The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-04
fsnecial 10 The Herald.)

Ogden, May 3.-From all appearances
a far-reaching and clever swindling
scheme has been prosecuted in Ogden
during the month of April.
S. ". Hyde is the name on the office
stationery of the man who is being
sought for by the postoffice officials for
use of the mails for fraudulent pur-
poses.
The questionable character of the
transactions came to the notice Of the
postal authorities recently, and yester-
day Inspector Fitzgerald came to Og-
den and in connection with Postmaster
Islaub inspected the office at room 521,
Utah Loan and Trust building. Mr.
Islaub was appealed to for information,
but declined to give any further than
10 admit that he was at the room with
the inspector.
However, it was learned from other
sources that Hyde has 'ostensibly been
in charge of a concern known as the
Western Loan association. He negoti-
ated loans on property, charging $40 a 6
a fee. paid in advance, for the examin-
alton OF each abstract Unless the fee
WAS paid, the abstract would not be
the western country, seeking business
in Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, Idaho
and, in fact, all states surrounding
Utah, and q very little in Utah. No
loans were sought in Ogden, as his
scheme would have been Immediately
detected. the letter-head alone being
sufficient to stamp it as fraud. This
letter-head had the words Western
Loan Agency in large letters across
the top. while below, at the left. were
the words, Eastern office New York.
City This was even with. the date
line of Ogden. Utah. The place of
business. 81 Utah Loan and Trust
building. was also given. The following
names were given as officers of the
concern: S. W. Hyde. manager: James
Gaspia, attorney; George w. Sumner.
cashier Gaspia and Sumner are rot
residents of Ogden, if, indeed. they are
of any place. and the name Hyde, too,
was doubtless fictitious. on April 2.
the man employed a Miss Murphy as
stenographer and typewriter and m
mediately began debating circular let
tiers. He would frame several letters
all alike. explaining his plan for max
ing loans and would usually address
them himself, though he would some
times have her address them. Other
letters were framed little differ
entity and sent out, but $40
examining the abstract. Soon the let
tiers and abstracts came pouring in,
but the young lady was never allowed
TO heln read the mail. II is quite GER
=ain that large sums We're collected in
this way by him To other parties.
Hyde called himself Hon. Sylvester
Hicks. and gave this gentleman as a
reference for himself. Hyde then re-
ceiVed the mail of Hicks and answered
it. giving very faVOra BILE reports Of
Hyde's character and business respon-
sibility. This would naturally disarm
suspicion of men in distant states, and
the so accompanied by an abstract of
property on which il was desired to
borrow money would usually be forth
corning. once Hyde left ogden. telling
Miss Murphy he was going to look at
some property in Pocatello on which a
Joan was wanted. He came back as
ne promised. About ten days ago he
left and said he was going 10 Denver.
He sent word to Miss Murphy that she
Iced not come TO work until Thursday
last Although she has been on hand
he has not shown up. On the office
table were found two letters, one to
a customer telling him 10 make future
remi-tances to Chicago. the other to
another customer. putting New York !
as the place where remittanceS should |
he made because Of the closing of the |
western Office. Hyde was so peculiar
and unsociable as to excite comment |
of those with Offices around him. He |
left owing several bills. including the /
wages of Miss Murphy and his office !
rent The office room is the one for
merly used by ]. Chapel Bennett of |
swindling fame. 1t is quite certain |
from bits of correspondence that he !
had a representative in Salt Lake who |
has been duped extensively by him.