The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-28
Ways OF Half=Interest
Swindlers.
HYPNOTISM TAKES A HAND.
CharIataus Who Fleece Men and
Women by Spurious Sales and
Worthless Notes.

that they had been victmiZed, while per-
haps as many more have been swindled
and remained silent
The men who are perpetratirg these
frauds, although they have numerous
offices scattered along kearny and Market
streets, appear to be me mbers of IN organ
lied gang and generally work together.
Let victim enter one of these hearny-
street offices and Immediately the sharks
from Market street rush in and lend Will
ing hand in fleeing him.
Conscience these fellows have not and
they hesitate no more about robolng
widow Of her mite than they would at
cleaning some rustic out of his last dollar.
Their ways of working are numerous
At one time an advertisement in daily
paper will prove the molaSSes with which
the flies are drawn. At another time the
capper who is always on the street or ID
hotel corridors looking for strangers with
money will play an important part in the
affair
A third method is practical with the
assistance of woman, whose only bust
ness is 10 gather and turn over to her
employer other members of her sex who
NAV be Ambitious TO open boarding or
lodging houses.
When the plan of advertising is adopted
notice is inserted in daily paper to the
effect that half interest in first-class
business with good income can be had
for few hundred dollars
To the person who appears in reply to
the advertisement it Is explained that the
frst-class business referred to is the busi-
ness of the man with whom he is talking
and which Invariably proves to be that OF
real estate.
The would-be purchaser is Invited to
make thorough investigation before tax
ing any action, and 1t is while dong so
that the really fine work OF the swlndlers
is accomplished.
While the victim is in the Office inveSti-
eating, all the original owners friends
rush in to discuss real-estate deals, and so
brisk does business appear that the lnno-
cent persons head is turned, and he has
tens to get his money invested.
Then matters undergo a change. AS
soon as his coin is safely tucked away in
the trousers pocket OF the man from whom
he purchased game Of freeze out is COM
menced.
The clients with lots of business cease to
appear, and in their stead comes land
lord in quest of rent, and he is quickly fol-
lowed by printers, gaSmen and all other
sorts OF men.
About this time the victim begins to
realize what has happened and refuses TO
pay any bills that may be due. Suits are
threatened of course, but just before they
are, commenced the original owner hap
pens along with man ready 10 purchase
the business and assume all responsibilities.
This man, it is explained, has not the
cash on hand, but then he Will give sixty
DAYS note, which is equally good
Tie ISore is drawn auG signed. The
latest purchaser takes the place and in
stalls the original owner as manager. while
the man who put his money into the al
fair is turned out on the street.
Frank l. Mitchell. a young Englshman.
is the latest person known to have had an
experience with half-interest Swlndlers.
and for what he learned he paid $50.
Mitchell answered an advertisement is
sued by Perguini. whose real estate office
is located at 873b Market street. and in
due time was installed as partner in the
realty concern. Then commenced freeZ-
ing out process similar TO the one described.
When the time came for a second pur-
chaser to step forth ". Neustadt, who has
gained much nOtoriety as a land shark,
proved to be the third person to the trans
action and he paid to Mitchell a worthless
note in return tor his interest in the busl-
ness.
Since receiving the note Mitchell has
made almost daily attempts to collect 1t,
but invariably some excuse Is offered, and
as the note is not Endorsed and Neustadt
owns nothing in his own name, the chances
are that none of MitchelPs money will
again find its way back into his pockets.
A. K. White IS mother person who was
vlctlmiZed in the same manner. A Market
street agent, Hall. f1eeced him, giving In
return note which eX-Judge Sawyer is
now endeavoring TO collect
Neustadt, who is connected with the
attempt TO fleece Mitchell. is also engaged
in other questionable practices. In con-
junction with a partner named Kimball
he goes about the town locating empty
stores. When one is found in a suitable
neighbour God it is temporarily fitted up as
grocery or saloon and then disposed of
for a good price to some unsuspectn G
person.
At present the men are located at the
corner of Eleventh and Mission streets, to
where they moved early in the week. Ii
will not be long, however, before they
leave there in search of pastures new.
After Mitchell had realized that he had
been victimized he started his roommate
CT to look into the matter. tie visited
tevery third-class real estate ana employ
fineas 0ffiee in town and found most Of
fhes1 &c be bout alike,
Ataonga Perguiai had sold his interest
n h.s business to Nsus adL he was still
Ia possession of The place and Tesdy to
sell 70 ever again. making as an induce
meut 10 Guy ths same statement which
+ had been made 20 Mitchell.
Daring this persons rounds OF the Offices
he came b coatact with an age named
Culver Wbo ga advertised for lartner.
fAea s.kw first met the agen blamed
that t5s pas - biz which be hsa for sa lie
was with a client, bis<st2fef on whes. he
though that his visitor lad lots of money
be forget al about tbs client and Ell
deaYored to use him &c advance his own
Interests by making offers of golden op-
portunities &c him.
Sasuxi0us did Culver hecome 70 get his
han.s 10 the others bank account that he
offered TO SCI r. I'M bali interest in almost
ANYTHING from z 5utcbeT-shop TO 3 lutte
mill, and when he saw that his. visitor : as
going to get out of his office without having
his pockets emptied his anger knew 40
bounds
The employment agency frauds operate
in an entirely different manner from the
others and many Of their methods of con-
Quoting business have frequently been ex-
posed.
Recently. however, new and entirely
original idea has been hit upon, and it
must be said of it that it is as humorous as
1t is dishonest
The manager of one OF the places fire.
quently advertises for young man to
travel as companion to physician.
All applicants for the place. after pay
Ing an initiation fee of 50. are referred to
II - dan