The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-10
A PRINCE OF SWINDLERS
FRANK Won BURG BUYS PIANOS, DIA-
MONDS AND FURNITURE.
Gives His Note for 81 900 and Receives
n Piano from Pearson; Din monds
Come without Paper.


A young man was arrested yesterday on
the charge of working a confidence game
and obtaining goods under false pretenses,
who demonstrated TO the finest detail the
ease with which business men can be taken
in by smooth words. Not only did he real
ize in financial way to the extent of about
5000 worth of goods in the week he spent
in this city. but he also won the heart of
an estimable young lady and had engaged
himself to marry her. He was discovered
oy the merest chance just as he was about
to fly the town. He was only waiting to
realize on some of his purchases when
tip reached the police and he was
placed under arrest. He bought goods from
merchants on credit and without sign of
document to show his Indebtedness,
thing which lifelong resident and property
owner in Indianapolis could not have done.
The young man gives the name of Frank
Won Burg and claims that he is a native
of Vienna and holds the rank of lieutenant
in the Second Regiment Of the Austrian
army. He came here about week ago and
secured board with a family by the name
of Davis, living at 70 East Vermont street.
His confidence work seems TO have begun
from the very start. He did not have
money with which to pay the weeks board
required in advance. He told Mrs. Davis
that he was here to establish a large bust
ness enterprise and would have plenty of
money when his brother-in-law arrived
from Boston. However, to secure his board
he pledged a typewriting machine. 1t is
not known where he got this, but the police
he bought it on credit.
Once established at his boarding house, he
set about to secure Office rooms and found
some to suit him located at % South Penn
sylvania street on the second floor of the
new building between the Indiana National
Bank building and the Scottish Rite build
ing. There are four rooms in the suite, ar
ranged and constructed in elegant. modern
style. He arranged with the MetZger agen-
cy for five-year lease on the rooms, as
usual paying nothing, but promising to
make a payment on the arrival of his
"brother-in-law.
w. II. Messengers furniture store re-
ceived his next call. There he bought $500
worth of Office furniture. including large
rugs, Office desks, chairs, tables and
couch. The four rooms were furnished up
place air OF prosperity. To Mr.. Messen-
ger he did not give scratch Of a pen to
acknowledge his Indebtedness simply tell
ing Mr.. Messenger that he would settle yes
terday when his ''brother-in-law' would
reach town. The goods were delivered and
placed in position in the rooms by Messen-
gers employees under the personal super
vision of Mr.. Messenger himself. Won Burg
h.
with Difference.
NO SMALL DETAIL OMITTED.
Mr.. Won Burg carried everything out in
perfect detail 1t is the theory of the police
that he did not expect to remain in the
city longer than time enough to allow him
TO realize on some OF his purchases, and it
is therefore surprising the care the man
took to supply all the little details of an
office outfit. He patronized Baker & Thorn
ton to the extent of $S5 worth of books Of
| record and stationery. buying everything
necessary for an office down 10 a supply
of fountain pens for his collectors. steel
pens. blottng paper and scratch tablets. He
also ordered $25 worth of printed matter.
The next move was to insert adver-
tisement in an afternoon paper. 1t re-
quested young men who We're willing to
work as collectors, and young women
stenographers and cashiers TO call at the
Office of '.Aeu bon Marche" This was the
high-SoUnding title he gave to his concern.
1t is the name of one OF the largest de-
English THE Cheap Market Won Burg's
circulars represent that he had established
and would carry a full stock of ''vestments,
manipleS, abas, abs, altar sets, in silk and
brocots embroidered in rich gold and silver,
also in half real and quarter real and
plated bullion; also real lace in Duchess,
Valenciennes, Brussels points. We carry
also same in lace imitation. Further We
have in stock candelabra, censors, brass
missal stands, cruets, pyxides. oil stock,
sanctuary lamps, ostensoriums, chalices.
crucifixes and all other altar goods in solid
gold, silver, platina as well as plated
goods.
The advertisement brought many letters
and inquiries to the office of Aleu- bon
| Marche." and yesterday morning the place
was full OF young men and women who
| were engaged and expected TO go 10
Work YESTERDAY est , arse Tern ae fh eio sd
vertisement and who were to go to work
were: Harry l.: Richardson. AZ East Nc
z. A. Phinney 66 Gregg; Charles T. Biz
zard. 219 Huron; Frank J. Leibold, III Fay
cite; c. A. Osborn. 1929 West Washington,
+. Keister, Brightwood; r. G.. Hobbs, IS
| Baldwin block; Il. III. Clifford. 40 North Hi
nois; j. a. Morris, 134 North State. Harry
| Beck. 671 East Washington; Charles NJ.
| Davidson. 43i North East street; j. G..
| Habing. 161 North New Jersey: S. o. Bier.
| 100 Camp; r. NJ Coleman, as Thorpe block
| H. Olsen. i16 South East: Edgar Patterson,
| 1888 North Capitol avenue. Howard Gibson.
| 656 North West; a. N. Kendall, go South
! Pennsylvania: Steve w. Gaven, Y Chad
| wick; CT. Il. Niemann. AS Virginia avenue;
| F. w. Cornelius, United States pension Of
| flee; Paul J. Kamp. 157 North Pennsyl-
| vania: j. L. Reeves. 20 West Georgia; L. A.
| Anderson, 425 South East; James S. Gran
| dell. col Davidson street.
When Mr.. Won Burg had got fairly well
| settled in his new office he set about to
| adOrn his person the credit system. He
! was well dressed. and made fine appear
ance. He is of medium height, light COM
! plexioned and of n decided German appear
/ ance, very genteel appearing and of good
| address. He needed some diamonds, how
| ever, and went to j. G.. Sipe's store to get
| them He did not succeed there however,
| but YVES more successful at Horace Com
| stocks store. There he got $500 worth of
| diamonds. and was allowed to take them
away with him on approval without Sc
| curity acknowledgment. He also pur-
| chased four pairs of trousers from Monu-
| ment place firm.
ENGAGED TO MISS DAVIS
The interesting feature Of the mans esca-
| pades is his engagement to Miss May Davis,
| the daughter of the lady with whom he
boarded He exhibited a great liking for
| her from the start, and soon made an i'm
! preston upon her by his pleasant and
| agreeable manners and his glowing ac-