The Jersey City news., 1899-12-12
ROPER ROPED IN.
Inspector Snow Catches the
Ingenious Swindler In
Newark.
ONCE OPERATED HERE
"The News" Exposed the
Game and He Served
His Time.
ONCE OPERATED HERE

After spending three years in jail for
misusing the mails and swindling in this
city. Osmer w. Roper changed his field
of operation and employed his talents for
the same purposes in Newark where he
has been most successful for the past
two years. But yesterday his career was
again interrupted by Post Office nspec-
tor w. B. Snow and Deputy United States
Marshal John j. Garside, who descended
upon Roper's office in the Liverpool and
Globe building and placed that person
under arrest on the same charges that
landed him in limbo in this city five
years ago and in Charlestown, Mass,
some time previous to his appearance
here.
Roper came here and opened an office
on lower Montgomery street and started
a money loan business that had about it
many features similar to those connected
with the building and loan system He
called the firm the Mutual Building and
Loan Company, and advertised that ne
was prepared to loan any sums OF money
at low rates of interest His business
had progressed but a short time before
complaints were heard and Roper took
on an unusual air of prosperity, much out
of proportion with conditions.
.sThe News investigated Roper's affairs
and published a complete exposure of his
methods of swindling gullible people, who
felt the necessity of borrowing ready
money AS a result of the News eff
forts Roper was arrested and sentenced
to three years imprisonment.
While in the Hudson County Jail ne
showed great nerve and decided lack
of fear by continuing his business, send
ing out circulars. and receiving mail He
used the number of the jail as his address,
He served his term and the local police
authorities lost sight of him.
Two years ago he turned up in New
ark and it is said that his profits for that
period reached S100, ,0O0 The extent of his
business may be shown by the fact that
1000 applications for loans were found by
the police yesterday. Roper posed as
President of the Realty Loan and Trust
Company, the Realty Corporation Com
many of New Jersey and the -Four Per
Cent. Mortgage Company. He lived In
handsome house In South Seventeenth
street, East Orange.
When Roper learned the reason for the
visit of the Postoffice Inspector and the
United States Marshal, he telephoned his
family that an important engagement
would detain him for an indefinite period.
The amount of bail has been fixed at
$500
Roper's methods were to send out let
ters and circulars to the lawyers and real
estate dealers of the city offering loans
at low rates of interest ana
also offering inducements for these gentle
men to interest themselves enough TO open
new channels for the distribution OF the
large sum of money he wished TO place
at a reasonable rate of interest Anyone
wishing to do business with Roper was
told that the payment of SO for appralse-
ment and certain amount for searcning ls
titles was necessary. After this part OF
the deal was successfully carried through
the victim was told that he must subscribe
for shares in one of Roper's con-
Germs to the amount of five per cent.
of the desired loan. This would give
him the privilege of bidding for the
desired sum against others who might
outbid. him II they wished. After lapse @
of a short time the victim was told that
he was outbidden and that another oppor-
tunity would be offered him upon the pay
ment of an additional per cent This
was in most cases the point at which re-
lations were severed between the sucker
and his slick business friend. The VIC
tim however, was given the option OF
finally declaring that he wished to WITH
draw as subscriber and he would re
ceive as such of his money as was not ex-
pended in twelve months. There is no re-
corded case where Roper had any OF his
customers money at the end of this time
Roper made money on the fees and the
1apses. The police have been unable 10
locate one loan that was really effected