New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-26
"SHAKING DOWN" ALIENS
another Method of Szcindling I'm
suspecting Immigrants.

Another instance Of the need of greater protee-
ton for the newly landed immigrant has been DIS
covered by The Tribune In its investigation OF the
conditions to be relieved by the Wells bills. which
aim to regulate East Side bankers and ticket
agents who swindIe the foreign population. Apart
from the operations OF the ticket agents and bank
ers it has been learned that there Is regular
business made OF shaking down. the newcomers
they have been passed upon by immi-
grafton officials. and that large majority OF the
victims too ignorant of the customs of the
country even to realize they have been swindled
A Tribune reporter went to the Fall River Lines
terminal at Pier IS, North River yesterday morn
ing TO observe the operations of men posing as
public porters' who have been preying upon immi-
grants landed from the transatlantic liners at Bos
ton and bound west over the Erie. The Erie slips
only a good sized block northward, but persons
who familiar with the treatment of immigrants
that often the travellers have to from 81 to
IS for the journey from pier to the other They
driven about for several blocks, 1t is said and
confused that they do not realize the dis
taEce.
The Irish. Italian and Hebrew immigrants are
protected by agents Of societies maintained for
their assistance but most OF the other foreigners
obliged to rely upon what acquaintance or
friends they may have here. Those who have no
such connections are entirely at the mercy OF the
swindIers. except for what overt acts the police
may observe.
Almost the first person The Tribune reporter saw
at the pier Isadore Bader. head OF the Hebrew
Immigrant Aid Society. IT'S too bad" exclaimed
Mr. Bader. but you can't see anything wrong to-
day. They've just put Joe Mury on the job and
the crooks have beat it -
1t turned out that the Mr.. injury referred to was
a patrolman at present attached TO the Church
street station and that he had q reputation along
the hem OF Manhattans skirts for his ability 10
protect the immigrants. 1t Mury who arrested
Henry Reiss two years for posing as the repre-
sentative Of q steamship company and getting large
sums of money from newly landed immigrants.
Reiss is doing Stretch" OF five years.
He also arrested Barney Younger year ago for
doing a lucrative business In money changing. Mr..
Younger took foreign money and gave American
gold pieces to the immigrants. The gold pieces
were newly rninted coins OF the denomination OF l
cent Although he, was supposed 10 have victim
lied hundreds OF persons. only two OF his clients
could be found. and he sent over for nine
months TO the island that Hummel has since made
famous.
''Oh. I don't know" said Patrolman injury. mod
esty, but maybe the crooks have gone away to-
day I half dozen men jump into express
wagons and drive away when came up here 10 the
pier entrance. I couldn't say they were here 10
swindle anybody. but L guess maybe they were
taken sick all of sudden and didn't want TO wait
10 do business with the immigrants.
TITS pretty hard to get anything on these foreign
crooks. because the people they trim are afraid OF
the police and don't want 70 complain It's only
natural that foreigner will trust a man or his
nation before ne would trust anybody else
That's why there ought to be agents for all the
nationaltes 10 help 'em get to their destinations