The morning call., 1892-08-13
SWINDLBD MANY MERCHANTS
Collapse of the San Francisco
Purchasing Company.
A. E. Williams Was the Organizer and
Operator, and Now He Is a Fugitive
From Justice-Hi Methods.
Where is A. E. WflliamsP

Nnere Is y. l.. hiillamSp
That is what the police in general, and
Officer Gibson in particular. would like to
know.
Williams had the appearance OF being a
dashlng business man and was a very
smooth. plausible tslker. In the early part
of last year lie came to this city from New
York with his wife and children. He did
not figure cOnspicuously in commercial
circles until four months ago, when he
organized the San Francisco Purchasing
Company. He is now fugitive from Justice.
and when last heard from was in Butte
County, going northward. By this time he
is probably in Canada In less than four
months he succeeded in swindling whole
sale merchants in this city and retailers in
the country out of sums ranging from $40
to $3.50.
1t was supposed that the company was a
joint stock concern, but it was operated
solely by Williams. BE opened an office in
the Flood building and issued q pros pectus
announcing that he had made arrangements
with the leading San Francisco wholesalers
by which he could purchase goods at re-
duced rates for members of the company.
THE FEE ASKED.
A fee of $40 entitled country dealers to all
benefits and privileges of the organization.
Upon receiving II certificate members could
do their own buying or the company"
would purchase for them. For time men,
bers and orders we're few and far between,
and Williams had to leave the Flood build
ing because he could not pay the rent. Then
be secured room 10 In the Academy OF
Sciences building. Fortune smiled upon
the sehemer, and orders poured in from the
country. On all these orders Williams made
a commission from the sellers in addition to
the mem bership fee. During the first month
Williams paid all his bills promptly. His
business was constantly increasing, and al
though not rated by mercantile agencies he
began 10 secure credit from the unsuspect-
ing wholesale merchants.
About two months ago R. T. Kingsley
paid Williams $500 for half interest in
this company" Williams continued 10
manage the concern. and Kingsley remained
In ignorance of the shady nature OF its
transactions. Worse than all for Kingsley
he never received cent in return for the
purchase Of the half interest
CASH WITH ORDERS.
Cash always came with orders from the
country, but after obtaining cred from tbs
wholesalers. Williams failed TO expend any
OF the money received. Among those who
trusted him most extensively were the firms
OF Baker & Hamilton, lie Count Bros. and
Wheaton IL Luhrs. Smiths Cash Store ana
the John Deere Implement Company
learned of Williams crooked methods in
time to retrieve from loss, by attaching
goods alter they hao Oeen placed on the cars
for Shipment 1T was this attachment that
put Williams on his guard and caused him
~ fee. Ia all. it is believed that he sue
ceeded in swindling merchants out of sew
erRl thousand dollars.
The fugitive is described as cookbook
Ing fellow, about 50 years old. Last \ oyem-
Der his wife obtained divorce from him,
and she WIS awarded the custody of the
children. She is now living in destitute cir
cumstances at 6101a Eddy street. She says
that Williams was engaged in several
CROOKED" transactions in the East. In
New York be organized a purchasing COM
pany. swindled many merchants there and
hurriedly emiErated westward.