The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-27
Armed with Credit References, Inn
ported Undergarment Goods Were
Bought from New York Firm.
SOLD HIS WAREHOUSE RECEIPTS
INDIANAPOLIS MEN THEN INDUCED
TO START A FACTORY HERE.
Receipts Were Bought Back by Them
and Business Was Commenced with
Levina as an Employe.

New York detectives and attorneys, with
a member Of the firm of Thomas & Co, New
York importers, came to this city last Mon
day armed with warrants and requisition
papers for the arrest and return TO the
Eastern metropolis of Louis Levina, lately
connected with the Western Undergarment
Company of this city. Yesterday, after
allowing many delays, and completely ig-
noring the Indianapolis police and detec-
tive department, they found their bird had
flown.
Levina last year in the undergar-
ment manufacturing business in New York
and, it is said. through false representation.
secured financial rating with r. @. Dun
& Co., that enabled him 10 secure credit
of about $4,000. Armed with the credit
references he bought about $4,000 worth of
imported goods from Thomas & CO., on
time payments. which goods he was TO use
in the manufacture of garments in his
New York factory.
SOLD FOR A SONG.
About a month later he stored the goods
in warehouse, taking a warehouse re-
cept for them, and went out OF business
without having paid for the material which
he had purchased from Thomas & Co. Toe
warehouse receipts. which are negotiable
papers. he sold TO a woman money shark
for $500 Then he came TO Indianapolis.
Here he interested Mantel e. Medias, pawn
brokers. and former Detective Harry Wal
lace in the establishment OF an undergar-
msnt factory here.
At the suggestion of Levina. IL Is said.
the Western Undergarment Company. with
a factory at the corner of Alabama and
Maryland streets, was formed and was at
once put into operation with Levina as one
of the managers. Mantel later went to New
York and purchased the warehouse receipts
from the woinan money lender. secured the
goods, shipped them here and for some time
had them stored in Shellhouse's warehouse.
but later removed them to the factory OF
the Western Undergarment Company. and
proceeded TO make them into marketable
goods.
discovered Levina's duplicity and secured
an Indictment against him from the grand
jury Warrants we're sworn out for his
arrest. Last week II was learned by a
New York detective, who had been work.
ing on the case for two weeks. that Levina
in indianapolis in the employ OF the
Western Cndergarment Company, In the
capacity of manager OF sales. and requisi-
tion papers We're secured "A week ago last
Friday from Governor Odeil, OF New York.
for Levina's return TO that State.
TOO SURE OF THEIR MAN.
Instead of telegraphing the detective de-
partment here to arrest and hold Levina.
! the New York men came to Indianapolis I'm
person and on Monday had the requisition
| papers honored by Governor Durbin, after
which they set out TO locate their man.
| The New York detective had him located
/ and when he saw the man whom he believed
was Levina walk into the factory of the
undergarment company yesterday morning.
he went TO see Superintendent Taffe and
asked him TO send some one over with him
! TO make the arrest. Superintendent Tafte
and Captain Gerber detailed detectives Col
| bert and Hauser 10 the case, and with the
/ New Yorker they went to the undergarment
factory and found that the man who had
been spotted by the New York detective
| as Lavina was an Office employe of the
! firm. while Levina had left the city for
parts .lnknowa on an early train on Sunday
I morning. He received word from friends
i'm New York telling of his indictment by
I the grand jury ana decided TO leave the
I city with all possible haste. IL is said.
Had the New York authorities notified the
/ police here a week ago last Friday, when
| they first learned the whereabouts of Le-
/ vina TO arrest him and hold him until the
/ requisition papers arrived he would have
I now been on his way TO New York. where
1 he would have been tried, instead OF being
! a criminal running at large.