The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-17
COHEN PROVED
FALSE TO FRIENDS
The Well-KnoWn Collector
Disappears Very Sud
denly
WITH HIS CLIENTS CASH
Many Patrons of the Agency
Now Wonder How They
Were Duped.
HIS WAYS OF TURNING MONEY.
Once a Member of the Legislature,
Richard Cohen Is Now Hiding
From Detectives.
HIS WAYS OF TURNING MONEY.


peared, and, as usual, with his clients
money, from the business community of
San Francisco. In this particular instance
the man who gathered in other peoples
money for pay gave himself up to labor Of
love for long time Immediately prior to
his departure for virgin fields. He simply
surpassed himself in industry, so far as
collecting money and manipulating prop
erty went, but he quite overlooked the in
cidental matter of making an accounting
to whom he was responsible, and so ended
his career in this City.
This collector, who was so unkind as to
thus slight his patrons and friends, is Rich
ard Cohen, who was once a promising and
prominent young man, with friends and
influence to back him. So he gradually
worked up a lucrative business, and han
died large sums of money.
OF late he occupied rooms and 10 in
the Murphy building at Market and Jones
streets, and it is said his business war
ranted him in maintaining two large Of
hces. Those who had dealings with him
were given no cause to com plain of his
methods, much less to entertain mistrust
or suspicion of him. HIS offices had all
the appearance of those used by a pros
porous well-to-do man; they we're nicely
furnished, had fine safe, shelves of books
and similar evidences OF comfort combined
with stability. As for Cohen himself peo-
pie looked upon him as a fixture in the
place.
But they little thought that Cohen was
spending his nights in convivial pleasures,
and altogether too frequently INDUCED in
intoxicating liquor.
Not once did it cross the minds of
Cohen's patrons that the trusted collector
would do such a thing as gather their
coin and Immediately proceed to scatter it
with bibulous companions. So he had
their confidence.
About eight or ten days ago their dream
of security was rudely shocked when
Cohen failed to appear as usual at his
Office. At first his clients tried to con-
vince themselves that he had gone into
the country for a short vacation, but as
days passed without the least sign of him
they grew suspicious, and each one made
an investigation for himself. This was
after sign, "to let, appeared upon the
door of the Office OF Richard Cohen, col
lector, and the furniture and fittings had
been carted away.
In the last few days several instances of
Cohen's transactions have come to light.
Those who are directly interested look for
many more developments of a similar ma
ture, but none of the duped clients can
even conjecture what number of people
are sadly disappointed over the sudden
disappearance of Cohen.
He collected for Ewell's dairy, and is
said to have taken at least $500 OF collected
III lie hot fho n sev
ing a canvass of its customers to learn
where it stands.
Krug & Co.. the Mission malthouse men,
held a Judgment against somebody for
about S100, which thew gave to Cohen for
collection. The story goes that Cohen
sold the judgment for $50 and retained the
money. Attorney King, in the Chronicle
building, was interested in case in in
solvency, and is now eager to find the
missing collector in connection with the
case.
When the newspaper syndicate was sell
ing Its encyclopedias here Cohen purchased
a set. He paid an installment of 81 and
sold the books. The syndicate has de-
tective at work seeking to find the where
abouts of the collector who resorted to
the old game of selling property bought
on the rental plan.
Last January Cohen bought handsome
safe from the Hall Safe Company, leasing
it with the provision that he could buy it
on installments, the first of which would
be due in April. He never paid dollar
on the safe, but sold it along with his
furniture to a young business man who
had known him intimately for years.
He explained that times were dull with
him and he was forced to give up his Office
and seek other employment. Almost on
the same day Cohen disposed of the furni-
ture and books to two different parties and
got the money from both.
IL was then that case of first come
first served, for the second and third man
found nothing when they went to Cohen's
office prepared to move the things The
safe company took q hand and claimed
the mucn-sold safe. Of course under the
circum distances it was folly to attempt to
hold possession of the property, which
was accordingly relinquished by all pur-
chasers The men who were caught in
this deal are most bitter in their COM
plants against Cohen. These are only
few of the cases so far known In connec-
ton with Cohen's grand finale, but it is
said there are several more of like char
acter.
1t was discovered yesterday by those
who are hunting for the absconder that
his letters have been inclosed in large en-
velopes addressed to lotto Eikelmann,
Virginia City, New" and from this it was
believed that Eikelmann was aware of
Cohen's whereabouts. The letters have
been sent by Cohens friends from here.
Eight or ten years ago Cohen was very
popular about town-a bright, intelligent
young fellow, with friends on every hand
He was then elected member of the State
Legislature by large majority.
Since then he was collector for the Col
lier Book Comp any, but get into difficult
ties with that firm, from which he was
saved by the timely aid of relatives. His
father, now dead, was at one time a
wealthy and prominent man in San Fran
cisco: and from HIM Cohen inherited the
influence he had among large circle of
business men.
One of Cohen's acquaintance remarked
yesterday, when giving the reason for his
downward run: ellis ruin was attribute
bic to drink"