Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-28
ASSERTS WOMAN
HAS DUPED HIM
BUSINESS ADVERTISEMENT is
DENOUNCED AS LURE
STOPS CHECK, BUT is INDUCED
TO CHANGE HIS MIND
Defendant Declares, as Is Admitted,
That the Complainant Sought to
Marry Her and Gave Money
Voluntarily

Attracted by the dizzy prospects of
receiving a return of from SIS to $3.50
week on an investment of $500,
George w. ,Harmer, poorer in pocket
book but richer in experience, COM
planned to G. Ray Horton, deputy dis
trict attorney, yesterday that he had
been defrauded out of more than $1,000
by a woman who, he claims, is an ad-
ventures.
The woman who apparently bears
several names, is designated as Jane
Doe LoVenstein," known as Mrs.
Dora Nelson" in the complaint. Har-
mer knows her as Mrs. Dora Nelson.
To the officers who arrested her yes
terday she said her name was Minnie
stein when she rented a house on Or
ange street, and according to the
arresting officers, she is the widow of
Joseph Bachelor, who died a short
time ago after securing some notori-
ETY. by reason of an elopement with n
married woman.
December q, Harmer read an ad-
vertisement in the want columns of
Los Angeles paper. A lady wanted a
partner to engage in a legitimate busi
ness which would bear investigation,
read the advertisement. Weekly re-
turns of SIS to $3.50 were mentioned,
and $500 was all that was necessary
to get in on the ground floor.
Harmer sent in his name on a pic
ture postal. He received a letter by
return mail, asking him to call at 1886
Orange street. He did SO, and says
he met a "charmer."
"Hot Air" Ranch
The woman, Mrs. Dora Nelson, he
said, explained that she was a widow.
Her husband, a Boston millionaire,
died recently, leaving 1900 acres of land
in San Luis Obispo county. On the
land were 800 head of stock and a
large dairy. A stepmother, Mrs. AL
bert Worden, was living on the prop
erty, which was known as the Rancho
Machako, meaning, according to Har-
mer, 'hot air.
Mrs Worden had been bequeathed
only $4,000 by Mrs. Nelson's father,
as Harmer says he was told, and had
received orders to leave the ranch by
February l.
Mrs. Nelson said she had recently
purchased seventeen head of fine Jer-
sey cows for the ranch and needed a
small amount of cash to carry out this
transaction. Half the income from the
ranch property and half interest in
the dairy and the Jersey cows were
offered to Harmer, who gave his check
for $500, drawn on the Security Saw
ings bank.
The following morning Harmer, be-
coming dissatisfied or suspicious,
stopped payment on the check and
telephoned Mrs. Nelson what he had
done. Mrs. Nelson said she was sorry,
but the check with an additional $1O0
had been paid to c. E. Bradley, the
Whittier man who had sold the Jersey
COWS, and Harmer was asked to call
at the Orange street house at once.
Objects to Distrust
When he responded Mrs. Nelson, he
said, told him there was one thing
she disliked, and that was to be dis
trusted. AS a further proof of her
ability to carry out any deal, Harmer
says, she told him she owned the fur
niture in the house on Orange street,
worth at least $4,000, and when returns
from certain investments were received
February 13 the $500 would be returned
while his interest in the Rancho Ma
chako would not be disturbed.
When Mrs. Nelson told Harmer she
would also give him valuable diamond
ring left by her deceased husband the
Santa Monica man gave in and with
drew the order to stop payment on the
check. 1t was cashed later.
Harmer is a widower, and confesses
that his interest in Mrs. Nelson was
due to other than financial reasons.
"She wanted me to go to the ranch
with her, said Harmer, "but said it
would cause talk if we were not mar
ried. She suggested a wedding, and 1
agreed Then she needed money with
which to buy clothing. I furnished it."
Harmer says he is out just $1657 so.
Three days ago was the time set for
the wedding. Then Mrs. Nelson wanted
q postponement. Her stepmother she
said desired an extension of time on
her occupancy of the ranch. She had
granted it, she told Harmer, and there
fore there was no occasion to hurry the
ceremony.
Makes Sad Investigation
Then the Santa Monica man made an
investigation. The Orange street house,
he discovered, belongs to a Mrs. Sea-
bury, 923 Denver avenue, and was
rented to Mrs. Nelson, who gave the
name of Mrs. Lowenstein. No record
of the purchase or shipment of seven
teen Jersey cows could be found at
Whittier, and nobody there appeared to
know G. E. Bradley. San Luis Obispo
W ~ W ~ Y4