The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-18
Elderly Woman With Pleasant
Smile Secures Money Under
False Pretenses.
SMOOTH SCHEME TO
FLEECE THE PUBLIC
Uses Name of Y. NJ. c. A. and
Local Church to Reap
Rich Harvest.

Within the last month residents OF
Utah county, especially In the cities Of
American Fork, Lehi and Pleasant
Grove, have been visited by an elderly
negress who has been soliciting funds
ostensibly for tho Y. M. c. a, of Salt
Lake. The woman has not been unsuc-
cessful in her efforts TO secure funds,
as many residents OF that section Will
testify. Her method has been to visit
the most important people Of the city,
state her case and then show subscrip-
tions secured from prominent citizens
of the community. She has q long list,
and In case this method fails she con-
tinucs her pleading5 until finally she
has secured some amount from those she
interviews, Then with these names as
leader and glib tongue she makes
q thorough canvass of the district, Sc
curing subscriptions running from 10
cents to 50. Especially in American
Fork she was able to reap big har-
vest, as the citizens there know of the
Y. NJ. c. A. through their many con-
tests with the basket ball team repre-
senting the association.
Investigation at the Y. M. C, A.
revealed the fact that no such agent
had been authorized by the association.
When Secretary CoX's attention was
called to the matter he classed IL as
rank fraud, saying that no method SINH
lar to the one used by this woman had
ever been practiced, and that all eff
forts OF the society were made by duly
authorized agents. Any campaigns
taken up by the association have all
ways been announced to the public, so
that definite information concerning
the same could always be secured
The officers of the w. Y. G., A. were
equally surprised and indignant when
the matter and methods of the dark
skinned solicitor were called to their
attention. Within the last month no
persons have been authorized to Sc
cure funds for the organization.
At the time of the Lumberman 8
and also tho Wool Growers convention
in this city many of the delegates were
invited to subscribe funds for the local
Calvary Baptist church by another col
ored woman. This was but short time
prior to The period when the residents
OF Utah county were invited to sub
scribe for the Y. NJ c.. A.
The woman who visited the conven-
tions is described as large, portly
woman with comely features, having a
pleasing address and marked ability in
presenting the needs of the churches.
Ihls, IN genral, agrees with the descrip-
county a short time ago.
Rev. John Allen OF the Calvary Bap-
tlst church states that about February
10 number of members of that church
had been authorized to solicit funds
Tor their church, but that their efforts
had so far not extended to white peo.
pie. lie was certain that none of the
members of the church had been al
work soliciting at either of the convcn.
tIons.
From the statement of Mr.. AlIon il
would therefore appear that the two
women were one and the same, the only
difference being the institution for
which the funds were solicited.
Perhaps too long time has eIansed
since the smooth trick was worked for
any Of the public officers to get to
work on the case. but no doubt other
sections of the StnJe, net vet heard
from, are being visited and asked 70
a assist some institution by the dark
lady with the pleasant smile-and
public, i"i'''