The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-13
THIS A CLEVER GAME
Two Victims Looking for a
Phantom Book House.
HEADQUARTERS IN ST. LOUIS.
Or, at Least, That Is Where the Com
Germ Was Supposed 10 Be Doing
Its Big Business.

What has the appearance of being one Of
the most carefully planned and success
fully executed swindles recorded in the
Pacific Northwest came to light yesterday
afternoon when Frank Hobson. OF Port
land. and VI. David, young man. called
at the prosecuting attorneys Office 10 see
/ what could be done about cheehmating A
sang in San Francisco and thus save
widow from losing $s01.
Hobson los; $3.50 and David sIts1 and il is
Their experience which has led them TO
take an interest in the widow who re-
! Gently went 10 San Francisco to fail into
the trap.
The basis of the scheme was book pub
fishing house, supposed to be located al
St Louis No The name given out and
when appears upon a contract in Mr..
Hobson's possession is the Harter Pub
fishing Company. Up 10 4 short time ago
M. Hohson supposed he was the state
agent for this concern. with salary Of
sllo month, net to say anything OF com
missions for sales. David thought he was
The travelling agent. Now they think diff
ferentiy. because letters and kilograms TO
ST Louis have failed TO bring TO light the
Harter Publishing Company
The story commences some time ago in
portland, when man giving the name OF
Harter began negotia.i lions with Frank
Holson, man of family and excellent
connections. with view Of securing his
services as agent for the Har,er Publish
ing Company ir Washington. Things were
done IN huslness-like manner. Every
thing had the appearance of being square
ana above board. A contract was drawn
UP ard duly signed for the company By Mr..
Harter. BY its provisions Hohson was to
receive 500 a month salary and 10 per cent.
commission on all sales. In the beginning
Hohson was to receive $50 worth Of goods
/ and
| put up $50. He put up the money Mr.
Harter also wanted a man 10 travel
around the state of Washington TO locate
local agencies For this work the pay was
IN the shape of commission. Everything
AS explained al the time looked well and
David put up 500 for the place Mr. Har-
ter said that when they reached Seattle
| everything would be ready. He ERECTED
them to a Mr.. Wallace in the Boston
block. This Mr.. Wallace was supposed 10
be connected with Mr.. Harter in the way
of developing the interests of the publish
ing company in Washington. Mr. Hohson
ana Mr.. David arrived in the city about a
month ago They met Mr. Wallace He
was affable. smooth. and had gone 10 the
trouble of securing an office for the state
agent.
When Mr.. David got ready to go out On
his first trip Wallace accompanied him TO
the water front. and a the steamer left
the dock gave him sealed envelope, CON
tanning instructions. When David read
them he found out tina. he would have to
charge agents SIS for their outfits, Instead
OF about 81 as he had been told Davis
was not able to do business under these
conditions and returned to Seattle to ind
that Mr.. Wallace had left the CITY After
his departure Mr. Hohson received a let
ter from him saying that the supplies were
coming" Mr.. Hobson thinks they are
coming very slow. Since the letter from
Wallaee. which was dated al San Fran
CISCO. was received Hooson has been Try
ing 10 get track Of the Harter Publishing
Company. So far he has been unsuccess-
fui, as his letters have been returned and
his kilograms bring back the reply, Give
better address or NO such firm As
near as can be learned the street and num-
Der of the house was never mentioned
In The meantime widow named John
SON. who used TO live across the Sound
and who received s., 600 Insurance on her
husbands life, came to the conclusion she
would take the California agency and p1v
s60a. She recently went to San Francisco
in connection with the matter and Hob
sen would like TO save her from being
sw,nGled and probably bring Wallace and
Harter to justice.