New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-19
POSED as GEN. CORBIN.
attempt By Telephone to SzCindle
Friend of army Officer.

An attempt was made last week to swindle c.
Frederick Kohle, Californian staying at the Hol-
land House. by two men. OF whom posed over
the telephone Major General Corbin, intimate
friend OF Mr. Kohle.
General Corbin has often talked 10 Mr.. Kohle
over the telephone. Last Tuesday afternoon Mr..
Kohe called to the telephone. and voice said:
This is Corbin." Mr. Kohe noticed at once that
It not the generals voice. but did not say so.
The man on the wire finally said that the boys on
the island to have little blowout in a few
days. and asked for a subscription of 500.
Mr.. Kohle said he would send a check the next
day. Then the general told him he need not
trouble to send it direct, Major ]. B. Foster
would have to indorse it, asked him ito save
time to send 1t to the majors office at No 80
Cortlandt-st. to which Mr.. Kohle agreed
Two minutes later Mr.. Kohle was talking to the
real General Corbin the wire and learned as
he had already surmised, that the request
swindling scheme. and that there was no officer In
New-York named ]. B. Foster. Both General Cor
bin and Mr.. Kohle informed Police Headquarters
and on the advice Of Detective Gargan special
delivery letter inclosing blank sheet Of paper
sent to No. 80 COurtlandt-st.
The detective the spot the next day. but
neither General COrbin' nor Major Foster ap-
peared. Major Foster" however, had told the
elevator man to put any mail that came to him in
Room IA. A notice was left for the major to go
to the Postofice for a registered letter. and the
Postofnce was watched Thursday in vain.
Late in the afternoon. however. when the watch
had been called off. two men got the letter Halt
hour later General Corbin again called up Mr.
Kohle and complained that he had received only
a blank paper in his letter. Mr. Kohle suggested
that Postofice clerk had stolen it. and prom
ised to send another to the same address, Room
No IA, stopping payment on the first. Police Head
quarters was Informed at once and the detective
went again to No 50 Cortlandt-st., and found
that T. II. Kelley conducted iron business in
Room No. a. Kelley said that men had hired
desk room in his office two months ago. one Civ
ing the name of John Sylvester Kelly. The other
man said he was Johns brother The two came came
to the office only once day, he said, 70 get their
mail. and declared they were in the advertising
business
The office furniture OF the Kelleys consists Of a
battered desk and tin box of note paper, the let
ter heads of which read, Newspaper Correspond
Club" THE Press Artists League" and The
National Cartoon Association the latter of which,
the head stated. for the purpose Of present
ing to the voter the most effective arguments for
Republican success" Then. the executive com
mittee of the association. the names Of Will
lam Washburn. Thomas c. Plat. David 3. Hender-
son. John Kean James W. Mcmillan. Serene E.
Payne and Nelson W. Aldrich. followed ~ tho
hame of J. s. Kelley, secretary.
Senator Plat indignant when he learned
mas his name had been printed as one OF the
committee He said that man named Kelley
had written to him asking permission to use his
name in that connection. but that he had been re-
fused point blank