Evening journal., 1891-10-26
ABIG GREEN GOODS GANG
Two Shrewd Operators Bagged
by Inspector Byrnes.
THEY DID A LAND OFFICE BUSINESS

An Intricate Set Of Books Containing
10000 Names Were Kept, a Printing OF
iloe Was Owned by the sharpers and
They Had just Issued 800, 900 Circulars
NRw YORK, Oct 2C.-Frank Brooks, alias
"Pretty Frank and Torrance Murphy,
alias Poodle Murphy, have been arrest
ed by Inspector Byrnes for being green
goods men. Both men are ex-convicts,
having served sentences for pocket picking
and shoplifting-
Once Robbed Ex-secretary Robeson.
Murphy was once arrested for having
robbed ex-Secretary OF Navy Robson Of a
gold watch in Philadelphia The two men
are probably the cleverest green goods op-
orators IN the business. Some idea OF the
extent OF their operations can be gained
from the fact that their outfit contained
forty-six large books filled with the names
Of past and prospective victims, together
with lot Of circulars aud newspaper
clippings The books contained the names
Of more than 10000 well to do persons in
nearly every town and village in the
country.
They Did Big Business.
About 6,O00 letters and kilograms were
found from various parts Of the country
acknowledging the receipt of circulars
and making appointments for meetings in
this city Inspector Byrnes estimates that
at least 5000 has been paid for postage
stamps by the two men within a month
When the men were arrested they were in
the act Of addressing circulars.
They Owned a Printing Oniee.
One set Of books contained the right
names OF proposed victims and their ad-
dresses, while another set had a cipher en-.
try. Brooks and his confederate have
done during the past few months an i'm
mense business, OF rather a preparation
for il. They have recently mailed 500. 600
circulars to various parts Of the country.
Sometime within year Brooks purchased
printing Office, and with the outfit pro
dnced his own circulars at a reduced cost.
When he had finished his work he resold
the press and material
Replies viii be coming in from the 500,
0o0 circulars very soon, but not one cent
OF good will Brooks or his confederate ties
realize from them. for without the records
and the cipher number the game cannot
be worked with success.
The Gangs Circular.
The circular which the gang has dis.
tributed so literally holds out the usual
alluring bait. Customers must come e
this city and do their business personally
The goods and rates are described as FOL
| lows.
Ny prices are as follows. $500 by 5000; SCI
I by $1,000; Sl.0u0 by s30OOD. These goods az
/ AZ fine as human akin can make them Not on
of my agents have ever had the least difficult,
n handling them, and many nave acquired in
dependent fortunes
All communication with the gang L
by telegraph, using a cipher furnished
with the circular, and prospective Gus
toners are strongly warned not to use the
mails, as discovery is the inevitable result
Among the letters found was one from
John r. Reed, who claims to be the super
intendent Of the Elgin Home Stock Farm
Alpine, Ind, in which the writer sendi
fifty dollars for a small consignment oI
the STUFF to try it ana see how it works
II successful, he will engage in larger
transactions, he says.