The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-25
MUST PAYIT BACK
Western Kansas Men Win
Swindle Suit.
We're Sold Stock of American
Recording Company.
MANY PEOPLE CAUGHT
One Suit Decided in Favor O
Victims.
Criminal Prosecutions May Fol-
low in Short Time.

Garden City, Oct. 25-The Herald
prints the following: The biggest
swindle ever perpetrated upon the peo-
rlc of western Kansas has been un-
earthed by the many Garden City vic
TINS who have brought suits to recover
their money. One of these suits was
of venue from Ness City and in which
George W. Copeland Of Garden City
recovered his money from the de-
PENDANTS, J. George Brinkman of Great
Bend, Kan, and James Armstrong of
Kansas City, Mo.
| About two years ago Brinkman. who
lis a wealthy and influential banker and
business man at Great Bend, and who
Ihad borne a good reputation for hon.
lesty, and was we'll and favorably known
in this community, 1t is claimed, sent
Armstrong to Garden City armed with
q letter vouching for Armstrong; in
| tegrity, and any statements he might
make, and recommending the business
he represented as a legitimate and pro-
| fitable enterprise Brinkman and Arm
strong claimed that they were selling
treasury stock in the American sRecOrd-
ing company, company organized Tor
the purpose of manufacturing and plac-
| ing out for the use of the public acci-
dent insurance vending machines, which
| by depositing a nickel therein. would
| issue to the purchaser an accident In
surance policy for $1,000 good for "A
hours.
The company was first organized in
1905 when they had nothing but model
of the machine which they represented
| to be manufacturing, with capital
stock of 100000. Fred W. Smith Of Ray
more, No, furnished this model, for
which he had issued to himself $780, Of
the stock. James Armstrong was the
original promoter, for which he got
| $4,000 of the stock, and J. George Brink
no fin
and only money ever put into the COM
rany aside from what was afterwards
derived from the sale of stock. to-wit:
The enormous sum of $500 for which
he also received the donation of $4,000
| OF stock. The balance of the stock,
$4,000. was left in the treasury for sale
for the ,lse of the company
A single perfected machine vas made e
/ Kansas City and was then taken into
various communities and exhibited as one
and placed out for the use of the public
| in securing accident insurance. The first
thing P I s cents on the ' dollar in order
| for Brinknan to get back his original
g. 500 invested, and to pay Armstrong and
original issue Of treasury stock was soon
all sold These parties, it is claimed, then.
even though ali the treasury stock was
sold. and they then each contributed pro
as they pressed out into new fields to
| secure new victims. They first invaded
tn the oil II a noIA gas deveiopmen one Of
| the most prosperous cities in southeastern
Kansas, and after Fleeing numerous
ed the prosperous west which was pros
porous from the rapid advance in real
estate.
| Visited Many Places.
| They went into the cities of Concordia,
Hutchinson, st. John, Ellinwood, Nc
Pherson. Great Bend, I.arned. Dodge City
every point sold thousands of dollars of
stock to the principal bankers, business
and professional men of the various towns
and surrounding country They finally
reached the prosperous city of Garden
City. which was then just ripe for extern
undertaking, and these swindlers took
out of this city and community and the
leeiiddss of Of a few weeks. They Claimed to be
selling treasury stock but sold their fndi-
yidual stock and poesks.eted the money But Blu
lows than they usually encountered in
| their triumphant stock jobbing scheme.
good faith, relying upon the honor and nd in
ltegrity and representations of the parties
they dealt nS n and and
received absolutely nothing for their
Gated two sections Of land in Ness county
; tached and still have folding for a con
; siderable portion of the obligation. They
then by the use of a Pinkerton detective
caught Brinkman at Kansas City and
: sued Brinkman, Armstrong and Smith
= all together down there for the balance
of the obligation.
!, AS a Kansas jury has now decided that
: these men are guilty of fraud, which. in
; Kansas is a felony, criminal pros
!, ecution will no doubt follow along
with the civil actions, and these sup
: posedly smart, shrewd and willy stock.
e jobbers will no doubt be given the hot
test run they ever had for their money.
r The Garden City Victims.
FL The following people of Garden City an6
Lakin were victims of this gang, and
. have suits pending to recover their money
= Jas. H. Anderson. Frank E. Anderson
3 w. G. Copeland, A. R. Clark, III. s. Bos
9 worth, A H. Warner. J. A. Miles, Geo
: w Finnup, Jno. Landgraf. c. E.. Chap
man. w M. Lowderman, Orville D
e White. W.. H. Foster. H. v. Lawrence. G
, W. Evans, Fred Pyle. James s. Griggs
, William Ford, A. P. West, s. w. Horner
E. G. Finnup. Dan Larmor, G. w. Miles
e VIM. H. Thompson. D. G. Holcomb. J
S Beatty Porter, Warren Strong, Geo. T
Inge, M. A. Mosher. E. r. Thorpe, T. N
Thorpe, J. H. Waterman, c. A. Louks
B. p Shull and L N McBeth,
. It is reported that many civil and Grim
y inal. prosecutions in other victimized com
Y munitfes will soon follow.