The times., 1897-12-02
VIGTIIAIzED BY 4 SHARPER
Many 0ut-Of-TOWn Merchants
llelrauded by H. Rernharf.
ARRESTED By AN INSPECTOR
Charged With Using the Mails for
Fraudulent PURPOSES and Held
for tEc Gfand jury- None 0f Ills
Dupes Cared 10 Come Here to
Prosecute HIM.

II. Berntart alias CrauSS, alas krauSe
alias c. krouSe, a Notorious swindier, who
is known 10 all the police OF the Eastern
cities, ana has served several terms OF
imprisonment. ana who has Teen working
nus ola scheme in Washington for SO e;eral
weeks past. was arrested yesterday by
PoStofficc Inspector Smith.
The swlnn!er's scheme is to operate upon
out-of-town merchants and victiinize them
for such small anounts that it would he
more profitable for them to lore the sum
than to come here to prosecute hiin- Bern
hart. fo= thai is his correct name, is
native Of Poland, and : So well known in
the swmaiiug business that his record is
given in eN Inspector Bvrnes famous took
Of danpcr0us criminals.
The mans scheme is 20 90 into
a reputable hotel. secure writing
raper aLd en- elopes. ana write a most
business like letter TO scH Q Eastern firm,
ordering a consignment Ct goods OB thirty
days eedit. There was siwavs an un
IsS,aka be look Of genuiueress about the
eou.muuica Jion, and he firm would usually
respond lry SHIPPING The goods by express
arrive, and BE express company would
make delivery according 10 tie address.
nut wunla find TO such D,an at the place
mentioned.
The case would he returned 70 tie .ifiee
and an hour OF two later a man would
appear and claim the articles, shu vtag
that he had bill tor them. The goods
would then hc sold or paw ned and the aIar-
-. D
Complaints regarding the man have been
coming in 10 Inspector MattngIy for
some time, ard for more than week
Detective Weedon has been working on
the case. aud has secured a mass Of eyi-
dence against the man, and learned of all
of his movements, but owing TO the fact
that the swindler left town for a few days
theopportHnity for arrest was not afforded
until yesterday. Then. none Of the
out-of-tCwn firms could he secured TO
swear out a warrant here for the man ON
the charge Of false pretenses, Inspector
Smith caused his arrest for using the
mails for fraudulent purposes.
Bernhart worked his victims, usually
large firms, for various amounts, usually
ranging from SO to $50, I'm such quaint
ties as he could easily dispose of to local
dealers at low price.
All kinds OF goods were secured-inilli-
merry, tailcrA cloth, iewelry and notions.
The inspector instructed the merchants 10
make complaint TO the Postoffice Depart
nent, and he asked the postoffice in
spectors To look into the operations of
krouse. The swindler was stopping at
the Ger trail Union Mission, and was often
seen getting goods at the express office
The swindlcr was at once taken before
United states Commissioner Mills, who held
hiTa in $500 bonds to await the action of
the grand jury.
Assistant District Attorney Sims repre-
| seHted the Government and Lawyer Rich
| arc Bell appeared for the defendant. The
! principal witness was Inspector Smith, who
| presented several letters alleged to
| have been written to several firms by
| Charles f. KroJse The first letter was
| TO Il. SAFER, a shoe manufacturer in Chi
cago. Sauer was suspicious, and dill not
| send the shoes. The Sharp.eigh Coffee
| Company, Of Boston, received IN .,rler for
! coffee, tea and sugar, KronSe promising
to remit after delivery. The goods were
shipped, but not delivered, the firm reunir-
/ ing payment C. o. ID.
| Lippincott, Johnson & Co., of PhHa-
| delphia, received an order for Tailoring
cloth ana sent the goods. 1t was testi-
| fled chat Krouse pawned some of the
cloth and tried to sell the remainder to
Keen, the tailor, for less than cost. To
| the dealer in shoes Krouse represented
| himself as a dealer in fine shoes. The
| coffee firm was told he was dealer in
Fine groceries only" and to LiBpincott
& Co. he represented that he was u er-
| chant tailor. Krouse had ack nc wledged
| writing some of the letters.