The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-05-27
A SWINDLING GANG.
CHICAGO POLICE UNEARTH A
WHOLESA ALE OF FRAUD.
Dozen Employment once Operators
and Many Onces-Receipts at One
Branch Are Nearly $1,000 and In All
May Be $4,000.

CHICAGO, May 2O.-what the police
say 10 one of the cleverest and best or
| ganized gang of swindlers that ever
operated in Chicago is just getting into
the tolls.
The gang, the police say, numb ers
about a dozen and during the last two
months they have duped several hun
dred enthusiastically strangers In the
city.
The game was worked by the estab-
lishment of what purported to be a
Worlds Fair employment agency. The
offices would be handsomely fu rlished,
gilt-lettered sign hung out and in
genious advertisements calculated to
entiap the unwary inserted in the
newspapers Those answering the adj
vertisemeats would find on applica-
ton neatly furnished suite, with
wcll-dressed clerks wearing sparkling
Jewels.
The first glimpse of the place would
inspire confidence in the place-hun,er.
When the victim filed his app ication
position just suited to his needs and
paying large salary would usually be
described TO him as one he would get.
Thereupon the applicant p.anked
down from So to SIS, according to the
extent of his available cash and his
gullibility.
The scheme worked remar ka bly, well,
the police say, the ging being large
enough to take turn about in conduct
ing the business, and by dint of alter
nation OF operators, caanges in loca-
ton of Office, name of company and
wording Of advertisements, the, were
making good hauls and eluding the
police
Officer Storen was put on the case
several weeks ago and by a lucky
stroke. landed his first man. The
mans name, as giuen, is Marcel de
Clairmont. lie is Frenchman, and,
according to the police, is practical
ICON" man.
The gang has had offices at 81 Clark
Street, 1874 LaSalle Street, 1855 Wabash
Avenue, II Clark Street, 20 Dearbo IN
Street and number of other places
The only reason they were not ar
rested sooner was that they moved SO
rapidly and no one ever knew where
they went. After making good haul
'or on seeming danger the active men
would drop out for a time and others
take up the business.
1t appears that this man De Clair
mont and Brazilian named Moreia
are the leaders. So far twenty-one
formal complaints have been filed by
people who have been billxed and more
are turning up every day.
One of these victims, a Spaniard
named G. A. M. Kivits, fresh from
Spain, came near killing De Clairmont
last Monday. Kivits is bright, we'll
educated fellow, who came here ex-
pecting to get work and stay through
the Fair. He left all the money he
had with De Clairmont, who was then
in room so at 161 La Sale Street.
Klvits began to get restless after he
had gone without anything to live on
but promises for several days, so he
started up to the office of the agency
to get satisfaction. In the office he
whipped out big knife and was just
about to make De Clairmont acquainted
with it, when the people in the office
drew him off. The matter was re-
ported Immediately, but when an otfi-
Ger got over there the place was de-
serted.
1.-THE extensive business they carried
on is shown by the books we secured
at one office. This showed the receipt
Of $l.4O4 in three weeks. In the last
two months the amounts taken in will
amount, we believe, to something in
the neighborhood of $40, OO0.''
Twelve of De Clairmont's associates
are now under arrest