The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-15
ANOTHER
A scheme By Which Many People
Have Been Robbed Exposed.

New York, December 11.-Osmer W.
Roper, of Newark, N. j., was arrested
today by United States Marshal GAR
side, Postoffice Inspector w. B. Snow,
and several deputies and committed to
JAIN in default of S., 900 bail.
The charge is based upon an alleea>
ton that he was using the mails for
sWindling purposes. The authorities
claim that his scheme was far and away
better than Miller's Franklin syndf-
cate, in that he took money and seldom
or never paid out any except for run-
ming expenses. They have fifty COM
plants drawn up against him, and say
that nifty more are filed and that they
can get thousands of them if need be.
The sWlndle, as they says it was. has
been in operation for three years. Rop-
er's business required a large force of
clerks, stenographers and typewriters
and he did an enormous mail business.
Ut is claimed that Roper is the Realty
Corporation Company of New Jersey,
the Reality Loan and Trust Fund Com
pany, h Reality Loan and Tital Com
pany and the Four per cent. Mortgage
Company. The authorities say the
companies existed only on paper, all
~o~oA .AAAA AAA@oA 1OI Z III LID
in each Roper was the only person cor
cerned.
Inspector Snow says Roper's scheme
was alluring, and that his victims are
in every state in the nation and en-
brace all CLASSES. He says that even
churches and lawyers have been taken
in by him.
According to 1.-THE inspector, who has
h personal charge of investigating
Roper's affairs, the four concerns were
worked in pairs. The methods alleged
to have been something on this line:
The Realty Corporation Company
sent out alluring circulars all over the
country. The stationary was most
elaborate and so gotten up as to deceive
even business men. The body of each
circular stated that the company was
in a position to obtain for any person
with property a loan of any amount OF
money at 4 per cent, or even less.
When a response came asking for
money and offering security, a reply
was sent asking for more particulars
and calling for a fee of 30 to cover APP
praisement costs.
In due time the victim received a
communication approving the loan as
far as the Realty Corporation Company
was concerned, out requiring a certffi-
cate of search and title guarantee from
the Realty Land and Title Fund. By
the time this Company executed its
fees, the victim had paid i'm from $40
to $50, according to the abstract or
transfers, furnished by the would
be borrower.
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 bor-
| rowing would be laid before him.. It
| was explained that every month the
| money taken in from interests, repay
| ments, etc, was put up ait auction un-
| der rules similar to those OF building
| and loan association and that the
| money was loaned to the highest bid
ders. III bid had to be filled out, and
| cash to an amount equal to So on
each 500 was required to accompany
the bid. As there were few appltca-
lions for less than $1,000 and most OF
the victims wanted several thousands,
| the returns were heavy.
After the passing OF the date wnen
| the sale Of the money vas supposed to
take place the victim received a note.
| The was sorry bur he had
| been outbid by others, and every dollar
| sold had been disposed OF at a better
rate than he had offered. When a vic
tim made a demand for h return OF
| his money he received blanks which he
had to fill out. He could not get the
| fees back, but a percentage OF the .
per cent. deposit would be returned,
| usually 10, Is or 20 per cent. at the ex-
| piration OF twelve months from the re-
| ceipt of the blanks, and so on.
Roper viii he given a hearing on
| Thursday