The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-12-12
an ALLEGED SNINDLRR
Charged With Using the Mails For
Fraudulent Purposes.
INSPECTOR SHOWS STATEMENT

Declares That Rsper's Scheme oi
Roping In was Far aaA Away Bet.
ter Than Milier's Franklin syndi-
eate-Even Lawyers Taken In.
Newark, N. j., Dec. 12.-Osmer W
Roper, Of this city, was arrested yes
terday by United States Marshal Gar
side, Postofice Inspector w. B. Snow
and several deputies and committed
to Jail In default Of 5000 bonds.
The charge was based upon an al
legation that he was using the malls
for swindling purposes. The authori-
ties claim that his scheme was far
and away better than Miller's Franklin
syndicate, in that he took In plenty Of
money and seldom or never paid out
any except for running expenses. They
have 80 complaints drawn up against
him. and say SO more are fled. and
that they can get thousands Of them
II needs be. The swindle, a. they say
It was, has been in operation for three
years. Ropsr's business required a
large force Of clerks, stenographers
and typewritsrs, and he did an enor-
nous mail business.
It 10 claimed that Roper 10 the Realty
Corporation company Of New Jersey,
the Realty Loan and Trust Fund COM
pany, the Realty Loan and Title COM
pany and the Four Per Cent Mort
gage company. The authorities say
the companies existed only on paper,
although regularly incorporated, and
that In each Roper was the only per-
son concerned.
Inspector Snow says that Roper's
scheme was alluring, and that his vic
Tins are in every state in the nation
and embrace all classes. He says that
even churches and lawyers have been
taken In by Roper.
According to the inspector, who has
had personal charge of investigating
Ropers affairs, the four concerns were
worked in pairs. The method is al
legged to have been something on this
line:
The Realty Corporation company
sent out alluring circulars all over the
country. The stationery was most elab-
crate. and so gotten UP as to deceive
even business men. The body Of each
NllSuldl blutOu that tuC GOupNuy Wdb
in a position to obtain for any person
with property loan Of any amount OF
money at per cent, or even less.
Money was represented to be cheap
and plentiful in Newark, and not only
good terms as regarded interest were
offered, but easy terms as to repay
ment and renewals. If the person re-
ceiving the circular should not want
to borrow, he doubtless knew of some
friend who did. Would he hand the
circular to this friend, or send the
friends name to the company?
When a response came asking for
money and Offering security a reply
was sent asking for more particulars
and calling for fee of SO to cover
appraisement costs. In due time the
victim received q communication ap-
proving the loan 80 far as the Realty
Corporation company was concerned,
but requiring certificate of search
and title guarantee from the Realty
Land and Title Fund. BY the time
this company executed its fees the
victim had paid from $40 to $50, &C.
cording to the abstract Of transfers,
Aul ny lh0 Wouiu-uc DOIIoWcIs
After this plan had been worked out
and every dollar possible had been ex-
tracted the loan would be approved.
Then the victim would be taken In
hand again. The details of the Dor
rowing would be laid before him. 1t
was explained that every month the
money taken in from interests, repay
ments, etc., was put up at auction un-
der rules similar to those of builiing
and loan associations, and that the
money was loaned to the highest bid
ders. How much would the borrower
be willing to bid? It was left to him
self, and an idea was given him that
the money was easily obtained.
The bidding occurred monthly and
was open. The bid had to be filled out,
and cash to an amount equal to IS on
each 500 was required to accompany
the bid. As there were few applica-
lions for less than 81 900, and most of
the victims wanted several thousands,
the returns were heavy.
After the passing of the date when
the sale of the money was supposed
to take place the victim received a
note The company was sorry, but
he had been Outbid by others, and
every dollar sold had been disposed
Of at better rate than he had offered.
The name or names of those who were
supposed to have bought the money
were given. The company would hold
the percentage paid in and bid the
same rate again unless the customer
wished to increase the amount he
would bid, In which event enough
money to make up the additional
per cent Of the whole must be for
warded. Usually this brought in some
more money.
This went on month after month
until the victim made a demand for
the return Of his money He then
received blanks, which he had to fill
out. He would not get the fees back,
but percentage of the per cent de-
posit would be returned, usually 10, Is
or 20 per cent, at the expiration of IL
months, from the receipt Of the blanks
and so on.
The Realty Loan and Trust COM
pany and the -Four Per Cent Mort
gage company are alleged to have been
worked together in the same manner.
When the officials swooped down
upon the Offices they took possession
of everything in sight except the en-
ployes. Several mail bags full Of cir
culars, letters and applications were
seized The inspectors say the appli-
cations for loans ran into the thou
sands, and that the profits to the pris-
oner have been very great.
Philadelphia Convention boomers.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE prelim-
mary skirmishing for the contest for
the honor Of entertaining the next Re-
publican national convention was be-
gun yesterday when the advance guard
Of the Philadelphia delegation which is
to work in behalf of that city arrived
at the national capital and took quar-
tiers at the Arlington hotel, where the
national committee will meet next
Friday. The Philadelphians regard
Chicago as their strongest competitor.
nan HEART COJJ n MOT TIE nOXvN