Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-15
Two Young Conf
dence Men Operate
in Los Angeles
Their Dupes Are Said to
Number Nearly a
Hundred
Advertisement for Commercial Travel
ers to Represent Manufacturing
Company Brings Responses
and Much Money

About 100 young men in Los Angeles
are anxious to locate j. b. Evans and
j. c. Driscoll, alias Fred Kramer, who
are said to be two of the smoothest
confidence men who have visited this
city for some time.
Sunday morning a want ad reading
as follows was published in one of the
morning papers;
''Wanted-Man to travel in nearby
cities; expenses advanced. Call all day
Sunday. Acme Mfg. Co., room II, 513
Wall street"
More than 100 men answered the ad-
vertisement. AS a result more than
fifty men are out money, while the two
men who claimed to represent the COM
pany which, they said, had offices in
all the leading cities in the country
and was backed by unlimited capital,
are away from their headquarters with
room rent unpaid and in the landlord S
debt 81, which they are said to have
borrowed from him.
Leave Only Junk
According to their business cards the
men represented the Acme Supply COM
pany and dealt in extracts, flavoring
and coloring, teas, coffees and spices
They had no letterheads or envelopes,
but in their room can be found a half
dozen gallon bottles of different col
ored mixtures, half-gross of corks, a
small bottle of caromel, a small Bible,
an old coat and a half dozen mission
ary tracts. That is all that is left ex-
cept the young men who claim to have
paid over sums ranging from 81 to So
in order to secure positions.
The game which was worked was
simple. young man would apply for
a position and would be told that trav-
cling men We're needed by the firm.
They were willing to give anybody a
show and trust to luck that he would
make good. The company was willing
to eXpend $500 on testing a man. If he
proved all right, good salesman and
hustler he was to be employed for
life and the company would be happy.
If he did not win out he was not the
loser All his expenses had been paid
and he would draw down 500 a week
while learning if he was adapted to
the work.
The company paid transportation as
well as all other expenses, the men are
said to have represented and the sales
men were given mileage books. These
books were bought for them by the
generous company. OF course it's rep
resentatives must be assured that a
man would return and take the position
before they could buy the mileage
book for him. Not that they doubted
him, but 1t was customary for the fu-
ture knights of the road to make
small deposit, say $5, just to guarantee
good faith.
AS usual thing the young men hand
ed over the coin. A little matter like
S. could not stand in the way of good
job. and If a man did not have the
money he could borrow 1t or pawn his
overcoat. He could pay the money
back out of the profits he would make.
Sunday Evans informed all those who
decided they wanted to go on the road
to call at the office early yesterday
morning Territory was to be assigned
them. All the territory was live. 1t
had been worked and many customers
were ready, eagerly awaiting the ar
rival of the salesman so they could
give him orders for the flavoring eX-
tracts
More Generosity
AS a result the bedroom, which had
been turned into an office and the
halls of the rooming house We're filed
with young men awaiting their turn to
hand over money to the kind-hearted
agents. Then they made an announce
ment. Confident that the men would
feel more interested In the welfare of
the company IL they were given a
chance to make more money, 1t had
been decided by the officers to pay a
10 per cent commission on all orders
brought in from new customers in ad-
dition to the regular salary Those
who had been hesitating did so no
longer, but their hands came out from
their pockets, bringing with them the
bright yellow gold.
About noon the representatives de-
cided they could not remain away from
other work any longer and they left
the house. Before they did so they
requested all the young men who had
put up money to prepare to go on the
road at once. They joked with the fu-
ture salesmen as they passed out of
the door, promised to return in few
minutes-but they have not come back.
Instead has come bill collectors with
bills, an irate landlord demanding rent
and the return of borrowed money, and
trate young men who have paid over
deposits and have not been given jobs.
Driscoll, who frequently signed his
name so as to make II appear to be
Drlseal. is said to have been the leader
Z In the game. He is said to have been
the kingpin of the two. Evans is said
to have been the figurehead, who calm
ly referred the ambitious young man
to Driscoll when they asked him any
questions about the business.
Some Alleged Victims
Il, d, Willy, the landlord, claims TO
be out several dollars In rent and 81 In
(COntInuad a. nusra Vsxvo