The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-06
Was A DANDY.
Career Of Frederick R.Wright
the Suit Club SWindIer.
His Life in Providence-His Wife's
Discovery Of His UnfaithfuIness.

a. SoAOci VI TItuCIiCh H.. WfiBht y %
notorious suit club swindler in various
parts OF the country, including this
city, has been temporarily checked
by his arrest in Boston for the
concealment OF goods bought on
instruments. In addition to his s~windling
operations, he deserted his wife who has
been compelled TO work hard from day to
day and supported his paramour in luxury
In this city, Toronto, Boston and else
where. His reckless conduct FASTENED
the death of his mother, and Mrs. Wright
has made application for divorce. He has
been engaged in big enterprises invoiv ing
thousands OF dollars and thousands of
prises are clamoring for their money. He
is 30 years old, respectfully connected and
moved in good society. He was married
in Philadelphia in 1883 and in
that city commenced his fraudu-
lent transactions. He started in
business as a travelling salesman, and de-
vised his suit club scheme in 1891. He
was a man OF ability, a great organizer
and It was claimed that his company had
between 10000 and $4,000 members. The
scheme, as is well known, consisted in in
ducing people ofthe learning class to
put up a dollar q week and take chances
of securing a suit Of clothes in the draw
ings at the end of each week. He lived in
luxurious style, his offices were elegantly
furnished, and his treatment OF
his wife was affectionate and
generous. However, Wright was
suspected of ndu intimacy with one
of his bookkeepers, Grace +. Mills, a
young woman who had the ability, the
dash n daring to encourage and assist
him out of his schemes. He led a gay
lie with other women and spent his
money lavishly. The suit club ran from
October 1891 to July z the following year
and then came the crash.
Fled to Canada.
Wright left Philadelphia and fed to
Canada, deserving his wife and leaving
Liabilities estimated as high as 100000.
Miss Mills stayed at the Office, met all
conner and defended her employer. She
stayed about a month and then joined him
in Toronto, having been In cores
pondence with him all the time. He started
another club scheme in Toronto under
the name of Wilbur Gordon, and Miss
Mills was an active partner. They were
soon plunged into debt, and then Wright
wrote to his wife for money. She had be-
come cognizapt Of her husbands notorious
career, but she sold many Of her things
and sent him the proceeds. She refused
to believe that criminal relations existed
between him and Miss Mills. She joined
him at Toronto and later on returned with
him to Boston. He commenced operations
again, his wife staying in Cambridge with
her husbands family. The venture was
unsuccessful and then he came to Provi-
dence and opened a store on Westminster
stree. His wife remained IN Cambridge.
His Providence Career.
His company was known as the U. s.
Merchandise Company. He adver-
tised for agents. Frank Colling-
ham of this city was engaged. He was 10
receive commission on al, the certificates
he wrote, the face value of each
being s40. Purchasers were to pay 81 per
week and they were liable to mature
from 2 to rs weeks. C%ollingham drummed
up 90 customers, one-half of whom
received cash on the surrender of
their certificates while the others
were beat out Of all they put in. Wright
told some big stories of the success Of his
Philadelphia scheme, n claimed that 1t
was the fountain head OF his enterprise.
He had o slick partner named Samuel Car
penter, Of Dearborn street, Chicago. They
put on a big front. They skipped out and
left ~Collingham to face the angry subscrib-
ers. Wright carried of all the assets and
there was nothing to give them. Colling-
ham skipped to Boston, but could get no
no trace of Wright. The office
In this city was in the
Burgess building, 23i Westminster street.
C~ollingham finally met Wright in Boston
and Wright promised to settle up his
obligations. He exhibited printed pros
pectus for the Imperial Merchandise
company, which he was to start in New
ioinpSuhe.
Grace Mills came 10 Providence I'm
March. Wright engaged rooms for chin
self and wife, from Mrs. Helen NJ. Jones,
221 Washington street, and they
lived there from March 81, 1892.
to July 30. She was introduced
generally as his wife Inc she told Colling-
ham thoy had been married three years.
In the summer the ~Collingbams and the
Wrights yer to Camp White for the 500
son. The alleged Mrs. Wright was Ia
sick and Miss Mills mother came to att
her. Miss Mills remained there some q
The suit club collapsed. Miss Mills v
TO Philadelphia and the legal
Wright remained with her husba
parents in Cambridge. She saw
little OF her husband. She bee
anxious and worried and came to Pr
dence. She ven 10 the Colli
hams residence on Cranston str