The Saint Paul globe., 1903-01-21
SHESEEKSJUDCMENT
AGAINST GROCER
HAAS WIFE
Mary Maloney Sues~Abscond-
ing Albert L. Haas and
His Wife Oh What Pur-
ports to Be Their Joint
Note for s1,OOO-Mrs. Haas
Believes Her Husband
Forged Her Signature.

Echoes Of the "get-rich- quick"
scheme, so successfully worked by Al
bert Haas, the Payne avenue grocer, in
this city last summer. are heard in the
trial of the suit brought by Mary Ma
loney against Albert L. Haas and Be-
atrice Haas, his wife, on trial before
Judge Brill and a jury in the district
court.
The plaintiff, a widow, and one of the
many victims of the Payne avenue
grocer, is suing to recover on a note for
81 900, purported to be signed by Mr..
and Mrs Haas. Haas is a fugitive
from justice, supposed to be in South
Africa, and the suit is being contested
by his wife, who is now living with
relatives in Toronto, where she went
shortly after being deserted by her
husband in this city.
Mrs. Haas declares that her sigma
ture TO the note is forgery, and says,
in lengthy deposition, that she never
| heard Of the Maloney note and never
attached her signature to it, or any
| other note. She believes her husband
forged her name to the MalOney note,
as he is said to have done in many
similar cases. The evidence yesterday
afternoon was entirely by expert wit
| nesses, who testified regarding the sig
nature of Mrs. Haas. Her own sigma
| ture was compared with that attached
| to the note, and while similar in some
respects, there were many things
pointed out by the experts wherein the
handwriting differed The case will be
/ argued this morning, and will go to the
| jury before noon.
Recalls Haas "Con" Game.
The trial of the case recalls the sud-
den disappearance of Haas from st.
{ Paul last summer, after he had induc-
| ed poor and ignorant people to intrust
hni,s
| ise of investing the money where quick
and large returns would result. The
| amount of the peculations, during the
| few months he was in st. Paul, was
| estimated at the time to be in excess
| of $4,000. His little grocery store,
| worth but a few hundred dollars, was
| the only asset left by the 'benefactor'
and his victims never received a cent.
Haas came to st. Paul less than
year ago, and opened a grocery store
on Payne avenue. He sold goods much
cheaper than his competitors could
buy them and soon had large trade,
and made many friends. He said he
was making so much money by invest
ing in real estate that he could afford
to sell his goods cheaper than other
grOcerS could buy them, and his stories
We're believed by many people who had
saved their money for years and were
| anxious to place it where it would
| ylelQ large returns.
Haas rented the largest and best
| house to be had in the neigkborhood of
| his business and the team driven by
| him was envied by many people. He
| gradually worked himself into the con-
! fidence of the people, and then it was
an easy manner for him to secure their
money, which he would promise to in
vest for them in a most profitable
manner.
| Haas is said to have started out by
| borrowing small amounts, which would
! be returned a few days later more
than doubled. The money, he said, had
| been invested in real estate, and as he
was doing so we'll himself, he wished
to assist his friends and customers
| along the road to wealth.
Haas Raises the Ante.
Later came the larger touches"
some for $1,000 some for much more,
and finally the grocer who had been
selling thirty pounds of granulated
| sugar for dollar disappeared. His
wife was left with 70 cents with which
! to pay several bills, including a
months house rent. She denied any
| knowledge of the manner in which her
husband had been doing business and
| soon after was taken to her home in
| Canada by one of her brothers.
Following the exposure of Haas
! scheme, and the announcement that he
| had left the country, hundreds of peo-
| pie placed claims against him in the
| hands of attorneys, but nothing has
| ever been realized on the notes these
people hold
| Haas was later indicted by the grand
| jury and every effort made to locate
him. Sheriff Justus, several months
ago, received information which led
him to believe that Haas was in South
| Africa, but he has never been located,
| although the case was placed in charge
of the Pinkertons and descriptions of
the man sent all over the country.
After his departure, it was learned
that Haas came to st. Paul directly
| upon being released from the StilIwa-
| ter prison, where he had served term
| for forgery. Several suits grew out of
Haas peculations, but in no case was
any money recovered. The suit
brought by Mary Maloney is the first
in which Mrs Haas has been named as
a defendant, but the evidence given
by the handwriting experts yesterday
appeared to be in her favor.
Mrs. Haas is said to be fighting the
| suit for the reason that she has some
| property in her own name, and a judg-
ment secured against her could be sat
tsfied for a reasonable amount. She is
now in Canada, her evidence in
the Maloney case having been sub
mitted in the form of dispositions.
| LAXATIVE BRoMo- OlIJNINE