The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-18
SHARP WHO BUNCOFD
FARMERS IS CAUGHT
Detectives Locate Him I'm Bos.
ton, After a Search That Had
Continued for Years.

Fred Williams, wanted in Pine Island,
Mimi, on charge of swindling, has been
arrested in Somerville, Mass, a suburb of
Boston, after search of more than three
years by the police of the country and
the Pinkerton detective agency.
Williams is charged with having swim
died farmers Of Goodhue county out of
more than $4,000 during the time he
operated in Pine Island as a commission
merchant. The news of his arrest has
been received by the Pinkerton agency
in st. Paul. and Sheriff Lindquist, of
Goodhue county, is now on his way to
Boston after the man.
Williams, who also went under the
name of Henry Roemer and Henry Sloan,
is said by officers to be one of the
smoothest swindlers in the country, and
his operations along a similar line in the
East led to his arrest. The postoffice in
spectors also want Williams on charge
Of using the mails for fraudulent pur-
poses.
Williams operations during the time he
was in business at Pine Island are we'll
remembered by the farmers and business
men of that town. The high prices quoted
by the firm with which Williams was con-
nected caused CONSERVATION among com
petitors, and the farmers with produce
came from miles around to dispose of
their products to williams and his
partner.
How the Bunco Was Worked.
The plan of the firm of which VIII
liams was one of the partners, was to
send through the mail circulars TO farm
ers offering fancy prices for produce. The
farmers readily brought their goods to
the new firm and they were as readily
taken. When the farmers sought a set
tlement hitch always resulted, as the
two partners could never be found to-
gether and one declined to settle without
the sanction and consent Of the other.
In this manner the farmers of Goodhue
and neighboring counties were held off
until the firm had bought more than SO.
600 worth of produce, for which they had
paid nothing. At an opportune time the
firm went out of business very suddenly
and the proprietors disappeared from the
town.
Indictments were returned against them.
but all efforts to locate them were I'M
successful, until Williams was discovered
in SomerVille operating similar game.
There he went under the name Of Henry
Roelner, but the Pinkertons are sure that
he is the same man who operated in Min
nesota, and he will be brought back to
Red Wing to answer the charges against
him.
His partner has never been arrested,
but according to the Pinkertons. is in
New York and will soon be placed under
arrest
Work Same Game In Boston.
After disappearing from Pine Island in
1900 Williams, as he was known there,
went direct to Boston, where he establish
ed a butter, cheese and egg business.
Produce men in New England claim to
have been victimized to the extent OF
many thousands of dollars by the sudden
failure Of his Boston firm. Later VIII
liams opened another business in Boston,
but soon failed, leaving a number OF
produce men deep in the hole
The methods practiced by Williams and
his partner in the Boston business were
along the same lines as in Pine Island,
and the poStoffice authorities. hayine
their attention called to the circulars
sent out by the firm. made an investiga-
ton, which resulted in the arrest Of VII
| liams.
The Pinkertons in Boston discovered
| that he was the man wanted in Minnesota
| and so notified the authorities here Will
| liams declared at the time of his arres,
| that he would not return to Minnesota
| unless compelled to do SO, and Gov. Var
SAINT has been asked to issue a reoui-
sition.
| When arrested last Saturday Williams
! was going under the name of Henry Sloa n
and he was living with a woman whom
he claimed to be his wife The Boston
police claimed that Williams had another
wife living in New Jersey, but the woman
with him denied that this was true. saw
| ing she was his legal wife. She ATTEMPTED
to procure bail for him, but failed, and