The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-31
BIG sWINDLE IN BOSTON.
A Commercial Agent Runs
Away with $4,000.
One Hundred Employees Left Destitute-An In
dignation Meeting and Appeals to Public
Sympathy How Country Mer-
chants ara Victimized.
BosTON, Jan. 80, 1872

BOSTON, Jan. 80, 1872
One OF the most extensive swindles that have ever
been perpetrated III Eastern Massachusetts, was I'M
earthed here to-day. The swindle Is all the more
disastrous In Its effects because II has ruined at
least one hundred mechanics and aborers who
dependent upon its perpetrators for their daily
bread, and BECAUSE also 1t Will create great
distrust OF commercial agencies, which have hitn-
ertO been thought essential to the daily and sue
cessful prosecution OF business life. The culprits
too, are not native Bostonlans, who have acquired
local habltation and character for integrity, but
men who came here months ago from New York,
and whose extensive and seemingly reliable recon-
mendations caused them at once to take high rank
in the community. Briefly narrated
THE CIRCUMSTANCES
of the case are as Notwithstanding like two
months ago ]. Ii. and Henry Brock came to this
city from New York with the avowed intention OF
embarking In the business OF commercial agency.
They represented that they had large houses IN
other sections or the country. and that they In
tended to embark IN the business to greater
degree than was ever undertaken before. They
purchased the interest Of Mr.. James william klm-
ball In the premises at NO. 81 Devonshire street,
Offering TO pay $4,000 therefor. and planking
down $1,000 IN earnest OF the bargain. Mr..
Kimban appeared satisfied with the arrange
ment and all things seemed to work mar
moniously The Messrs. Brock then put them
selves about the business OF relurnshing their ONCE
Henry, the senior partner, managed TINS portion OF
the business, as, indeed, he assumed charge of the
whole concern. He was nine years older .han his
brother, who was only twenty.One, ana possessed
larger experience OF the world But he wanted room
IN which to work. The whole building was ap-
parently inadequate to his demands, but finally he
took what vacant room there was IN the third story
n
TWO other rooms from Mr.. Cunningham. Just across
the corridor for the annual rental Of $1,000. These
apartments ne lifted up In most extravagant
manner, with chestnut ana walnut desks elegant
card racks, safes and all the paraphernalia OF an
extensive counting house, and besides had tele-
graph wires put III, connecting with the Franklin
line for communication with the corresponding
houses with which ne had communication, and with
MS suDagencles IN Providence and Albany and his
numerous reporters IN various parts OF the country
Stenographers were present to answer to his
nod, private secretaries transcribed his dcta-
| tion accountants and confidential clerks, cOpyists,
| &C., were as thick as autumn leaves around HIM.
| TIE nominal salaries were OF generous character,
| his managers IN Providence and Albany receiving
| 5000 each, ana the pay OF MS employees here
averaging $1S month lor mates and sa5 oi females;
| was fully equipped Tor the most thorough and
| comprehensive business llne He boarded at the
rooms, and Is said that although ne n0urlshed In
the midst OF all the luxury The house could afford,
| month ne advertised for two hundred additionai
| clerks for this Office but did not hire them
A
So far so good. All things were prepared for o
big strike. Inc telegraphic instrument Was put TO
work, with an operator specially engaged Tor the
purposes the printers were busy at work IN getting
out u new book of rating and other miscellaneous
jobs and all that remained was TO secure funds to
ingy set themselves about the business OF
canvassing the country, and secured thou
saa as U esnnS ~ ss OF ne ear @ s
advance subscriptions TO their agency. The books
were nearly full, when, on Monday last the Brooks
| tn hn OF IN nf hnl 10
| employees wondered, but suspected nothing wrong
until last night. when Mr.. Manly W. GILLIAN, a clerk
OF the establishment received letter, Of winch the
| following Is copy
spnIsGFrrLD.Jan %. 1871
DEAn sIR-After mature consideration have decided II
Guelph Join my family there, then look for employ
mept would advise you do If Commissioner Il
BY you Sar HENRY BHo
stamps
Mr.. Gillian had been left in charge of the bust
ness few days whine the aforesaid Henry anu hi
| brother went 10 New York 0stensbly on business
lie Is, however, in no way implicated In the swndlt
which investigation develops, ana has the Jules
confidence of his fellow clerks, to whom he showed
| the letter as soon as received. The brother and
partner also sent letter to one OF the clerks, and
| this was also shown and read 10 the assembled
| clerks. It's text IS as folow5-
srRINGFIEIp. Mass, Jan. %. 1872
DEAR BoDI was at Boston Yesterday and after sarefu
the game was up You had better stay at the office
e Soar biz a' for So WITH Inc proper 80 parties along With S
other clerks and you will get in course time For
present keep perfectly quiet; don't word about
anybodyGlam. swtzer or any body else. II do as
say will sec that you are all right Would send the
amount now, but cannot Write nj Troy when gel
this, care of r. H. Lee, tell you going
and you fixed for funds, and when Guelph
will and raise and send you what YOU want our
! true friend, JEFFRY.
| Naturally enough, there was q great commotion
| about the establishment this morning, when the
facts became known. The doors were closed and
| the employees, who had not been paid for a month,
clamored loudly for the $4,000 which Is due them.
| Mr.. Kimbail, Also was anxious for the safety OF
| $4,000, which was his due and at once put an at
| wnom are lar away from home, hardly know what
20 do i'm the emergency. for they are for the
| part pennicss and destitute OF means with which
| to reach their homes
| A large proportion are residents OF New York.
They held an indignation meeting THIS afternoon, at
| which formal series of resolutions was drawn UP,
| placing the case before the public and calling Tor
assistance.