The morning call., 1892-12-16
TOO RISKY A JOB.
Two Young Countrymen
Are FleeCed.
HIRED TO GO HERE AND THERE
Their Stories Cause Two Alleged EN-
plOyment Agents to Be Held
for Larceny.

It is said by the police that there are q
score of so-calIed real estate and employ
ment Offices in this city where young men
In search of work are fieeced out of money
deposited to secure their honesty while fill
ing mythical positions.
That there is foundation for this belief
was shown yesterday during the examina-
tioD in Department 3 of the Polioe Court of
George Fehrnbach, r. E. McBurnie and
James ii. Griffith on charges of grand lar
ceny. Febrnbaeh kept an Office at 1122
Market street and McBurnie operated in
elegantly furnished rooms at Ills Market
street under the high-sounding style of the
Traders Exchange" Griffith was 60
between and "steerer."
First TO be called as witness against the
precious trio was Earl l.. Cook, a young
man who recently arrived from the country
in search of employment. He answered an
advertisement for bright young man, and
through the smooth talk of Ferubaeh and
McBurnie parted with 500 in hard gold
coin. OF course. he was employed by them
and put up the money as security. All be
received in return was promissory note
payable in ninety days, a contract by which
he agreed to be discharged any time and
experience
1t took him several hours to relate this
experience while on the witness-stand.
During the first day of my employment"
said Cook, Il was sent TO finG fat woman
living somewhere on Geary street and TO
ask her if the house was for sale. didn't
find her. The next day l was sent after a
slim man way out on Post street, but
couldn't find him.
1.-The third day was told to 60 to a
bakery at 143 Seventh street and ask II il
was for sale. The bakery was not for sale.
McBurnie said he was pleased with my
work and l was getting along first rate.
That was Saturday night. and as had put
uD all the money had in the world as Sc
curity / desired TO get enough 10 live on
until Monday. After considerable argu-
ment l was given So.
ION Monday morning when | reported
for duty McBurne sent me 10 see Fehrn-
bach and find out the number of that house.
What houseT asked Fehrnbach, at first.
Then he said, oh, yes, l know After a
few minutes talk he told me that McBurnie
did not have work enough for me and
ought to procure better situation. Ii
could raise another 500 lie would get me a
job taking subscriptions for books that
would pay me S4 a day, Sundays included.
al refused the offer and becoming sus-
piciOus, tried TO get back my security money.
l was stood off from day TO day under
various pretexts and finally told by Nc
BurDiethat l could not get the money until
he was ready TO give il TO me-"
Kenneth Sutherland, another young man,
told similar tale Of woe, with the excep-
ton that he parted with $50 and spent
most of his time fuctu sting between the
offices OF Fehrn bach and McBurnie. Griffith
was the man who "steered" him TO Fehru-
bach's office.
Sutherland's experiences In his mythical
. situation were also rather amusing. In
many instances when sent TO ask people il
their property was for sale he was either
ordered away or elected. The worst part of
his troubles began when ne tried to get
back his security" money. Fehrnbaeh and
MeBurnie both tried TO pacify him by
promising TO procure him a better situa-
ton.
Eugene T. Bert appeared as attorney for
the accused, but they offered no defense out
side OF the promissorY notes and one sided
contracts.
Judge JOachimsen committed Fehrnbach
and McBurnie for trial on the charge Of
grand larceny and took Griffith's case
under Amusement.