Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-04
Comedians Refuse to Answer
to a Recall.
Ascher and Loewy in Their
Double Act.
They Play Their Many German
Friends.
The Enlarged Picture Game-How the
Borrowing Racket was Worked.
Servant Girls Made Love To
and Their Savings
Borrowed.

borrowed.
Local German circles have been
greatly agitated during the week about
the sudden disappearance from among
them of two German comedians, whose
financial transactions before their fight
were characterized far more by ingenu-
ity than by honesty. In short, these
two delightful characters played the
confidence" role to such perfection
that they managed to dupe the German
colony of something over $1,000.
Bernard Loewy came here several
years ago, and with the business ability
which characterizes his race, he soon
built up fine delivery trade of soaps
and laundry requisites. He did busi-
ness as the Enterprise Soap company
on Fifth street between Main and
Spring, and feature OF his method was
the giving OF premiums in the form of
enlarged portraits, silver plated ware,
etc. Many of these premiums still re-
main to be delivered.
About six months ago Los Angeles
was delighted, or rather ought to have
been, over the arrival OF the great Ger
man comedian, julius Ascher, really a
clever actor, who has played engage
ments IN all the principal cities of
Europe and America, and has run away
without meeting his obligations, from
most of them. Ascher bought a half
interest in the Enterprise Soap company
for song, and at the same time the
new firm announced that they would
produce series OF eighteen German
comedies in the Los Angeles theater,
thus opening vista of unparalleled
dramatic enjoyment to the German
population. They really gave two per-
formances, but lost few dollars on the
second and threw up the sponge.
The business genius of Mr.. Ascher,
untrammeled as it was by conscientious
scruples, did not see in the soap busi-
ness an arena sufficiently great for it's
ambitious saltos, and on January 1st of
this year the firm went into the picture
enlargement swindle with all its powers.
This game is the most primitive of
all confidence operations, yet, as the
saying goes, "a sucker is born every
day." and the glib-tongued members OF
the firm did business fast and furious.
They had some beautiful samples of en-
larged portraits finished with the high
est art and framed, with heavy gilt
frame. They offered to enlarge any pic
ture in the same style and sell it frame
and all for 81 in the coin of the realm.
: They even promised to pay all express
age, for the enlarging company they
Represented" was located in the W indy
city OF Chicago. When they took an
order, however, they exacted a pay
~ Too ,f
good faith" and that was the end of
the transaction. No picture, no frame,
no $3.50!
In the meantime, while the picture
business was fouishing, the noble pair
had many other irons in the fire. As a
clever borrower Mr.. Loewy, acting un-
der the instructions of Mr.. Ascher, has
an unequaled record. His method was
to borrow $40, then borrow $25' from
somebody else and pay the $40 back,
thus establishing his credit. He would
increase the amount when he struck
A. again, and pay Mr.. B. his $25. He
gradually extended his clientele, until
credit was good everywhere, and to-
ward the end OF the last act, he bor-
rowed from them all, and took the pro.
ceeds with him.
Another trick OF the two was to make
violent love to domestics, whom they
had met while in the soap business.
Loewy promised his desirable person in
marriage to several unsophisticated and
confiding servant girls, and on the
strength of promises, exacted from them
loans in various smalFsums. His prin-
cipal victim, however, was widow on
Orange street, whose husband had left
her little home. Loewy, one fine day,
came to a Mr.. Lokowitz, young Ger
man capitalist, and explained that the
widow was in hard straits for money, and
would not Mr.. Lokowitz lend her
$4OO on mortgage? Lokowitz was
looking for such investments, had the
title searched and produced the coin on
the mortgage. OF course Loewy secured
half of the money before the ink was
dry on the instrument; 5000 was the
price the widow paid for Mr.. Loewy's
{ affections.
Three months ago young man named
Wild came here from San Francisco to
look for work. He had been sober and
industrious, and had saved $3.50. Un-
fortunately he fell into the clutches of
Ascher and Loewy, and they talked him
out of 500. Since they repaid him $50
in small installments, but $40 has been
charged to profit and loss.
And thus these two precious scoun-
4 .drels extended their itching palms and
: picked the pockets of all who came
within reach. OF the scores of victims
who mourn their departure, may be
mentioned Professor Weller, from
whom they borrowed $50 the day
before they left; Mr.. Lokowitz,
who in two transactions. was done up fol
$3.50; Mr.. Bellman, the tailor, who
made the two fine travelling suits in
which the swindlers escaped, but was
not paid for them Charley Schoellkopf
the Sixth-street barber, who put up SIC
in cash, endorsed note for $25 and
hung the pair up for several weeks shaw
ing; E. G. Schnable, the insurance man
who gave up $50 in cash, and also put
his autograph on $100 worth of notes
Just before they left, the two sold theil
horse and wagon, which had been giver
as security for $50 loan, for $15 cash
They also called on the tobacco dealers
of their acquaintance and got box o
cigars from each on credit to smoke or