The Saint Paul globe., 1896-11-30
PAPER COLLAR JOE.
Exist. PauIite Again Arrested, Now
in Milwaukee.

Joe Kray, alias Bond, better known.
at least to police officials, throughout
the country as Paper Collar joe" was
arrested last Thursday in Milwaukee
by the detectives Of that city. There
is no particular charge against Kray in
the Cream city, and his friends claim
that he was taken in custody simply
on account Of his past police reputa-
ton.
Ten years ago Kray was one Of the
shrewdest confidence and bunko men
in the country. He confined his tall
ents to the Eastern cities, and is or
was credited by the police Of New
ing thousands of dollars by his
schemes. Eight years ago Kray
squared it," as the police say when a
crooked man reforms, and started in
to lead a straight life. 1t was about
this time that he came to ST. Paul and
opened a saloon on East Third street.
Business was good, and being a pleas
ant, sociable fellow. Kray did well and
made a host of friends. All went well
with him until one day a detective,
known as Peg Leg Norris, arrived
in st. Paul in search of Kray. 1t ap-
peared that Norris, who was a private
detective at Springfield, ILL.,, had Sc
cured information that Kray was one
of a trio who had skinned an Indiana
farmer out of $1,000 on a bunko game.
Norris was willing to do business, but
Kray couldn't hear him, and left ST.
Paul, leaving his business in the hands
Of his partner, New York man named
Gillespie. After leaving st. Paul Kray
Travelled about the country for while
and finally went into the business of
bringing over from Europe paintings
from the brushes of the old masters
and selling them to art connoisseurs
in this country at fabulous prices. The
| business, while smattering of the bum
| ko to a great many people who knew
nothing about art with a capital A,
| was both profitable and legitimate
art collections in the United States are
| indebted to Kray for the masterpieces
| in the way Of paintings which adorn
| the walls of their galleries.
The business adopted by Kray, in
| lieu of the old bunko, gave him d
standing among business men and art
lists and also prevented the police, who
knew Of him by reputation, from
| bounding him about the country He
was arrested in New York city shortly
| after Supt. Byrnes retired from office,
| but was soon released. He has been
| travelling about the country since then,
visiting the larger cities and disposing
of rare paintings to those wealthy
enough to appreciate and purchase
| such works. When arrested in Mil
waukee last week Kray had with him
| S20, 900 worth of valuable paintings.
The superintendent of Pinkerton's de-
tective agency, who for years in the
| past kept pretty close tab on Kray's
movements, heard Of the arrest in Mil
| Waukee and had this to say about the
art dealer:
''Yes, I know when Joe Kray was
one of the smoothest in the country
but he has reformed and I do not think
it is right to relate his misdeeds if he
is trying to do what is right have
heard of him several times within four
or five years and he has been selling
! paintings in this country and Europe
| [ understand that he has been doing
| well and making lots of money. He
| has not been doing any bad work fol
| a long time. and the Milwaukee Off
icials will find that he is there on legiti-
| mate business