Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-28
NOT OUT FOR FREAKS.
Wrathy Ladies Object to Theodore
Geagels Remarks, and
HAVEHIMLOCKED UP FORLARCENY
The Old Story Once More Of the Fifty Gent
Picture People.
AN AGENT IN JAIL ON FIVE CHARGES

"You had better go and exhibit yourself
in museum
If Theodore Geagel had not made this
taunting remark to bevy of indignant
ladies In his office yesterday, he would
probably not have been put in Jail few
hours later. Geagel is the agent of the New
YORK Portrait and Enlarging Company, with
headquarters at No. 3O5 South Halstead
street, Chicago. Geagel manages the Pitts
burg branch of the concern at No. 50 Sixth
avenue. Inspector McAleese yesterday re-
ceived call from a dozen ladies loud in
their denunciation of the methods used by
the company. One of these, Mrs. NJ. Devlin,
OF No. AL Cabot way, Southside, told the
story for them all. 1t is similar to the tale
frequently related of late concerning various
picture companies. and is about as follows:
The New York Portrait and Enlarging
Company has been operating in Pittsburg
about three months. Lady agents are en-
ployed to canvass the two cities for orders.
On calling they display a handsome crayon
portrait to the lady of the house, and offer
for the remarkably small sum of so cents to
reproduce in similar style any photograph.
WHERE THE PROFIT COMES IN.
The so cents is simply to pay the solicitors
expenses. The picture is practically gift,
but the recipient must sign an agreement to
purchase frame from the company making
the portrait The solicitors represent that
massive gilded frames can be purchased at
from 81 to So.
The ladies who called yesterday on the
inspector had all jumped at the tempting
offer, paid the 80 cents and signed the agree
ment. They received tickets marked, "Good
until July 81, 1891" In each case they gave
the versatile canvasser photographs OF de-
ceased relatives which they priced highly,
hoping to have handsome crayon or India
n x re r1loh 10 from hnrr lano
to be delivered in two weeks, but that time
passed, and the limit on the tickets was
approaching and no pictures came. Grow
ing anxious the ladies went to the Office on
Sixth avenue Here they found scores of
others going and coming on similar errands-
They got no satisfaction and repeated the
call several times
Yesterday afternoon they all met in the
office and determined to get their pictures
or, if refused, know the reason why. Mr..
Geagel smiled blandly when asked the Oft
mined, however, he at last deigned to say:
'four money was never turned over to
the company. The canvasser skipped out
and left us all in the lurch. You will have
TO md her II you want satisfaction"
A RESORT TO THE LAW.
This statement did not satisfy the ladies,
and they still insisted ON having their tick
cts honored. Geagel sneered at them and
made the remark quoted above about them
UoluS III SuDJcClS lOT d muSeum- ibis was
too much for indignant womankind to bear.
and they determined at once to see what the
law could do
When Inspector McAleese heard the name
of the agent he said, Il know the man." and
told the ladies to lay their case before an
Alderman. They went at once to Alderman
McKenna' s office and entered five informa-
tions against Geagel for larceny by bailee
The warrants were placed in the hands of
Detectives Robinson and Fitzgerald, who
arrested N
find 81 500 bail and was taken to jail to await
a hearing. Inspector McAleese, when asked
about Agent Geagel, said:
81 had him a few weeks ago, but he was
very anxious to settle with those who pro-
ceeded against him, and after he returned
their money and the pictures and promised
to act square in the future we let him go.
/ expect there are hundreds of people in the
county who have been treated as these peo-
pie have. hope they will come forward at
once and let us hear from them. 1 mean to
prosecute this man to the limit of the law
and want all the evidence 1 can get 1t is a
pity for those who have lost their pictures
but it's their own fault. They could not re-
sist the temptation to try to get something
for nothing"