The Detroit times., 1909-01-01

that. after his gigantic swindling oper'
atoms on two continents. Frank Mar
rim should first enter prison for the
FIRST crime he ever committed.
Marin is one OF the most remark
able figures in the history OF crime
unscrupulous. resourceful. courageous
IN wrongdoing. for l 3 years he pursued
crime for livelihood.
He made IL pay. lie flched from
the savings OF thousands OF poor per
sons. He managed operations involv
ing millions. In Philadelphia alone
he conducted one OF the most gigantic
swindles OF modern times, and II Is
known that when he fed he and his
confederates carried with them nearly
$500 600 OF the 100000 which they
had taken from their dupes.
For this most daring OF his adveu'
lures IL seemed that he would suffer
the penalty. He was convicted in the
federal court sitting in this city ~
October, 1907. He appealed, and pend
ing the action of higher court was
admitted TO bail. And IL WAS while
Gt liberty. waiting the decision which
could have only one result. that the
old crime. committed so long ago, that
he thought IL had been forgotten. roso
UP and sent him within prison walls.
5etrays Friends wife. A.,
Until Marin duped old Mrs. Caro-
line Barry out OF the greater part a
her estate. he had never done any
thing which made him amenable 10
the law. Marin was the son OF cook
in the Barry family in Brooklyn As
a boy, be took the fancy OF Mr.. Bar
ry. When he became older Barry took
an interest in him and paid for his
education.
Clever, entertaining with face
which detied the suspicion OF guile,
Marin was we'll liked-a young man
cf promise. Those who knew him pre-
dicted prosperous future. When Bat
ny died, he asked young Marin his
fosterson. TO care for his widow. and
Marin, II is said. with tears. promis-
ed 10 look after her.
The first crime. while small in com.
parison with the operations which
Marin afterward engineered. illus
trate the daring spirit OF. the man. He
needed money, and went 10 the ono
woman who trusted him completely to
get ii. Mrs. Barry had money which
she wished TO invest, and Marin un.
dertook TO place II for her.
He told his benefactress that mort
cages on real estate offered the best
security. II is said that he would
take the old woman into the business
section OF New York and point out
large office building.
He had chance 10 mortgage it for
a few thousand dollars. he would say.
and advised Mrs. Barry TO take II.
When she assented he would exc
cute a bogus mortgage, signing the
name OF fictitious person. He also
forged the name OF the reg
lister OF such papers. and in
serted bogus number OF the
book and page In the county records
in which the mortgage was supposed
10 be filed The mortgage he NoulG
give TO Mrs. Barry. with the assur.
once that she had made a good bar
gain. The money he put in bis
rocket
1t was easy money for Marin. 50
easy that he looked for more. Event
ually, Mrs. Barry became anxious and
enc day sent for him to make her an
accounting. Marin wrote her a let
ter that he had been called to All
nany for few days Then he took
steamer for Honduras. country
from which he could not be extra
dited
Marin stayed in Honduras several
years. He stirred up a revolution and
was forced to fee when the opposing
party put It down. Then he returned
to this country, settling in Chicago,
where his wife Joined him. He con.
Quoted several swindling operations
there and, when the place became too
warm. went TO San Francisco.
There he worked blind racing pool
game. He was arrested. but lodged
conviction. Next he was heard of In
Philadelphia. where, with F. Ewart
Storey. Stanley Francis, Sophie Beck
and others, he blossomed out as the
spirit in the Storey cotton
swindle.
Dupes Pay Dividends.
There was no limit to his ingenuity
N crime. In trip TO Washington lie
persuaded the postal authorities TO
admit his advertising matter TO the
mails. In pamphlets worded In seduc-
tive phrases he told investors that he
had an infallible scheme for making
money by investments In cotton. He
promised and paid large dividends. the
payments being made out OF the money
handed to him by his dupes.
Then came the explosion. II was
learned that Judge" Franklin Stone
was the same Frank Marin who had
robbed the widow In Brooklyn 13 years
before. This was the first clue obtain
ed OF bis past, but other high lights
OF his career were uncovered one by
one
investors In the swindle were warn
cd, and many OF them needed. and
withdrew their money. When the end
became plain Marin slipped away to
Europe. The Storey Cotton company
had done business aggregating more
than s3,OOO,000 during the time II was
active.
But Marin. born a gambler. took
chance. lie returned 10 this country.
he was arrested in Buffalo. and was
taken TO Philadelphia. There he ves
tried and convicted
from the time OF his exposure az
FRANK Marin. the New York authori.
ties had sought 10 get hold OF hin,
he