Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-01
News of the Courts
co TO PRISON ANDCOME
BACK HONEST SAYS JUDGE
Marks Who Sold $5 Land as
$1,000 Orange Property Sen
fenced to San Quentin

Declaring that 1t was time an ex-
ample should be made of a certain
class in Southern California who make
business of preying on eastern peo-
pie who come to California to make
their homes, Judge Willis of the crimi-
nal court yesterday refused to let David
Marks off by the probation route and
sentenced him to spend four years in
San Quentin for obtaining money by
false pretenses from Edward Kruell.
He declared Marks was one of a
gang of operators who fleece people by
Offering to secure returns of from $500
to $400 on an investment of about the
same amount. He said the people who
pay any attention to such offers
should be in home for the simple
minded.
I'VE advertise to bring people from
the east and then we have a nest of
crooks engaged in the business of
swindling them out of Ahe money they
bring" declared the judge.
ORANGE LAND WORTHLESS
Marks was found guilty by a jury
recently in Judge Willis court of sell
ing "orange lands" for $1,000 an acre,
which proved on investigation to be
barren mountain country worth not
more than So an acre.
Judge Willis said he had informa-
IlOn WHICH lnQlCdlGu ne WAS One VI d
gang who secured worthless property
and mortgages and sold or transferred
them to guileless people. In the re-
corder's office, however, there are pa
pers filed on different deals which in
dicate that Marks In himself formed
the biggest part of the gang" by
using four or five different names.
you can take it from me-" said
County Recorder Logan yesterday,
hDf nrlr i= n hnCf
operators who has worked this county.
Ever since last July l have found
traces of his dealings in the records,
but he has been too smooth hereto
fore to become cornered by the law"
Logan has list of people who came
to him claiming to have been swindled
by Marks under his own or another
name by giving them notes or mort
cages which were found almost value
less when the property on which they
were made was investigated.
PAYS BACK COIN
A. L. Ruin several months ago
threatened to shoot Marks for palm
ing off a mortgage which was found
to be worth far less than its face value.
Ruin later said that he had secured
his money, but did not state in what
manner, and it is supposed that Marks
returned it to him under fear of vio-
lence.
Mrs. B. NJ. Wing and ]. r. Robertson
are two more who had grievances of a
similar nature against Marks, but he
had manipulated his dealings>in such
a manner as to escape prosecution.
Some of the papers filed in the re-
corder's Office by Marks show that he
has changed names after signatures
were attached to deeds and mortgages.
When appearing for sentence he told
the court that if given probation he
would pay back every cent he, had
taken from his victims. The court paid
little heed to his statement, however,
being skeptical as to the manner by
which he would secure the money. 1t
was also cited that he had a wife and
four children who would suffer by his
incarceration.
You did not think of the families
you left destitute by the line of busi-
ness you followed" said Judge Willis,
land 1 believe if you were allowed
your freedom you would swindle
others to pay back the money. 1 have
information to show that swindling is
your business, so I don't think you
would secure the money honestly to
pay back these people, The best place
for you and your kind is in the states
prison. and 1 sentence you to spend
four years in San Quentin, hoping that
when you come out you will become an
honest citizen"