The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-26
WAS A SMOOTH SW|NOLE
How Pawnbroker Karatofsky
Was Flimfammed Out of $500.
tXPRESSMEN INVOLVED
Complaints Issued Against Two OF the
Employees of the Pacific Express
Company Will Be Heard by
Judge Nichols.

There were developments of a. rather
sensational nature yesterday in con-
nection with the fimf1amming game in
which young Sam Robertson was ar
rested couple of days ago for swind-
ling c. Karatofsky, the pawnbroker,
out of $276.20 on a couple of boxes of
soap. These developments stamp young
Robertson and his confederates as be-
ing onto their Jobs in selecting a COM
modify upon which to build very Slip
perry job. The sensational part of the
matter consisted of the issuance of a.
complaint by County Attorney Con-
molly against Robertsoss and Gohn Doe
and Richard Roe for obtaining money
under false pretenses, the aliases being
intended for two members of the local
office force of the Pacific Express COM
pany who are accused of being accom-
plices of Robertson in the sWindle.
The complaint was based upon a
story recited to County Attorney Con-
molly by Karatofsky, who said Robert
son and confederate got into his con-
hdence through number of small
deals, and finally, when the way was
Faved, sprung their scheme. Robert
son came to his place of business AMI
asked his clerk. Jacob Sultan, to write
a letter to a Denver firm for an order
OF soap. Then in the presence of the
clerk he enclosed SIS in the letter. The
letter is supposed to have been sent.
but in due time Robertson showed up
and informed Kara tofsky he would re-
ceive shipment by express, and leav-
ing S2o with Karatofsky asked him to
pay the express. Soon afterwards two
boxes We're unloaded on which there
were s31.2O express charges and a c.
y. ID. for an amount bringing the whole
up to $500. Surprising Robertson was
al right, Karatofsky paid the bill AS
Robertson did not show up, the boxes
were opened and found to contain a
Few dollars worth of soap.
All this is history, but the express
company's part commences with Karat
ofsky's relation of the fact in connec-
ton with an investigation he started
and which was the cause of the Pa
cific Express people being included in
the complaint. Karatofsky said he
learned that Robertson bought the two
boxes of soap and took them to the
Pacific express office and asked to have
them marked as though they had been
shipped from Denver, that they be 50
billed that the Denver express rate he
collected and a, c. o. D. of $685. Kar-
atofshy said he went to the express
office and inquired If they had been a
they had been. Upon this showing Mr.
Connolly granted the complaint.
Karatofsky did not know the names
of the persons who were parties to the
transaction and they We're accordingly
named as John Doe and Richard Roe.
Inquiry at the Pacific Express COM
pany's office last evening elicitet1 the in
formation that Karatofsky had stated
the facts 1t was admitted that Rob
ertson brought the boxes of soap to the
office and asked that they be billed and
marked as II coming from Denver. and
that the Denver rate and the c.. o. D.
of S265 be collected. This. it was stated,
was done, but 1t was explained that
Agent w. w. Williams had sanctioned
the transaction on the ground that the
company being a common carrier, was
entitled to accept any business that
came to it.
The case will be heard on preliminary
hearing in Justice Nichols court. The
young fellow who figured as Robert
sons partner escaped, it will be re-
membered. at the time Robertson was
captured at Silver Bow.