The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-04

Il. ii. Martin, a young man with a
most engaging personality. who, 1t is
charged has been swindling several
hundred persons in this city for the
last few weeks and whose two asso-
ciates had been doing likewise for two
months prior to his arrival here, ran
afoul of the police last night and will
have to answer the charge of obtain
ing money under false pretenses when
arraigned before Magistrate Howe this
morning.
The game which Martin has been
working is precisely similar to the
game which his two predecessors and
associates worked, so that a descrip-
ton of their methods will answer also
for description of theirs. 1t might
be mentioned that Martin and the other
two chaps, whose names are Spillber-
ger and link and whose present where
abouts are unknown, constitute what
is known as the Morris Publishing
house, business institution which the
police say never had an existence eX-
cept in the minds of the aforesaid
three.
Martins activities have been confined
principally to the South Side and West
Scranton. He would make his appear
ance at the door of a residence and
show the lady of the house a copy of
a cheap paper novel, which he said he
| was selling at the extremely low price
of ten cents. He explained in the most
plausible way that with each novel a
coupon was given. When seventy
| books had been purchased and 81 paid
over. the seventy coupons could be en-
| changed by the purchaser for any one
of series of beautiful premiums, Of
fercd merely to Get the company's S
| standard novels before the public
THE PREMIUMS.
| At this point he would flash a cata-
logue containing pictures Of these pre-
| miums. Extension tables, silverware,
| parlor sofas and, in fact, almost every
| thing but upright pianos and houses
and lots We're represented as being
given for seventy Of the precious cou-
| pons. 1t would seem at first blush as
| if there would be very, very few people
who would nibble at this bait, but Mr..
Martins account books show that be-
| tween 300 and 400 did. The majority
| of these agreed to take two and three
| books week, the stipulation being
that they must be paid for in cash.
The police began to get wind of the
scheme recently from several persons
| from other parts of the city who had
run into either Mr.. Spillberger or Mr..
| link a couple, of months back, and
who after paying out several dollars
| We're looking vainly for both of these
gentlemen. who had suddenly disap-
| peared. One of these persons was ap-
| rha Inv m, arti, acl- -aI
| him about the missing Mr.. link.
| "Yes, he's gone" said Martin. 81 al
ways said that fellow was crooked and
| advised the company against keeping
him, but they insisted and now he's lit
out with the money. Some men are so
| dishonest"-and with that he asked the
aforementioned victim if he wouldnt t
| like to take line of books from him.
The gentleman said he didn't care to,
and went and told his story to the
police.
| A warrant for his arrest was sworn
out before Magistrate Howe and he
was taken into custody last night at
217 Franklin avenue, where he has
been boarding with his wife. He was
apparently in bed when Superintendent
Day and Detective Deter arrived, for
he looked out of the window in neg
| ligee costume, while the door was
opened by his wife. When she saw
Nho the visitors were she dashed up
stairs and the two officers heard her
whisper, They're coming, Ed"
TAKEN IN CHARGE.
Ed was taken in charge and brought
to the central police station, where a
little cross questioning failed to elicit
any information from him. The police
secured the key to the Office of the
Morris Publishing house, on the sec
ond floor of the building at 321 Lacka-