The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-28

dressed. who. it was learned later, was Mrs.
Frances Carlisle, Plass's sister. called on
her and told her that her uncle. Mr. VIM
ter. was sick. but would be down the next
week TO pay the frst months interest
Mrs. Newsletter WAS pleased TO think she
haf such an 9sre'dble ana accommodating
borrower. and told the young woman Tot
to worry about the interest. After her Wis
itor had gone. however miStruSt arose in
Mrs. N"ustett"rs mind that all was not
right. Hhtch imp he'd her, three days later,
10 look up the address of the real Mr.. VIM
ter and pay him visit.
Then she and Winter learned of the fraud
Instead Of reporting the matter TO the po-
lice. Mrs. Newsletter interested a legal
friend. who attempted 10 recover her mon
the transaction and dropped out of sight.
Then came the publication OF the swindle,
and the discovery that this case was only
one Of several through which the gang had
cleaned up 81 80. Real Estate Row became
excited over the sensational disclosures,
and for the protection Of the reputable raal
ter I'm the hands Of the Thiel Detective
Agency Doctor y. &. Peterson assumed
PERSONAL direction Of the case, and through
his Investigations learned the entire history
Of the conspiracy.
Wills Goes to Prison.
When We began work on the case" said
and Plass disappeared from his usual
haunts. hut remained In town. changing his
name. We were morally certain of the
guilt of the attorney. but he was clever
enough to make his victims believe ne was
an innocent party and had been imposed
upon also. and. rs the victims were 10th ID
prosecute, no attempt WAS made to arrest
him. We found that the gang had cleared
UP sd on their transactions here The
saloonkeeper who brought Wilson here got
I: per cent of this. the attorney and Plass
- per cent. and Wilson and Williams di-
vidsd the remainder.
Two months after this exposure the con-
SpiIators boldly opened another office on
plive street. near Leonard avenue. under
thc nam" and style of abe T. T. Turner
Realty Company. Williams was in charge.
Their first job in which they attempted to
negotiate a loan of S2..S9 on the property of
q man named Bauer. resulted disastrously.
Herbert Mills. a bartender. whom they
hired to iynpersonate Bauer. WAS caught.
convicted and sentenced to ten years in
prison. The other conspira'ors escaped.
III IS went 10 Spokane, Wash: Williams
went East. where Wilson had preceded him.
and the attorney remained in hiding until
the Grand jury had adjourned the follow
ing summer. when he reappeared. and said
Hc had been abroad. He is still practicn,
his profession here.
"PIaSs rejoined Wilson and Williams in
Philadelphia IN 1Sg5, and they resumed
their operations We learned that they
cleared no nearly SD"0 there that sum
transactions amounts To over 10000 to Ia te.
Plass's sister and Mrs. Anderson Joined
him In Philadelphia. closely Swallowed by
| nv men, unknown To them.
| PiaSs Is Caught.
s.In tho summer Of 1895 they transferred
! their field ~ operations 20 Pi-tsburS. whc'ra
| transaction under the name Of J. G Boyd
IL. was tried. convicted and sentenced 10
twelve years in the penitentidry- despite
the efforts ~ his ccnfcticrates. who spent
money laviShiy " secure an 3cGufttdf-
while he WAS awaiting transfer 10 Isfv-
! erSidc Prison his conf"derateS Cuncocted
one Of the holdcSt and most desperate plans
| to effect his release The scheme cOit"n-
plated murder bu. they did not hesitate at
shedding human blood to accomplish their
p!I-poSe Money was freely used IN the pre-
! limina ries. \ physician was 70 be hrihcd