The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-08-23
: AMT | AN HONEST MAN"
Thus Mr.. Montague Points
His Story as to His
Methods.
SWINDLING EMPLOYMENT BUREAU
Policeman Smith Gets a Job, and
Then Takes Mr.. Montague into
Custody.

An employment agency similar to thosa
which the police have driven out OF New
York of lace, was closed in this
city this morning by Chief Murphy, and
the proprietor, A. G. Montague, was ar
rested. On Tuesday Chief Murphy re-
ceived letter from DIR. Richard Lea, Of
No. 81 West Twenty-ffth street, New
York, which informed him that an indl-
gent woman. a patient of his, had gone to
cial agency is upstairs.
the Commercial Agency, at No. 256
Washington street, Jersey City, in
answer to an advertisement In New
York daily newspaper for woman to do
dresswork at her home. A suave, middle
aged man met the woman and informed
her that she could have the work, which
would pay her $3.50 day, but it would
cost her S. The woman paid the 81. The
letter then went on TO say that at
least fifty other women had answered
the advertisement and received like
attention.
$50 MORE DUPEs
Yesterday the Chief received another
letter from New York daily
newspaper office inclosing two advertise
ments calling for cooks, bartenders, por-
tiers, domestics, clerks and useful men,
and directing all applicants to No; 256
Washington street, Jersey City. This
letter also stated that at least one hun
dred and fifty persons had answered these
advertisements, most of whom had de-
posted S. and none OF whom, as tar as
could be ascertained, had obtained en-
pIoyment. These complaints caused the
Chief to determine to break up Mr.. Mon
tigues Commercial Agency, and he de-
tailed Detectives Smith, Dalton and
Clos to accomplish that object this morn
ing.
is the second building south of the Second
National Bank, on the east side of Wash
ington street. A plain black and white
sign informs passersby that the CONNER
THE POLICE SEEK JOB
Detectives Dalton and Clos remained
downstairs while Smith went up to look
for the agency. He found the person of
the man calling himself A. c. Montague
in large front room containing deal
table and four chairs.
tGood morning. said the polite Mr.
Montague, advancing to meet the detec-
tive, what can do for you this morn
ingg'
Smith replied that he would like to get
q position and asked if Mr. Montague had
any which he thought would suit Mr..
Montague had situations for almost every
one, and he got out a list and asked the
'-~->S @-N>~N~
like.
Smith ran his eve over the list and
finally concluded he would like to have
the position of porter in Jackson's mourn
ing store on Broadway. which he saw on
the list.
Mr.. Montague expressed himself as only
too glad to furnish Mr. Smith with the
situation, but it would be necessary for
MIN to have So. 1t would cost him S. in
New York, and if he didn't get position
Il L Il |,
back. Smith paid the So and took a re-
ceipt
''PUT ON YOUR HAT, SIR"
AS Smith was about to withdraw Mr..
Montague informed him that the position
would not be ready before Monday, and
not be in until Monday. so Mr.. Smith
need not call again until then.
AS soon as he left the place Clos and
Dalton entered.
Mr.. Montague. as polite as ever. greeted
the detectives and asked them what he
"You can't do anything" said Dalton,
'but put on your hat and come up to the
office.''
Mr.. Montague was little taken back at
first, but qnickly recovering himself he
asked permission to get his hat Dalton
accompanied him through the four rooms
which the "agency" occupied and found
not single thing in them but straw hat
in one of the closets.
This Mr.. Montague donned and accom-
panied the detectives TO Headquarters.
MR.. MONTAGUE EXPLAINS.
He was taken before Justice Stilsing
and remanded for further examination.
He was very emphatic in his declarations
that he was doing a strictly legitimate
business. His mode of operation, he said,
was to go around among merchants and
people and ask them If they wanted any
help. They usually replied
mo"
"WeIl you may want porter next
week, may you nots" he would then ask.
"Oh, yes, possibly"
Then Mr.. Montague would put the
establishment down on his list for por-
ter, The next place he visited he would
make similar enquiries concerning o
clerk, and so he would go on until he had
large list of probable situations
Then when a man applied for situa-
tion and paid him his fee Montague
would send him around to bother these
people until he either obtained position
or gave up the search in disgust.
There" he asked, when he had dis
closed his plan to Chief Murphy, ''ain't
that an honest business. / don't guarantee
anyone place."
The Chief would like to have those who
have lost money through Montague come
to Police Headquarters and make COM
plant against him.