Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-10-23
GREEN GOODS" WORKER CLEARED
$4,000 AND TOOK HIS PUN
ISHMENT.
CALLS BARGAIN A SHREWD ONE
Certain of Punishment, but Persisted in
Swindling Game-Now En-
joying Loot
DID TIME IN MILWAUKEE PRISON

social and comfortable surroundings in
the white house?
This sum can be made in dealing in
green goods" provided the offender of
the postal laws of Uncle Sam is not
caught before his profits reach this large
and almost unbelievable figure Though
the occupation is in violation of the penal
code OF the United States, it has been
followed and still is followed by many,
who resigned 10 their fate, are ready
to enter a federal prison or other desig-
mated place of confinement to serve their
time and then enjoy the fruits of graft
and ''theft,''
The green goods" operator may enjoy
social distinction when at his work, for
few outside Of the detectives of the
United States and his victims, know the
line OF work he IS following. Remorse
is bitter, and it is a great fall from So
ciety to prison, but then it is only for
one year, and at salary, in advance,
OF $1,000 per week.
In the Milwaukee house OF correction
lnere was liberated a few months ago
q. NJ. Behr, convicted in the United
States circuit court for the western dis
trct OF Wisconsin, a green goods OPP
~ utOA, N1iOoc NlluluSS Ill IuG game Ol
chance with the federal sleuths ard
pocket picking with the ready to-be-
skinned reached a total of $4,000.
This estimate was made by federal
postal inspectors, whose Investigations
placed them III direct contact with Behr,
his methods and next door to his bank
account. In pursuit of this evidence, E.
q. Fraser, postal inspector at La Crosse,
Wis, found that Behr had received
over $4,000 in fewer than six months.
This was during the time when the mail
of Behr was con6scated, opened and the
money returned to victims. The inyesti
CATION allowed the postal inspector 10
examine the postal and money order rec
0TdS, and the result was amazing. Over
$4,000 had been received in a year, and
no account was made of express money
orders, where an investigation was not
allowed.
Behr was arrested by Postal Inspector
Fraser on charge of green goods
grating, using the mails to defraud. He
denied the charge, waived preliminary
hearing, and furnished cash bail, going
to the bank to secure the POUNDS. Then
he hired the best attorney in western
Wisconsin, for his savings account was
large, and began a fight for his liberty.
The prisoner realized and admitted
that his chances Of acquittal before a
jury were slim. While learning this
game of graft" Behr had seen his
teacher convicted of the same charge.
and sentenced to one year i'll prison in
Arkansas. The game was being worked
in the south at that time, and Behr
quickly left for the north in pursuit of
more money, easily made. He knew the
possibilities, his ultimate arrest and the
final punishment.
Behr conducted operations through q
system of advertising in the cheapest
magazines, those sold for a few cents for
a year. So closely were the lines drawn
between the ads that the inquisitive,
those ready to get rich without work,
even though defrauding the United
States, that the prisoner hoped for ac
quittal. He expected to show that the
purchaser" expected to receive coun-
terfeit money, though no mention was
made.
Through carefully worded advertise
ments, the gullible were drawn. Pic
lures, "exact limitations, which cannot
be told from the original was one eX-
preston used, while large dollar signs
($) decorated the lad" The inference
was cast between the lines that counter
felt money was to be sold, but Behr had
evaded this form of wording shrewdly
and preyed upon gullibility of his VIC
tins.
In reply to the advertisements came
score of letters, all from the lower strata
of human life. Enclosed were money or
OGrS, EXPRESS OIuSIS StISAA' AOiAAS
contained $40, others $50, and some
mounted into the hundreds.
All Jumped at the chance to get rich.
Poor men. honest at heart, but ready
to turn a dishonest hand to gain wealth,
parted with scant earnings to avail
themselves of this golden opportunity.
In his office in the back room Of
small La Crosse office building, Behr
opened the letters, extracted the money,
and sent pictures, steel engravings,
photographers, in return: Each victim
received a full allotment, all his money
called for Some of the packages bor-
dered on freight shipment size,. so anx-
ious were many to become rich in day.
Theirs probably was look OF dls@dst
when the packages were opened, ana the
pictures the evidence afterWard showed,
could be bought in lots OF lOO for less
than $1.O0.
When complaints reached the postal
department. an investigation was started.
Rehr's mail had reached an enormous
nile. and attracted attention. Finally
q fraud order was issued, the mali con-
fiscated, opened; and the money or eX-
press orders, or cash returned. In SIX
months total of over S25,0oO was re-
turned by the postal officials.
Durinr the trial Behr was confronted
with his victims" The United States
had snent over $500 in witness fees to
convict this criminal. From the west
came the rancner anu IN
eaSt and south came negroes, poor labor
ers, domestics, and al classes 81 from Sa the the
north the immigrant farmer, for ne, 100
had tried the scheme. All We're bitter,
and thirsted for revenge. Their test
mony was strong and convincing; In e!,
opened their thoughts to the court ana
nv telling what was expected, and
what was received. Complaints to BehT.
asking for a return Of the money meyer
We're answered. Behr did not mention
money in his ads much. less money
returned if the purchase is unsatsfac-
Rehr's attorney pleaded that he had
made no mention of fraud or cG !l fe,.[
money that the criminal intent ie lo Mh1s
i MN dressed, Behr did not take
the stand he remained aHss gi at ms fr am
- The jury brought in a verdict OF guilty.
Rehr was anxious. anxious TO snow
what would be his punishment, tha1 ne
n,;gbt nav his attorney, any mlscellan-
cons debts contracted, and then hgure