Omaha daily bee., 1894-02-05
TOOK HEAVY COMMISSIONS
Two Young Men Arrested for swindling
Country Produce Shippers,
PoCKETED THE PROCEEDS OF ALL SALES
Known to Have Secured Between Two and
Three Hundred Dollars-Sames of
some of the Victims-what
the Prisoners Say.

Frank Bates, head Of the firm of Bates &
Son, commission merchants, and William c.
Ryan have been arrested, charged with
grand larceny as bailee.
1t is alleged that under the firm name Of
w. c. Ryan & Co. they have been swiudling
the farmers and smaller merchants OF the
state. They advertised that they could dis
pose of eggs, butter aud produce at good
profits, in which the scnders were to
share. But it appears thet they nave
been pocketing the proceeds of sales with
out making any settlement with those
who made c~onsignments to them. Up TO this
time goods TO the value of S213.56 have been
received and rcceipted for, and only $685.
sent TO shippers.
Bates refuses to talk further than TO say
that they have been doing II Legitimate bust.
ness. They were arrested on complaint of
shippers.
WHO THE LOSERS ARE.
Hadley of Beaver City shipped goods to
the value of $23. Nothing has been heard
from the firm in the way of payment.
90. Thomas of Strang sas sent in, nc.
cording to the letter book, SCI worth of
produce. He has not been honored with
even the sembldncc of remittance.
D. L. shade of Burrcss has shipped to the
firm goods to the value of $32. 10 He is out
that much, although he does not know 1t
yet.
Stapleton & Gray of Central City have
sent in goods to the value of $3.50. They,
however, are the only fortunate ones, as
they received the only remittance made to
any of the people doing business with the
firm. They got the e. G5 mentioned above.
There is a letter to MIR. Frank u. Sheldon,
Nehawka City, Neb. 1t is signed tao SINE
as the Others, w. A.. Ryan & Co, and
acknowledges receipt of some produce. but
further says that, as Mr.. Ryan is sick, re-
mi . q pan an ,nN IA V,al1 FA. "a, ,,-,,1-- 80.
days. This letter was written on Janunry s
and the amount of Mr.. Sheldon's claim is
81. pa. He has not yet heard from the tirLl.
RYAN'S STATEMENT.
w. a Ryan was seen last night by n Bee
reporter and asked to state his side of the
case. He said:
II zane to Omaha early last fall from
Pennsylvania and sought employment. |
had been in the grocery business for some
time in the cast, but things were quiet
here and was willing to take any
thing | could find. On September %
| applied to Bates & Sons and upon my
recommendations | was given employment on
that day. | continued there for a few weeks
and my new employers treated me with more
than ordinary kindness. Shortly after MIR
Frank Bates, who was tho head of the firm his
father having died Il short time previously,
came to me ana suggested it would be well
for me to go into business, the commission
business. | tolu him | had no money, but
obA bSG oOlliS 4
Bates then decided the affair. He said
he would order the printing and pay for it.
and furnish such other money for Immediate
use as might be needed. This was s~atisfuc-
tory, and the printing was ordered. The
new firm was to be styled w. A. Ryan x Co..
the company" being nominal. We did n
good business, got many orders and it was
our intention to remit when the goods were
disposed of. We did not, however, remit
anything"
What was Bates in the new FIRM"
HE was nothing in the firm, but, as per
contract, he got half the proceeds. Shortly
after going iutc business l became sick and
went TO Chadron. While | was there many
goods were received and disposed of and
when l returned l asked for my share.
Bates refused and W. had a little trouble.
Bates IS a sharper and some
time ago he was arrested for the
forgery of a $50 check on a Mr..
Swoboda. / nave secured an attorney and
hope to get out Of this affair without
trouble. The firm of w. A. Ryan & Co. does
not now exist and was only in business for a
few weeks"
How about the people who have sent
you goods to sell?'
Il don't hardly know, but suppose they
will get their money IN some way. This is
all | nave to say"
f. b.. Bates, Franks brother, signed a
81 500 bond and Frank was released.