The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-26
THREE NOTED SWINDLERS.
Extensive Operations of Granville. Gerrish and
Clark, Well Known All Over the Country.

CHICAGO, Oct. ga local paper says:
Algernon Granville, Frank Gerrish and Il.
Harmon Clark faced United States Com
missioner HOyne yesterday, and attempted
no defense against the charges preferred by
POstOtfice Inspector Fleming. The imper-
feet testimony adduced at their preliminary
examination merely touched upon the facts
relating to one of the most extensive swim
ding systems ever put into operation.
Through the schemes put on foot by this
triangle thousands of people have been
robbed by score of schemes. Not even the
sharp-witted sporting men of Chicago have
escaped paying tribute to the swindlers.
The story is complicated, though an inter-
esting one.
Granville and Gerrish formed partner
ship twelve years ago. After ten years ex-
perience all over the country. the couple
decided to locate in Chicago. This
was about two years ago. During
their stay in Ohio Mr.. Granville
was detected, and was sentenced to
two years in the penitentiary. They organ
ized the Como Printing and Publishing
Company and published weekly paper
named the Peoples Safeguard. Mr.. Gran
advertisement offering prizes amounting to
$4,000 to persons who first would guess the
number of links in a watch chain, cut of
which was published in the Peoples Safe
guard. Each guesser was required to for
ward a small sum of money with his estl-
mate of the number of links. This scheme
netted the swindlers from $4,000 to $4,000
before the pOstoffice authorities discovered
it and arrested Granville. Inspector Flem-
ming now has in his office over $4,000 letters
uyh ad hxG Ia Eoys
rish.. They never paid a prize though
hundreds of persons guessed the correct
number. Granville was arrested Aug.
% and was released under bonds of 81, 500
and has not yet had his trial.
They then organized the Imperial Print
ing and Publishing Company. and decided
to ''work" the "green- goodsp swindle on q
new plan. 1t was decided to dispense with
the publication of a paper and depend en-
tlrely on the weekly papers of big circula-
inserted In score of papers all over the
country advertisements. of which the fol-
lowing lis a sample:
VTyANTED-A SLICK NAN IN EVERY
wv county to handle our excellent goods; one
that is willing to take risks for large gains; goods
done up in packages Of Is. 5s and los. Address
by express only, at our expense, Imperial En-
craving Company, $50 South Clark street, Chi
cago, III.
Many inquiries from all parts of the
country were received in answer to these
advertisements In reply, the operators
wrote carefully-worded notes, telling of
the character of the goods" or "engrav-
ings" in which they were dealing and Civ
ing the prices. AS a sample of the ''en-
graving"a 81 bank note was inclosed in
each letter. AS fast as remittances came
the orders for ''engravings" were filed by
forwarding needles done up in packages
of ones fves and tens.n The dupe was in
no position to make row about it. being a
self-implicated swindier. Gerrish was al
one time located at Fort Wayne, Ind.
.where he did an extensive business in his
peculiar line.