The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-06
PROMOTER E. H. WILLARD
ARRESTED LAST NIGHT FOR WORK
ING A CONFIDENCE GAME.
Patches of Letters Concerning His
Business Captured at His Omces
I'm the Law Building.

tai BUSINESS Exchange, In ROOMS OLD anu
GA, Law Building, was arrested last night
and charged with being a confidence man.
John Roger Timlin, young man who was
stranded here at the time of the dissolu-
ton of Harry Seaman's Burlesque Com
pany, was also arrested and slated on the
same charge.
Detectives Asch and Dugan made the ar
rests and as soon as Willard realized that
he was in the clutches of the law he CO.
verify tried to tear I'D few letters he had
in his pocket, and also tried to masticate
and swallow a portion of an envelope. This
move was seen by Asch, who grabbed him
by the throat and prevented Willard from
swallowing it, Asch then called for help.
saying: .Dugan get it." Dugan did by fore
ing open Wizards mouth and therein was
found the corner of the envelope, badly
mutilated, but yet showing the card on
the corner. 1t read. ''willard Co.. Finan-
cial Agents. Milwaukee. Wis" Before this
Willard declared it was a disgrace to lock
him up and inquired whether he could get
a good supper at the police station. The
grip Asch had on his throat evidently ap-
peased his hunger. for when Asch asked
him If he still wanted supper, Willard
did not.
When he was searched number Of pa
pers were found. among them letters show
ing that he was also promoter or proprie-
tor of the Twentieth Century Comedy
Company" and had been previously con-
nected as president and manager with the
Western Brokerage Company" Gle Cham
Der of Commerce, Detroit. Mich. letter.
head bore the words: Business Invest
ments, Business Promoters and Capital
Secured for all Legitimate Enterprises"
Branch Offices were said to exist in Toledo,
o.; st. Louis, Mo-, and Cincinnati. o. A
card with the following was found: "E. H.
Willard. Expert Salesman. ST. Louis Of
fees, 9Ol-2-3-4 Chemical Building"
Among the letters found was one from
Detroit, Mich, inclosing 81 for bottle Of
"Oliveen." which, it appeared from the let
ter, was a preparation to restore sunken
cheeks. A number of letters were found in
answer TO advertisements which appeared
in Indianapolis papers asking for partners
with money, people VINO wanted Work, peo-
pie who were ambitious to enter upon
stage career people who had things to sell
or trade. One of the letters was from
young woman who was seen later, and she
said Willard had called upon her several
times in answer to her application. written
after reading one of his advertisements,
asking for a partner with capital. He Of
fered her a position as clerk at salary
of $50 per month, with a large increase IF
she took an interest in the business and
deposited $3.50 with him." She said 1t was
only temporary illness and a suspicion that
all was not right that kept her from going
into the scheme at first. After he had WIS.,
tied her several times she happened to re-
mark that she had also applied to Marks
ParlorS" for a position, when willard re-
Piled "Oh, we handle that business. A
few days later he called again, and she
told him of having seen an article In the
paper about women looking for the man
ager of Marks Parlors," who could not be
found, by several women who had paid him
money for preparations they could not sell.
She said Willard Immediately dropped that
subject and talked Of other matters. She
said, however, she wanted nothing further
to do\ with him, but this did not prevent
his calling her up by telephone and trying
to persuade her to invest" her $3.50.
The arrest was made on information OF
a man who had answered one or Willards
advertisements, but whose name is wltn-
held. He told the detectives he had visited
Willard, who wanted to sell him an IN
terest' in a business for $780, Willard
would not disclose the nature of the
business and, after several visits, during
which no more information was gained
Willard offered to sell the interest Tor
$780, $3.50, 500 and then SIS. but with the
SO proposition, upon which proht or SoO
per month was guaranteed 20 was TO
eacn
man thought the scheme was not a legiti-
mate one and reported the matter. to the
detectives.
Asch went to the place yesterday and.
| while there, saw a number of visitors
One represented colored quartet and
wanted Job with a troupe, which Willard
| had advertised would be sent on the road.
| The man was told the company was full"
| but that he should ''call again." All other
visitors were told the same thing.
Rogers, though connected with the con-
Germ, is thought to have been there only as
an employee. He claimed to be receiving
| 81 per day for his services as a stenog-
Iapher and Typewriter.
Willard is the man who III said to have
| inserted an advertisement in an evening
paper a few days ago calling for a travel
| ing companion for an elderly gentleman,
| at salary of $40 per month and found"
In his office were found numerous drafts
| of replies to letters received in answer to
| advertisements. which 1t seemed were there
| in stacks. showing that his advertising had
| been productive OF many replies, but not
much money.
| He had one contract with local con-
Germ in which. they agreed to sell him
certain line of tables at 80 1-3 discount and
had paid him $40 for advertising, post
age" etc.
unearthed MILLER syndicate" in Indian
apolis, but their further investigations
| showed the probability that Willard was
| only promoter" trying to do business
without Capital ne IeiuSco " soy any
| thing whatever of his affairs other than
to claim he was doing Legitimate brok-
erage business"
1t is thought, however, that Willard Is
| the man who conducted the Marks par
| lors" on South Illinois street, and for
| whom several women and the police have
| been looking.
| Among the papers found in his Office
| were two. evidently recently typewriter.
| showing May statement of st. Louis
| Office" This shows business Listed"
| gether with statement of expenses footing
1863. As. Another expenses of the st. Louis
| office" showed total expenses 81 and
| average businesses listed and sold s525.
| These are thought to be fake statements
| made to secure partners with capital to
| take interest" in the business"
| Willard was also negotiating with sew
| eral persons relative to a patent water
| cooler and a nickel-in-the-slot cigar ma
chine.
| letter In Wizards possession was
/ signed Nina" and said in part: 81 think
| you had better continue to address me at
| Fort Wayne. Ind. / will probably send my
| letters out of town TO be mailed. as this is
| not a large place, and it's nobodys busi-
ness how letters are postmarked.' The let
| ter was not dated and was addressed to
/ relatives. The signature was typewriter.
Wizards office contained cash book
| which contained a number OF pages filled
with figures. purporting to represent the
| business of the concern, and the dates run
back as far January. 1897. Most of the
| writing therein was thought by the detec-
| tiyes TO have been recently done.
MYRON W. REEDS LETTERS.