New-York tribune., 1896-01-19
WAR ON "GREENGOODS" MEN.
SEVERAL GANGS BROKEN UP BY POST
OFFICE INSPECTORS.
NEW SCHEMES OF THE swINDLERs CHECK
MATED AND THE OPERATORS CLEvERLY
TRAPPED
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNEl


fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l
Washington, Jan. 1S.-The tact. skill and courage
necessary prosecute successfully the duties OF a
postoce inspector are illustrated by the work done
In the office OF the Fourth Assistant Postmaser-Gen-
eral in the course of the year just closed. Whne
the entire country has for many years been flooded
with letters and circulars relating to "greengoods.
the actual operators of these swindes have usually
heretofore been located in the East In the last
year. however, these sharpers seem to have deter
mined innovation by establishing headquarters
in the West, and three of these gangs one In OAK
land, Cal; one in Hisdale. Mich. and in Chi
cago. have been broken up through the efforts OF
postoflce inspectors.
One Of the most enterprisng of these gangs mi
grated to the far West. and with headquarters In
Sacramento and Oakland Cal. began the operation OF
the old swindle with additional features, which
entirely Their letters and circulars were
carefully prepared. sealed. addressed and stamped.
but instead OF being deposited in the malls the opera
tors themselves cancelled the stamp with bogus
postmark. after which the envelope was cut or torn
open. This gave TO the letter the appearance Of hav-
Ing been regularly mailed and received and opened
by the addresses These letters were then taken by
the operators and dropped about in cities and small
towns where they would be likely to be picked up by
prospective Victims. The person finding one OF these
letters would naturally infer that 1t had been re-
ceved opened and lost by the addressee and II was
intended that the finder should then avail himself Of
this opportunity for obtaining something for
nothing suggested by the contents Of the letter
This certainly novel idea. and did not render
the operators amcnabe for violations OF the postal
laws. The subsequent correspondence with their
victims was. however, carried on through the mails
HUNTING DOWN THE GANGS.
This scheme was brought to the attention OF the
postofice inspectors operating on the Pacific Coast
early In March, and they at once undertook TO run
emf 'grppnROOds' DIOnePrS.
Their plans skilfully laid and courageousy and
successfully executed. Correspondence between the
inspectors and the swndlers photographed. to
be held evidence In order that the original docu-
ments might be returned requested and so avert
suspicion. deal arranged in Oakland. and
during Its contamination two Of the swlnd,crs were
arrested. The names OF these persons were Frank
White and John Wise Barney" Mcclure. an old
time "greengoods" man of NewYork City. was
operating with the Oakland gang. and indictments
were secured against White Wise and Mcclure
White and Wise were arraigned. pleaded guilty and
sentenced a fine OF $3.50 and eight months i'm
prisonment in the San Francisco County Jail The
case against Mcclure Is still pending.
While the aforementioned members OF the
"greengoods' fraternity under investigation in
California two other gangs began operations on the
composed OF old offenders with time records. esdb-
.ished themselves at Hllsdale. Mich. and at one
began the distribution Of their literature throughout
that portion OF TIE country. The task of appre-
h,ndlng and bringing them TO justice was under
taken by tho inspectors in that part OF the country
From the outse, the officers realized that they had
to deal with desperate men. After weeks OF tireiess
OF nydence and they arrested John G Treadwe
william Derry and hve others at Hillsdae, Two OF
whom had already served terms In prison. Tread,
well their leader. had boasted that he never assln
would be taken alive. but 80 skifuly di tne omcsr
arrange and execute their plans that when the
supreme moment arrived Treadwell found himself at
the mercy OF the inspectors rsv9vdfs M ana ne
surrender These persons were put on trial. and g
yerdc q guilty obtained asansf to rs~
imprisonment ana to pay me U1 e and tc
pay fine OF 1900
AN IMPORTANT CAPTURE IN CHICAGO.
Another clever and important capture of green
goods swlndlers was effected In Chicago by tn
inspectors attached that division. In consummat
ing a deal with them one of the inspectors person
/ ated farmer from Iowa. and when one OF IN
sharpers demanded to know what kind Of ts5nn; .W.i
ami when the ms dPayea valet st TSl mGas.,, sf,
ers called him uncle" and consented I,s,,te. !,
Which which the Iowa granger with the speculative turr
OF mird had manifested some stgobornness nrcd,ce,
the meek uncle backed toward the door and
na, 10 resist arrest as he was a Government ottice
Assistance near at hand and nsteah OF sns us,as
erIng up their good money FOR strips OF old newspa
he wouli-bo swini.ers to prison An ntereStn,
feature Of this capture was that upon searcnin'
The prisoners about 5000 in good money was toun.
on them This money was entirely In new. l cTisi
bills. and had undoubtedly played .GD, conspicuou
part in the deception OF each Of their vietims
! The large majority OF "greengoods swih9i.ls d.
tbe general plan adooted by the Department ther
has been to inform the telegraph ana cypress COR, m
/ iresses of the men engaged In this business At IN
same time requesting such companies 10 10 witnn3 In ,b
wnv he officers II the Department have been abl