Rock Island Argus., 1894-01-29
NICE OYSTER, THIS.
Edwin F. Frey Conducts a Pros
porous Scheme.
HOW HE DID THE BUSINESS

and Rcapca the Fruit OF llis Own Job
bcry-A Female Burglar susrccted-A
Io-Ysar Old Letter.
Edwin +. Frey. of Moline. has been
carrying on prosperous jobbiug
business on his own account for sew
eral months, and the L. 5. mails and
the express companies innocently
contributed to the success of his
schemes. until both Uncle Sam and
the express companies smeiled
mouse. and the result was that Sat
urday the federal government; got
after Mr.. Frey. who. however. ,s-
capped. and has up to date succeeded
in c!uGing.capture.
Since along in the middle of No
vom5er Mr.. Frey has been having
oysters shipped from various Jobbing
aud packing houses in the east to
various addresses in Moline. which
he provided. the merchandise coming
by express {. .. D.. and when after
suitable time had elapsed, and no
one calling for them, he would go
around. and the goods being perish
ut greatly reduced prices. Between
the middle of November. and last
saturday Frey sent in nine diifcren;
orders. mostly by postal cards to
such houses rs c. l.. ApPlegate &
Co.. of baltimore; c. III. Pearson *
Co., of Baltimore. and =. NJ. Bram-
bic s: Co., OF Cambridge, Md, for
shipments OF oysters. 10 gallons be-
ing the least required at any time.
and these were ordered sent by the
L. :. and Adams companies. &. y. d..
in every one of which. however. Mr..
Fgcy added the stereotype assurance
that If the goods gave satisfaction.
other orders would bc placed, and
ample reference given Tor any credit
that might be extended. Then when
:he goods had remained in the ex-
press Office long enough, Mr.. Frey
would turn up. and no one having
called for them, he would purchase
them at discount. To some of
these orders Mr.. Frey signed fc;i-
cious names. although some were tho
names Of business men in Moline and
Rock Island. such as Fred Peters, J..
| Wcckle and j. =. Albrecht, but to
two of the cards he appended his own
signature.
Finally. however. suspicion aris-
| ing, the matter was placed in the
hands of Inspector Guy I. Gould. oi
the postoi.ice department. who. after
Investigation. traced it to Frey,
door. and determined 10 arrcs;
him for using the mails for fraudu-
lent purposes. Having secured the
necessary papers from L. 5. Commits
sioner l.. u. Sweeney. the inspecto:
in company with Postmaster
Holt. of Moline, called at Mr. Frey's
house in that city Saturday after
noon for the purpose of making tn,
arrest. The federal officers Were
met by Frey and his wife. The lat.
ter appeared in an exceedingly deli.
cate condition, and her nervous cx
ciiemcnt became so great that tn,
officers were more lenient with Ere,
than they would otherwise have been
and Frey. taking advantage of this
pulled OH his overcoat rs n blind. and
going out the back door, cut acros:
lots and escaped. After the OIL
GERS rad withdrawn. Mrs. Frey fol-
lowed her husband 10 parts unknown
and thus the officers were paid foI
their humanity toward the guilty
pair.
Inspector Gould has reputation
for bringing ;ransSressors to justice
however. and he has no fears about
yet finding Frey all right. Frey cal
be prosecuted either under the fed
cral law for fraudulent use OF th'
mails, or by the state for forgery.
Paying an Old Debt.
1t is seldom that 4 case of 10 years
standing is brought about in jus
iicc court, yet such was the case to
day. when the litigation OF Johl
N.ali,L. - l. II EirLcu To rpcOye