The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-29
BUSINESS HOUSES DUPEO.
CLEVER swrNDLERs WORK A Sue.
CEssFUL GAME.
said They Were Soliciting subscrip-
lions for q Building for Switch
mems Union--Oficers Deny Any
Knowledge of Such . scheme.

A clever game which has been in course
of operation for about three weeks in
this city has been brought 10 light within
the last two or three days. Many prom
inent Seattle business firms have been
imposed upon for sums ranging from s. 50
to $40. The swindlers were not at work
yesterday. and 1t is believed that they
found out that suspicion had arisen re-
garding their methods and have left the
city. 1T Is not known exactly how much
money they secured. but 1t is thought the
amount will run up 10 over s4oo.
The method of the swindlers IL de-
scribed by one of the victims as follows:
Two men would come into a business
house representing that they had been
sent by the Switchmen's Union to So
liclt subscriptions for a building which
was to be used by the members OF the
union as a reading room, bath house and
gymnasium. The location OF this build
ing was in different places at different
times. Al one time II was a house next
door 10 the Y. NJ q. A. on First avenue
At other times II was to be erected down
on the tide fats or on the water front.
A favorite place of operation was on
the water front, where commission houses
would therefore be- glad to ASSIST the
switchmen In every way. In the uptown
section they applied only to the largest
houses or those who received large ship
ments of goods. They said that they al
ready had $50 and only needed $3.50 to be-
gin work In almost every case they
were successful. The merchant promptly
put down his name for "A certain amount
which was invariably collected at once
As the list OF contributors grew, the
game was easier to work. One business
man who was seen yesterday said: Il
never dreamed that II was not a bona
fde enterprise. | looked over the list of
names and saw thereon not only the
names Of reputable business firms. but
In many cases the firm stamp. | simply
put down my name and gave up my
money | am sorry was taken in. but
II II is go. there is no help for IT,"
The members of the Switchmen's Union
were approached upon the subject vester-
day and one and all denied In the most
positive terms that any one had any ail-
thorfty to solicit for such a purpose
one burly switehman was told of the
scheme while he was busy attending to
tie gave an exclamation of disgust and
remarked; Well. guess after man
has been pulling brakes and turning
switches for twelve hours he don't care
particularly for gymnasium. | know I
am always glad 10 sit down and rest"
The secretary OF the union was also
seen He said he had heard nothing OF
any such fund. III there Is collection
OF this kind being made Il is without
our knowledge or consent We had a
meeting last Sunday and not a word was
said about any such enterprise | have
heard OF such schemes being successfully
worked In tho past and I believe the
master OF the union has couple OF the
lake subscription lists. Our union is not
very large. Put We ask nothing from the
pubic We expect 20 have a place in tho
labor temple which is to be built. and
would therefore have no use for tho
other building. You can safely say that
L is a Take and one Of which we have
heard only today"
The officers ~ the Western Central
Labor ttson also brand It ss AN unscru-
p1ldus scheme TO obtain money The p0-
lice have been notified OF the swIudie
and an effort will be made 10 bring thu
express themselves as being i'm ahSolifa
Ignorance Of the occurrence aud their
fear Is that II may hinder their work In
collecting for the labor temple
No accurate description an hA zf,er
Of tho alleged swindlers except that both
are about medium height one having a
biack nusiache and hair and the other
hyiug clean shAVen. One ~ ths vtcft,ss
said thai he knew one ~ the men QUITE
well By sight but did not know his name