New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-01
TuE GREAT LITERARY FRAUDS ChSb'

TuE GREAT LITERARY FRAUD ChSE'
Tho rather sensational trial in London of the
ak men charged with obtaining money under
falls, pre,cnces by the preparation Of certain
literary and artistic frauds came to an emu on
Tuesday. and all the defendants were convicted
and condemned 10 Imprisonment for terms varying
from four months to eight years This result Is
highly gratifying, and will doubtless exert wlde
and lasting influence for good. FOR even uluer
the law itself, in nearly all civilized countries
authors have not enjoyed the protection anu en-
couraoement commonly extended to the other
useful and producing classes OF the community
while outside Of the law they have been regarded
as the fair and favorite game OF every piuhuer-
ing rogue who wished to fill his pockets at other
mems expense. Recent years have happily seen
a distinct Improvement in both legal ana ousihess
ethics in this respect Lawmakers have come
to realize that the product OF the brain Is prop
or,v lust as surely as is the product of the hand,
and publishers have found that honest and gener-
OIL, dealings with their clients are entirely com
nat,b,e with enterprise and prosperity. The
authors themselves moreover, are learning lessons
Of combination for mutual good, and Of increased
circumspection in the conduct of business affairs
and tho revelations of this latest will doubt
less greatly stimulate their zeal in putting those
lessons into practice.
Nearly twenty years ago, IL appears, the men
who were this week 30 summarly brought 70
hook bean their swndling operations. lhey
formed a concern called the Charing Cross Pub
fishing Company. Some years later this was
transformed into the City of London Publishing
Company: then, SUCCESSFULLY, into the National
Artistic Union, the Literary and Artistic union'
the lIerners Gallery, Bcvineton ~ Co., the
Authors Alliance, the Artists Alliance, and
finally in December, 1890, the Inter
national Society OF Literature, Science ana
Art Under all these names the actual COM
position Of the concern was the same, ana us
mode OF thievery tho same. II had no capl-
tai. no ofce, no legal existence nothing save
an address at which the letters OF It's victims
were received II sent cut circular letters. Solicit
ing manuscripts OF all kinds for publication ana
pictures for exhibition. From each person send
ing manuscript or picture II required hand
some fee S,,iclimes as much as 5000. or course
the manuscript was never published, ana the
plcture was never exhibited; neither was the fee
returned
Al first sight Il seems almost incredible that
scheme so simple and barcfaced In Its dis-
honesty should have prospercd for many years
and afforded a fat living, undisturbed, TO half
dozen roguce Yet It must be remembered that
there are thousands OF ambitious scribblers, who
are firmly convinced that they are the Shakespeare
and SCOTS Of their generation, and are eager to
lump at any chance 10 get into print the illusions
which the regular publishers have so cruelty de-
clined Writers Of real merit, moreover. not a
few OF whom were among the dupcS, are often
oossessed Of little acumcn in business affairs, and
are too easily imposed upon by plausible and
much-promising sharpers And il we take into
account the number of persons in other walks Of
life who are daily swndcd by green goods
schemes, mythical English estates" and other
enterprises Of the easy-soulcd gentry the success
Of thcs., literary and artistic frauds Will not seem
extraordinary Tho great publicity which the case
mas attained, its reports filling columns daily In
the London press, and tho rigorous punishment
nctcd out TO the criminals, despite the Bart, y
ILL D." and other titles with which they
adorn their names, will doubtless make the repct-
ton Of such work most difficult if not impossible
They will mark, also, another forward step toward
recognition OF equal rights for the worker with
the brain and the worker with the Drawn.