The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-19
Pretty Miss Jailed on
Charge of Swlndling
Women, Girls and Merchants Alleged Victims
of China Decorating Scheme

= HAEGED with completely IN al sdi-
legged swindling make money at
home" scheme. operated BY Samuel
Trieber. with ofiees in the Pacific
building. Miss Mae Cummings. a pretty
young woman in charge of the office.
was arrested yesterday. Hidden behind
cleverly worded contract. which pre-
vented legal redress, the alleged fraud
ulent business is said to have four
ished in the bay cities. and have mulct-
ed small sums from scores of women
and girls VINO responded 10 the ailuring
advertisements circulated drought the
want" columns of the newspapers.
According TO statements of the two
vmen Nh oswore out the warrants.
Mrs. Marie Rivera of 2924 Webster
street and Mrs. EIvira Geisel of 1858
Broadway. Miss Cummings. the young
woman arrested. is no< entirely respon-
sible for the alleged fraud, but AL per-
sons concerned are hitter against Sam
uel Trieber. principal of the firm. He
is now out of the city. but is said to
be on his way home from Chicago.
The plan of Trieber. who advertised
himself as a decorator of fine china.
was TO give pieces of plain china to the
women who asked for work promising
TO teach them the ecalconiania system
OF transfer work. provided they would
buy pattern transfers. a brush and a
small bottle of glue for $3.50. II the
work were satisfactory the purchaser
of the patterns was to be paid for it.
But according TO the police, the work
never was found satisfactory. and when
il was brought back for inspection il
was invariably refused. and the worker
told 10 purchase some more patterns"
for which sl.50 each was charged. This
would go on almost interminibly. until
the demands would swamp the pockets
and exhaust the patience Of the women
I who expected TO earn the money prom
! ised.
BLAMES DISCHARGED YOUTH
At Trieber's Office yesterday after
noon Miss Cummings. who has been
released in 5000 cash bail. said that
the prosecution against her had been
instituted by L. c. Fox. youth of 20
years. who had been discharged for
stealing BY the Trfeber concern Fox.
she declared, went TO Los Angeles and
started a rival business. conducting il
on crooked lines and was exposed
I and run out of the town.
4 have been with Trieber for eight
years, said Miss Cummings, and know
/ it is legitimate.
In the next breath she naively ad
mitted that the alleged swindle was
double edged, for she declared that
work that had been accepted was sold
TO dealers under the representation
that il was hand painted china.
We do not want anything said about
IL" she declared. because those who
buy our goods will know the differ
ence.
She then exhibited bundle OF re-
ceipts which she said were for work
paid for.
Fox will suffer for this work" she
against me. In addition TO my dis
charging him there were other mat
tiers"
WANTS sWINDLE EXPOSED
I don't think this Miss Cummings
is entirely TO blame said Mrs Elvira
Geisel, one OF those who swore to a
complaint She may ne only an en-
ploye. but I took the step for the sake
OF the other women in town who have
been cheated in the same way. l only
lost s.. but 1 wanted the swindle ex-
posed.
Mrs Marie Rivera of 1924 Webster
street. who also swore TO a complaint.
said that she had visited the place
in the Pacific building gain and again
with the same results She said that
she first paid $3.50 for the pattern
set. but although repeated demands
were made thereafter she refused to
give any more.
II was rumored yesterday that both
OF the women who brought the accusa-
tions would refuse TO prosecute when
the case is called in court today, but
this they both denied.