The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-05-09

Hussss Couuty'r ar.ns Jsry's Prs.sut-.u,
Against the western Us,s-

H"esen County'n Rrpnd daryss Freseutu.rnt
Against the westsrn Ustss.
The Hudson countv Grand jury has been
engaged for several days In investigating the
green goods business. and the manner in
which the swindlers manage to receive COM
municstions from their Victims. The iurv
arrived at the conclusion that the Western
Union TELEGRAPH Company was in practical
collision with the swindlers. and made a
presentment to the court yesterday to that
eject The presentment was received by
Judge Hudspeth In the absence Of Justice
Lippincott It was In part as follows:
We deem II our duty. as members OF the
Grand jury. to call the attention OF the Court
and the public to the attitude maintained By
the Western Union Telegraph Com pan y. and Its
employees in this city. toward that particular
form OF fraud known as the green goods
business. We have msdo a thorough investi-
CATION OF the method Of conducting that busl-
ness. as FAR a. Jersey Cit. is concerned. and
we find state OF facts which, while INSULT
cient In the present condition OF the law to
sustain indictments. not only justlhes but de-
mands. expospre and csn..ure.
business. after having been ordered out OF
Jersey City by the police authorities eetaG-
that city and other Eastern cities they mail
their cir,uiiars nrosdcast over the entire
their addresses. at which their Victims iy msS
communicate with them. certain street num-
bers IN Jersey CRY. which either have no ex-
istepce. or are occupied by factories and rail-
The presentment enumerates several OF the
fictitious addresses and then continues:
After the swindlers have sent out heir cir
eulars With these addresses. al. further com
munication between them and tn cir victims is
carried on By telegram A great number OF
teleRrams from the victims to the swindlers
are received at the main ONCE Of the
western Union Telegraph Company in
Jersey City. -oi which John d. Bsrtholi
fictitious addresses, as heretofore explained.
but nv an arrangement between the green
goods operators and the representatives Of the
western mon Telegraph Com! any, and with
full knowledge on tho part OF the representa-
tives o. said company as to the character and
purpose Q said despatehes. are not delivered
but are sent by the representatives Of said
company by special messenger to the head
quarters oil the swindlers in the city OF New
Thus It will be seen that the green good.
business could not be carried on at all without
the aid and cooperation OF the Western Cnion
Telegraph Company and its employees. ami
We have no hesitation in saying that such aid
and COOPERATION arc knowinGlv and delibcr-
ployses in Jersey City 20 these swim oilers. and
that Manager Bnrtholt is. II not a partner. at
least . confederate OF the men who are en-
gagged IN this disreputable. immoral. and I'M
lawful business.
We therefore protest m ost earnestly against
the conduct OF said company and ita local man.
aRer In this matter. and respectfully submit
the whole subject to the consideration OF the
Court.
pany Is In collusion with the swindlers. lie
says the com pany IL 4 common carrier. and as
such Ia Obliged to take all messages offered.
The company 10 not supposed to know tho
purport or Significance OF messages which 1t
transmits. and It 10 not unusual to have u
message directed to one address and delivered
cipher messages without knowing their Dur.
port