The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-19
arrrp1rp 1rrarp DnAnnna
an the Victims ef :. nrewnr ~ "~vyhitne1aE
net Hnewn. bet They Are rEany.

An the Victims ef 'nrownr ~ "Whftne1an
net xnown. bat They Are rEsuy.
Publishers and deaieru In sheet music have
boon swindled In the last month Of amounts
ranging from ESQ TO $500 by an Englishman
who called himself George Brevn. an independ-
ent travelling salesman who handled sheet mu-
sic, musical Instruments. pianos. and the like on
commission. His methods were various. but
usually he prevailed upon companies to consign
large orders OF music 10 fictitious dealers In
Philadelphia, Bloomington, Norfolk, Washing
ton, and other cities.
EARLY in December he called on Maurice
Shapiro, q member Of the Consolidated Music
Publisher Association at 10 Union square, said
that he was q travelling salesman for the Tway
Piano Company Of Fifth avenue and Fourteenth
street and expressed a desire to handle sheet
music as an outside venture. A deal was closed
and later he sent in q large order for tho Philn-
delphia Music Company OF 2249 South Ninth
street, representing that the company was .
new concern which intended 70 carry on q large
business III popular song sheets. Tho musio
was expressed, and later. Brown appeared with
. check for $40 In favor Of the Consolidated
Music Publisher Association, payable BY the
Union Trust Company Of Philadelphia and
signed by the Philadelphia Music Company. He
presented this as q partial payment Of the goods
amount. Il was offered to him in cash, but he
asked for n check. While the check was being
made out he contrived to secure a number OF
letterheads or the association.
he called on Joseph w. Stern & Co. OF 10 East
Twentieth street. and opened business with
them. A large order was sent to the Philadel.
phia Music Company and to q Number Of other
addresses. Brown was asked by the bookkeepcr
ii ? PhilsdeIpdEis Which owed stern I Co. . bad
account. He expressed his Willingness to coli
lect tho claim. and . letter giving him tho
requisite authority was handed him. A day or
so later he presented Q check like the ono gtven
to the Consolidated Music, Publishers Associa.
demand his commission. He also called on the
Petrie Music Company, Broadway, and
schlam. 80 West Twenty-eighth street.
How many moro concerns he dealt with has not
been learned. The checks turned out to DO
and found that . mar named George Whitfield
had been receiving express packages and mail
at the address given as that of the Philadelphia
Music Company. He had also sold large con-
signments. OF music to ,newsdealers. He had
solidated Music Publishers Association. au-
thorising him.. az agent for. Pennsylvania. yir-
Rinia. and New Jersey to collect all outstanding
credits Of the association. He had erased the
name of. the debtor in the letter authorizing
Stern & Co. and had substituted all outstand-
Fl do not know how much he has collected on
the forged letter." said Mr.. Shapiro. " but I have
found $50. I will not know the extent Of my
loss until I can mail all my customers q state
adelphia. and I am afraid the loss will be consid-
cradle. Brown swindled nearly all tho music
dealers in the city, and ! was told ct Police
Headquarters that he is well known"