Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-22
JURY IN SWINDLE
CASE LOCKED UP
TRIAL OF THE GET-RICH-QUICK
MEN CONCLUDED
HARRY CONNER ARRESTED ONCE
MORE ON NEW CHARGE
Methods Alleged to Have Been Used
by Men Who Preyed on Suck.
ers Are Told in
Court

The jury in the Green-C Conner-Ivett
case retired at 12:10 o'clock this morn
ing. AS today is a legal holiday, Judge
Rose left word that the jurors, in the
event of reaching a verdict, should re-
turn a sealed verdict at o'clock
Wednesday morning.
The Jurors were still out at an early
hour this morning.
The trial of Dolph NJ. Green, Harry
G. Conner and r. e. Ivett, jointly
charged with criminal conspiracy to
defraud j. H. Umberger continued in
Police Judge Roses court yesterday
was replete with sensational testimony
and startling incidents.
When Umberger, who in his COM
plant alleges he was induced to buy
a half interest in a fake" automobile
garage, whereby he lost $500, TOOK the
witness stand, he told his story in an
apparently honest and straightforward
way. He said lie was led to Believe he
would receive great financial returns
from his investment but four days
after parting with his money he was
forced out of the garage" and lost
his savings, which had been gathered
by hard work on a little farm on the
outskirts of San Francisco. :.
after being in the place four days
said JJmberger, 81 suggested to lVett,
who posed as the owner, that ne snow
me how to operate an auto. lie toid
me he was going to close up the pace
and go away for visit and WouId
not return until after the Christmas
HOLIDAYS. 1t was then he offered to
buy nv half interest for $50 or sell
his interest to me-"
When | agreed to buy him out ne
refused to sell, and stated II | con-
tinued in the business he would force
me to pay 800 a month rent 1or tne
building. When I agreed TO pay Is tnis
to protect my investment lVett toIa
me he would not let me stay for SlooQ
a month. [ saw I was up against II
and had been fleeced. .,oo,,,,
Mrs. JJmberger testified practically
the same as her husband.
The star witness for the prosecution
was Edwin Yates, building con-
tractor. who testified to conversation
with the defendants, in winch ne stateu
they acknowledged that for years they
had trimmed q number of suckers
and obtained easy money. Yates had
an auto in the Tvett garage, and ettorts
To shake his testimony were futile, de-
spite the grilling of Attorney Earl
Rogers.
Judge Rose was anxious to have the
trial closed last night and at o'clock
adjournment was taken and night
session was ordered to begin at 8
o'clock.
AT the night session, after the exam
ination of Yates, the defense placed
Conner and Ivetts on the stand. Both
defendants fatty denied all the accusa-
tions against them saying in substance
they were tissues of falsehood and
pleading as victims of police persecu-
tion. Mrs. Ivett testified in similar
vein.
Makes Plea for Honesty
Deputy District Attorney Arthur l..
Veitch made an impassioned plea for
the conviction OF the defendants, that
an example be made to rid Los Angeles
of sharks who prey upon the pocket
books of gullible tourists and persons
>anxious to invest their money in hon
est, legitimate Los Angeles enterprises.
Attorneys Job Hartman and Rogers
argued for the defense.
So persistent was Attorney Rogers
interrupting Judge Rose while he was
reading the instructions to the jury
that the magistrate ordered Bailiff
Hubbard to place Rogers under arrest
or take him from the court room If
he did not deslst.
"I am reading these instructions"
said Judge Rose, ''and will not stand
for any interference" Rogers subsded.
A dramatic incident of the trial hap
pened after the adjournment at D
o'clock, when Harry G. Conner, one of
defendants, was placed under arrest
on another complaint, filed by Earl
Hamlin, proprietor of q restaurant, 1920
South Main street.
Conner was leaving the court room
when arrested by Detective Mona
mara and brought before Police Judge
Williams, charged with obtaining
money under false pretenses, a felony.
He was placed under $500 bonds, with
the stipulation that the bond may be
increased. He furnished bondsmen.
In the complaint Hamlin alleges that
on February 8 he purchased from Con-
ner what was supposed to be a half
interest in the International Auto
League of America Conner represent
ing himself as having the exclusive
agency of California, with offices at 702
South Spring street. He represented,
it is alleged, the business was growing
and he desired a partner. Hamlin, who
went to school with Conner in Paoli,
Kas.. was attracted by visions of
wealth and gave Conner $3.50.
Upon investigation Hamlin learned
that Conner had severed his connection
with the auto league four days before.
Copner's preliminary hearing was set
for March 2.