The morning call., 1894-08-08
\ BOGUS BUYER.
He Purchased Goods for
Every One.
Now He is Behind the Bars Pleading
Insanity-fow He Victimized
Wholesalers.

Walter Aronson. shrewd young man, who
has been willing away his time for the past
few weeks in VictimiZing local wholesale firms
was brought 10 sudden halt in the midst of
his operations Yesterday afternoon and at pres
emf lappuishes IN the City Prison, while the de-
teetives are sklrmishing about gathering up
complete list OF his victims.
The police have been on the lookout for the
man for some time past and although he clev
erly avoided their vigilance, his modus ope-
randi was of such bold nature that his cap
ture was only matter OF time.
Some two weeks ago the fellow appeared at
the store of Max Silberberg on SansOme street,
representing himself as buyer for the dry. goods
firm OF German & Son on Sixteenth street. Mr.
Silberberg having formerly done business with
the house in question, gave credit for an amount
of fancy goods, which were carted off by the
buyer TO parts unknoWn;
man appeared az the downtown house and dis
claimed all knowledge OF the transaction, and
exposed his so-caed buyer as fraud.
But a few days had elapsed when similar
accounts began rolling in to Mi. German from
various wholesale firms IN such unprecedented
numbers as 10 keep that gentleman engaged
solely in dscreaitirg their authenticity.
Other retail stores, especially in the Western
Addition, 10 the number of about thirty were
similarly misreprssented and for time the
wholesale circles were thrown into state OF
y
After receiving The complaints Chief Crowley
deIailed Detectives Coffey and Gibson to in
| yestigate the cases, although 1t was not until
Yesterday morning that their efforts proved of
avail.
Last Friday the man appeared at Hall & Co.'s
| warehouse in the Wells, Fargo building repre-
| sentInG himself as Gormans agent and selected
| an amount of drygoodS, which he SAID ne would
| send for the following morning. f. G. Kenny,
| clerk in the employ OF the firm. suspected the
man and politely offered TO deliver the goods
| with the firms wagon. This offer was made in
| such manner that its refusal was sheer i'm
| possibility and The dlsheariened buyer finally
| consented, or course German, on receiving in
| formation regarding the transaction, denied its
| legitimacy aud the load was returned.
Yesterday morning Kenny recognized the
| fellow walking along Sansome street, and de-
terminlng on his capture, followed his prey who
| shortly entered the ware house of Jules Levy
near Suffer street. Kenny also entered and
| waited In the front office until Aronson had
| completed his purchase. Detectives Cotfey aud
| Gibson appeared on the scene at about the
| same time aud as Aronson was taking his de-
pariure he found a patrol-wagon In waiting
and was at once conveyed TO the City Prison.
Soon after his arrival there his father APP
peared, bowed in grief at bis soRs nefarious
conduct. He claimed that Martin was insane,
having been confined in an asylum tor several
years from which he received his discharge
only last June.
Judging from his actions, it is quite apparent
that The mao is not IN his right mind. he
laughed ard chatted about his cunning antics
as though 1t was all great joke.
Among AronsOn's victims are wholesale dry
goods, cigar, book, SDoe hardware and toy
making total OF nearly 5000, although il is be-
lieved there are many who have not as yet been
heard from.
Three charges of obtaining goods by false
pretenses were booked against ArOnsoD at the
City Prison last night by Detectives Cofiey and
ellison.