The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-23
SHREVE CASE IS
SENSATIONAL ONE

Montgomery, April 22.-(Special 1.-The
charges of conspiracy against the Shreve
boys and associates, including two ne
groes, for alleged fraudulent methods in
throwing the City Jewery company at
Montgomery into bankruptcy. and the
further allegation that they secured and
took away and later put on sale goods
to the value of $40 600, which should nave
been turned over to the referee in bank
ruptcy, makes up one of the most sem
sational stories in the history of the
state.
Kirt w. DeBelle. a special agent of
the department of justice, who has been
working up the case, make affidavit
against j. H. Shreve, R. C. Shrevc. r..
Shreve, j. E. Shreve. D. II. Shreve, Sam
Coplan, Hilliard Shreve, George H.
Shreve, John Johnson, William Franklin
and William Smith. Johnson and Smith
are negroes. George Shreve and the
two negroes were arrested here, H. c.
Shreve at Tuscaloosa, where he is a
student of the university, Jesse II. and
Daniel II. Shreve at San Antonio, and
Sam Coplan at Scottsboro
In brief 1t is charged that the com
pany was formed here and that later
on, finding that bankruptcy was coming,
friends of the Shreves brought the petit
ton to the court.
many UOOus bOuEnt
The value of the goods was placed at
10000 which had been bought in all
parts of the United States. That the
goods of value were taken from the
store in the meantime and hidden; that
dummy" packages, marked at high
value. were shipped to Jesse Fl. Shreve at
Greenvile and there burned in the store
of Shreve, and that 1t was represented
to the trustee in bankruptcy that these
where the goods of value and that they
were sent there in regular way of trade,
the books showing the deliveries.
1t is then charged that in November,
1909. H. C. and r. T. Shreve organized
at Andalusia the Trade Supply Co., put
ting on sale there the goods that ought
TO have been turned over to the trus-
tee in bankruptcy. These goods, it is
charged, are those alleged to have been
destroyed by fire in the store of Jesse
Shreve at Greenville. 1t Is alleged that
the bankruptcy proceedings were the
result of concocted scheme to get pos
session of the goods and to turn their
value to their own account. and such
conspiracy being against the laws of the
nation.
w. H. Ambrecht, district attorney at
Mobile. helped to work up the case and is
appointed assistant to the government
20 prosecute them.
Cases Worked Up
The cases against the Shreve boys have
been worked up with great skill, snd
illustrate just how tenacious Uncle Sam
is in the running down of any who fall
under suspicion of his officers. Much
talk came up at the time of the failure.
and the fact that so few goods of value
were found was noted However, the fire
Of the Greenvile store was taken to Of
fer an explanation of this. Just how the
shipment of the goods from this city to
Greenville was accounted for Is not made
plain.
The organization of the Andalusa store
was noted at the time, but little was
thought of it, as the Shreves were raised
in that section and the county of Coving-
ton is we'll lined with them They have
been in many lines of business. one of
which was real estate and another law.
Handsome offices In both these lines have
been maintained in Montgomery for some
time. and this has appeared to be gen.
eral headquarters. Recently there was a
suit against some of them by a widow,
who alleged that she had not received
the full value of trade that had been
intrusted to the real estate firm.
The arrests were made In all sections
of the country at the same time. Officers
were ready at San Antonio. various
points In Alabama, including Montgom-
cry, Andalusa and Tuscaloosa, and prob
ably in, other states. Other than those
mentioned 1t is not known who were aiv
rested. However, 1t is quite likely every
one is now In the tolls. The officers went
from place to place. after getting onto the
situation, and staked men out so that on
telegraphic orders Friday every one ac-
cused could be laid hold of at the same
time.
George and Jesse Shreve are not new
to the courts here. both having served a