The evening world., 1894-02-27
CLARKE SKlPS OUT.
He and the Other Manager of the
Commercial Loan" Disappear.
They and Their SwindIe Exposed by
1.-The Evening World"
Hundreds OF Victims Visit the De-
serted Omce.

Mcssrs. Clarke & johnson. OF So West
ON" Hundred and Twcnty-nfth street.
have mystcrIously disappeared.
Inesc i've suavc gentlemen were the
New York managers OF the Commercial
Loan and Trust Company, which re
markable financial institution THE
Evening World" thoroughly exposed.
The Philadelphia Company with New
York agencies at % West one Hundred
and Twenty-hfth street and 275 Broad
way. and "A Brooklyn office at III Rem
sen street, was doing n land Office bust
ness. selling $500 shares on the install
ment plan. under prctext of granting
loans to the poor, when THE Evening
World' discovered the scheme and
promptly warned the public against in
vesting money In such a questionable
proposition.
When the attention of State Bank
Commissioner Charles NJ. Preston was
called to the methods pursued by the
agents of the Philadelphia Company in
this city, that official thanked THE
Evening World" for making the cx-
posture, and started at once to %investi-
gate the Company's methods with a
view of bringing the New York end Of
the business to a close.
Yesterday the following letter was re-
ceivcd from State Bank Commissioner
Preston:
STATE OF NEW YORK.
BANKING DEPARTMENT.
A Feb. "a. 1894.
Editor OF THE Evening World y
Dear Sir: I have been Investigating tho affairs
Of the Commercial Loan and Trust Company. and
| This mnTnInR TnINn n lTtIa from h hama
office Of the Company in Philadelphia, signed by
It's Secretary, and sta'in g that they have CLOSED
their offices In New York state. Very truly yours.
CHARLES NJ. PRESTON.
AS the operations of the Company in
the State of New York were in direct
violation of the Penal Code. the Phila-
delphia concern was very wise in retir-
Ing from the New York and Brooklyn
field.
Such a clever financial scheme as
this may be tolerated in sleepy. slow
going Philadelphia, but thanks to "The
Evening World,' It don't go here.
Three brass cuspidors and some pretty
Brussels carpet are all that remain at So
West one Hundred and Twenty-nfth
street to tell the story of Clarke q
Johnson. When an Evening World' re-
porter visited the place this morning the
doors We're Locked nc mo ome knew
resembles old Hoss'' Hoey.
The mail carrier who delivers mail
along West one Hundred and Twenty
nth street had several hundred letters
for Clarke & johnson Yesterday, but re-
turned them to the office undelivered.
enormous mail every dny-in fact, more
letters than any other firm on the street
and the street Is the main business
t~horoughfare of Harlem. Mcssrs. Clarke
a JnhnSnn have left no Instructions as
to their future address, so their letters
are accommodating at an astonishing rate
at r9st-omce Station }: These letters
money from victims In this Vicinity.
Clarke Il johnson engaged an .ey
press wagon and moved away their
on Saturday night. Where, they went
no one seems to know. The landlord
Of the building. At 81 West one Hundred
and T~wenty-hf.h street said yesterday
they paid their tent OF $50 n month to
March /.
The departure OF the tive managers"
related in "The Evening World" a few
days since Mr.. Cornwell had paid his 81
registration fee and also his first weekly
payment Of 81. and when he called TO
see Clarke & johnson on Saturday night
he found the office closed and the fur
door to give the victims even q ray Of
hope for the lost dollars. All day yes
teriay n throng Of men and women
who had been ViCtimIzed by Clarke Il
johnson visited the office. only to find 1t
closed.
The BROOKLYN office OF the concern. at
III Rcmscn street, was closed yesterdaN,
hut T.. A. Nohlctt was on deck as usual
smiling and confident. at 2T5 Broadway,
He says he is no longer the agent OF the
Commercial Loan and Trust Company,
hut he Is now doing business as manage
Of the Commercial Exchange. and says
he Is the financial promoter OF stock
companies.
Mr.. Nohlett Is also selling real estate
So he says. and collects rents, draw
leases. executes legal matters, has money
to loan. and has agents in london. Paris
and Berlin.
; Here are some of the titles and name.
under which Mr.. Noblett Is doing bust
ness:
|, COMMERCIAL LOAN COMPANY.
COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT COM
n PANS.
BUSINESS EXCHANGE.
NORLETT'S EXCHANGE.
. T.. A. NORLETT.
NOBLETT & IrHAM.
, The oily Mr.. Nohlett, who was xposc,
some years ago. and afterwards arresto'
.. Cor swindlirg, Is evidently not to he dis
n couraged by the hasty flight OF the Com
mercial oar and Trust Company man
= ayers, and proposes to do business OF
financial nature Mt the old stand. II
will doubtless inaugurate some ncy
week instalment -Sao-share propositio,
|, OF the Commercial Loan and Trust Com
> pany.