The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-13
Assistant Teacher of French
Arrested by Government.
@B Charged With Using Mails
for Fraudulent Purposes.
RAN A FAKE AGENCY
Promised Mexicans Positions in
This Country.
inserted His Advertising in Old
Mexico Newspapers.

EmpOrlas Kan, Aug 13.-CnarSed Will
the misuse of the mails, Prof L. C.
NIECE, 4 private teacher of French and
Spanish at this place. and who says
that he was formerly professor at
ST. Mary's college. and employed the
coming year as an assistant in French
at the University of Kansas, was ar
rested by Postoffice Inspector Charles
A Mills and placed in the Shawnee
county Jail.
Miege is charged with inserting an
advertisement in a Mexico City news
paper agreeing to supply spanish
teachers with positions IN the states
Answers were to be addressed to Box
No. 123, Enporia. Kan. On receipt OF
the letter of inquiry from Mexico, the
Spanish professor is alleged TO nave
collected s. from each applicant, and
after doing this, to have ceased cores
Ionding with them.
As a side line, Miege is alleged to
have run a Cake matrimonial bureau,
but the federal authorities have not
included this among his alleged offenses.
For So for four months subscription
to The Review, a periodical of which
Miege says he is the editor, advertise
Elents for men and women seeking hus-
bands and wives were inserted. The
prisoner claimed in the circulars sent
cut to prospective advertisers that he
kept a complete list of pretty WIDOWS
and rich bachelors who were seeking
soul mates.
Many Complaints Come From Mexico.
About three months ago, according
to Inspector Mills, complaints began to
come into the postal department from
Mexicaus who charged they had been
Guped by a fake advertising Scheme-
Some had sent money and others had
merely written to inquire concerning
positions. The matter was allowed to
run until about two months ago, When |
Mr.. Mills began work on the case. !
In a newspaper of Mexico City. the !
Eel Impercial, was found an advertise !
n ent in the want column, written in !
spanish 1t was as follows: c
.'WanteC-Four professors Of Span |
ish in the United States. Wr1te The
Review, Box No. 123. Emporia, Kan
sas."
Many answers were received by |
Miege.'' said Inspector Mills. He
would answer them and say that their
application had been received and
that the writer would be given the
place. Each one, however, was requir-
ed to deposit SIS as a guarantee of
good faith. The teachers were to re-
ceive from SIS to 500 a month and
have their expenses paid from Mex
leo City to Emporia."
The postal authorities, after work
ing two months on the case, arrested
Prof. Miege, the man who rented Box
No. 123. When faced with the charge
NIiege denied that he was guilty, but
says that the fraud was perpetrated
had met in St. Louis and who lived
with him the past few months at
Emporia. The postal authorities, how
ever say that no such man as Rivol-
lera lives, and that the name is an
alias assumed by the Spanish teacher.
Miege has lived in Emporia a little
over one year. He came here from
St. Louis. While in Emporia he made
his living by giving private lessons in
Spanish and French. Recently he
made application for an assistant pro- I
fessorship at the State university and
was elected to the place. He expected
to go to Lawrence September Is to
begin work.
Claimed to Publish a Newspaper.
The Review. the paper mentioned
IN the newspaper advertisement, is
claimed by Miege to be a bi-week1y
periodical or magazine which he used
to teach French and Spanish, but
which the postal authorities say was
never published. Lessons are said to
have been written in this paper and
a small correspondence school main
tanned by the owner.
In connection with the alleged peri
oGical Miege IS said to have conducted
G, matrimonial bureau. Three dollars
for four months was charged for the in
wives or husbands, and the insertion
was made in The Review. On the back
OF circulars which Miege had been send
Ing out are special bargains for I'M
kndII1Cd PS4SoAAo- O4Ao u lA1Cltl was d
wealthy young widow with d yearly in
come of ST., 900 and property valued at
100000, who was looking for an honest
ard upright husband. The applicant
was not required to have any wealth
DIT social standing-merely to be nice
Bnd obedient husband. Several other ;
offers were listed, though most of them
we're from alleged fictitious persons who
had little to give in the way of wealth
and social position.
when I was in st. LOUIS said Prof
Adiege, Il met a man named Rivollera
He came with me to Emporia and
helped me in publishing The Review
We had the same postolfice box but Ii
until I was arrested did I know
that he had been advertising in Mexico {