The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-07-17
Alleged Fraudulent Mail Order House
in Chicago Routed.
Victims Scattered Over The Country,
This County Included.
Managers" Appointed After They Haa
Deposited Cash Security
From Wednesdays Daily.

Alleged fraudulent operations OF a
mail order concern came to light in Chi
cago Monday, and number of persons
throughout southern Minnesota will be
interested in the arrest of the parties
connected Herewith. Detectives O'Con-
nor and Fitzgerald of the central detec-
tive bureau, Chicago, arrested j. X Ku-
blank, secretary of the Syndicate and
Merchandise company, at its office, 5ll
Lakeside building, 2l4 Clark street. Ku-
blank was locked up at the Harrison
street station and was to be arraigned
before a justice charged with obtaining
money under false pretenses and Operat-
ing a confidence game. The police are
also looking for n H. White, president
OF the company.
Complaints in the case were made by
Felix Spitser, J. 7. Murphy and G. E.
Vuaife, who allege that they lost 500
which they had deposited with White as
security while in his employ as managers
of branch offices in other cities. Murphy
is the heaviest loser. He says his loss is
$500: ,Vuaife and Spitser are out $3.50
and $50 respectively. 1t is said that
many other agents and customers all
over the country are victims, but are un-
willing to prosecute the men because OF
the notoriety that might result.
The company, it is alleged, advertised
in leading papers for managers of its
MALL order business in important large
cities Murphy answered the company IS
offer and was appointed representative
in Milwaukee. He said he was required
to deposit $500 as security and his sal
airy was to be $50 week.
Vauife likewise was appointed agent at
Minneapolis with security of $3.50 and
salary of SIS week. Vuaife is from
Wisconsin, but refuses to give the name
OF his home town, as he wishes to keep
his predicament from his parents. Splits
er was appointed assistant manager of
the Chicago office with security of $50
and salary of $l2 week.
81 had nothing to do but sit around, "
said Spitser yesterday. ''The circulars
White sent out said he dealt in general
merchandise, but never saw any of it.
All did was open my desk IN the morn
ing and sit there all day unemployed.
Finally got suspicious of the place and
began to take, notice of the, way the
business was carried on.
'.Kublank never claimed to have much
to do with it, but l used to see him
around from time to time. White, how
ever, was down bright and early every
morning. He always opened the mail
himself and never let anybody else
handle it. Many of the letters he got
1 could see were orders for goods. The
money was always enclosed and this
White always took good care of. Most
OF the letters were applications for posi-
lions as managers. The money White
required as security always went into
his pocket. Some of the applicants in
closed surety bonds, but White always
marked these N. G. and filed them
separate from the Others"
White and Kublank were arrested July
3 on the complaint of Vuaife alone and
were held to the grand jury under bonds
of $500 by Justice Vaverly last Friday.
At the time, however, it was not known
that the operations of the firm were so
extensive and after consultation with
the police the additional arrests were de-
cided upon yesterday.
against him yesterday Kublank secured
warrants for three young men from JUS
tice Mcdonald in Lyons. They were
about to leave the city in custody of Con-
stable P. ]. Mckinney when arrange
ments were made for their appearance
before Justice Richardson, and he releas-
ed them ON $500 bonds.
At the offices of the company yester-
day Miss Helen McKeel was in charge.
She was not regularly employed by
White, she said, but he had asked her
to take charge of the rooms for day.
Miss McKeel said that she had patent
that she was trying to interest White
in and that is how she had become ac-
quainted with him.
'.You see, 1 haven't known Mr.. White
very long," said Miss McKeel, "and so do
not know much about him. His business
has always been puzzle to me. So far
as I know he has no storehouse or rooms
where he keeps the merchandise he adj
vertises.
mir. White seems to be a very nice
man. He is nearly 60 years old, should
Judge, and has always treated me well, so
1 am trying to get him interested IN
nv patent. But there is something queer
about this business of his
Miss McKeel said she knew OF no cir
culars or catalogues that White sent out
and refused to look about the office for
1