gets in its deadly work. Helen and Harold live with Harold's family in Two Rivers. The girl feels out of place, a bit neglected.

One evening at the supper table she appears in a state of intense excitement.

"Harold," she says, "you didn't marry a poor girl after all!"

A letter from her aunt, Mrs. Ben Strupp of Manitowoc, has informed Helen that her name was not Herzog, but that she is actually the daughter of Herbert Earle, a wealthy opera star. her mysterious father has left her a vast estate - a ranch in Montana, a plantation in Virginia and much other valuable property.

Helen at once insists that Harold quit his factory job, and his parents, overjoyed at their daughter-in-law's good fortune, are prevailed upon to purchase a new home.

Draws All His Money.
Mr. Haltaufderheide draws money from the bank to keep the heiress supplied until her own shall come rolling in. The girl travels about the State on important errands, scorning the interurban for hired touring cars. Her slender beauty is arrayed in becoming and costly garments.

Then Harold and Helen go to Milwaukee for a second honeymoon and nothing is heard from them day after day. Suspicion and finally panic invade the serenity of the Haltaufderheide household. The police are notified. At the home of Adam Horning, Helen's cousin in Milwaukee, Helen and Harold are found by large, unsentimental detectives.

Helen confesses and weeps; Harold embraces her and weeps. They weep together and Helen sobs.

St. Elmo Is Responsible.
"I thought you'd love me more if I was rich," she explained as she weeps on Harold's manly breast. "I got the name Herbert Earle out of a book called 'St. Elmo.' I wrote the letter to myself and I fixed up the lawyer's paper and everything myself. I am all to blame."

Behind is a trail of notes signed at the bank, of grim attorneys chagrined at the revelation that a slip of a girl has fooled them and, worst of all, the exasperated family.

"Why," gasped Papa Haltaufderheide, "the little minx had even ordered a special limousine from the factory. No ordinary automobile would do for her when she got her million."

And Helen, in the midst of her troubles, says she is sure John Herzog, plodding farmer, and her honest-to-goodness father, will come to her aid, even tho he has to mortgage the family acres.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, May 22, 1920, page 3.
--Picture from The Ogden Standard Examiner, May 16, 1920, page 6.