The evening times., 1896-05-22
l0THARIO LiADEaS' ROLE
Arrest Of the Ma /, Who Married
Aged Miss Shack|ett.
HIS BRIDE AN ALEXANDRIAN
As Agent for business Compendium
He Got Many Signatures to Vouch-
ers and Then Realized ON Them-He
Is Charged With Fraudulently
Using the MaiIs-Romuntic Story.

| Philadelphia, May 22.-The shrewd young
| man, j. B. Landers, well-known in WASH
!ngt on, who about two AMI half years ago
married 65-year-old Miss shacklett, OF
| Alexandria, va, in this city. and got for
5une Of $40, 900 by will shortly afterward
| for she died soon after the marriage had
| troubles OF a new aud peculiar sort to eX-
| plain before United States Commissioned
| Bell yesterday.
He was charged with being con-
cerned in scheme to defraud by the
use OF the mails, and his new and clever
| methods were unfolded at the hearing. The
| arrest was made by Postal Inspector Gould,
| of Chicago, and Holden, of Philadelphia, as
| a consequence of numerous complaints from
business firms who have been victimized
by the agents OF bogus business directories.
Landers, who has been living in high
style at the Continental Hotel. calls him
' self the eastern ageut'' OF the United
States Business Compendium, supposedly
published by Chicago firm. His methnds
were unique and generally successful. He
usually sent out agents to solicit adver-
1isements for his trades paper at rates vary
ing from 81 to 81.
THE SCHEME.
Even though the order was not given,
the caDvasser would submit a proof in a
fe W days. and, as rule, would obtain con-
sent to have il inserted, at the same time
receiving the amount charged for the ad-
vcrtisement. g.
This would be followed by request
that the firms signature should be at
tached to the collectors voucher in order
that an authentic return could be made.
The vouchers We're so cieveriy worded that
by clipping off the top and side they could
be converted into orders. After lapse
Of from one to- two years. wheD the pur-
chasing firm bad probably forgotten all
ABOUT the matter the voucher would be rec
turned by an express company, no longer j.
the shape of a voucher. but as an order or
signed contract for The advertisement. 1t
would be accompanied by bill for a sum
'anging from S15 TO $50. AS the signatures
were undeniably correct, the sums were
generally paid. D.
At the hearing yesterday afternoon In
spector Holden testified shat he had visited
Lander's office. at No. PIG South Third
street. and had found letters from firms in
various parts of the country. protesting
against the payment of the agents claims.
Most of the epistles We're directed to the
Globe Collection Agency, No. 216 South
Third street.
There are also receipts from express COM
panies showing the amounts collected
from several firms during the past ten
days.
HELD IN BONDS.
Commissioner Bell announced that he
would hold Landers under 81, 500 bail to
insure his appearance at a final hearing on
June L.
LaDders figured in n sensation in this city
about three years ago. During the Worlds
Fair he met in Chicago an aged lady from
Alexandria. Va, Miss Shacklett. He sue
ceeded in getting into her good graces and
soon, it is alleged, relieved her of her Jew
elry.
He was arrested, but subsequently re-
leased on condition that he return the Jew
elry and leave Chicago. Later. when Miss
Shacklctt had returned to her home in yir-
ginia, Landers found her and persuaded her
TO come to Philadelphia with him.
They were married by an Episcopal
clergyman about two and a half years
ago. and lived at the Hotel Hanover. The
aged bride died a few days after her mar
riage, leaving a will, giving her property
valued at $4O.OO0, to Landers. The will
was executed the day of the ma rriage. and
an attempt was made to prove conspiracy,
but the will was sustained and Landers re-
ceived the legacy.