Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-01
The Commercial Agency Swindle.

The premises lately occupied by Henry
Brock and Jefferson Brock, as a Commercial
Agency, No. 81 Devonshire street, were Wis
tied yesterday afternoon by large numbers of
people, many OF them prompted by motives
Of mere curiosity, to learn additional particu-
lars touching the heavy swindle which had
been perpetrated upon business men and the
clerks in the employ OF the defaulting and
Ascending firm. As was stated in The
Journal yesterday, the Brock Brothers pur-
chased the right, title and interest in Kim
balls Agency, situated at No. 81 Devsnshire
street, agreeing to pay therefor the sum Of
1872 900, but only 5000 in cash had actually
been paid in, notes having been given for the
remainder. On assuming the charge Of the
| Agency, Mr.. Henry Brock, who appears to
be most prominently connected in the affair,
| commenced operations on An extensive scale.
and by fattering inducements to tenants Of
other rooms in the building, he succeeded in
getting them to vacate their Offices, and was
soon in possession of all the rooms on the
second floor, together with many of those in
the upper stories Representing at one time
thst he had capital Of $l,50O,00O and an
account at the First National Bank, he seem
ed to conduct his business in most extrava-
giant manner, having his rooms supplied
with costly furniture, and employing nearly
one Eandred and thirty clerks. In fact, he
employed any respectable appearing person
who desired work, and was making prepare
tons to increase his clerical force when the
farce which he had been carrying on was ex-
posed.
For number of weeks following his open
| ing of business, the clerks we're kept busy
night and day in copying Mr.. Kimball's
records, and in making reports cleaned from
his new corps of agents, which he had sent to
different points IN the New England States.
| To all appearances his business was one OF
the most extensive Of its kind that has been
established, and he was daily enlareing its
| field, when rumors were whispered about thar
things were not right, and Suspicious were
soon aroused which proved only too true.
Just about this time, or on the 10th OF Janu.
ary, MIR. Henry Brock cent all his canvassers
to Worcester, Springfield, Taunton, Fort
land, Lowell, Nashua and other cities in the
Eastern States, with special instructions to
obtain subscribers, and to remit all funds i'm
mediately. So anxious was he to have this
carried out, that the canvassers were directed
to offer parties one years subscription, II
they were registered in other agencies, in
case they would also become connected with
his concern. If they could not afford 4
years subscription, the canvassers were told
| to take them tor six months, or even three
months, but to be sure and collect the money
and forward it to headquarters.
On Friday last the fret positive proof touch
ing the unsoundness Of the concern was made,
/ when both the partners left the city, ostensi-
bly, for the purpose Of going to New York,
leaving their business in charge Of Mr.. Man
ly w. Gilman, their chief clerk. Hardly
had they left the city, when An attachment
was placed upon the property BY Mr.. l.. 8.
Learned, to whom the firm had become in
debted tor stationery to the amount OF $1,000.
Then the canvassers retured from their tovns
and found that they could not obtain snelf
salaries, and things remained ia n uncer-
tain state until yssterssy morning, when the
fraud was exposed BY the receipt OF letter