Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-11-24
HITCHCOCK RAIDS
ALLEGED FRAUDS
-----
Wealthy Promoters and Bankers
Arrested.
COST PEOPLE s2O,OOO,oOO YEAR
officers In Charge Of Two Large Com
panies Were Taken Into Custody
and More Are to
Follow.
COST PEOPLE s2O,OOO,OOO YEAR

New York, Nov. 22.--Postmastel
General Hitchcock at the close Of
strenuous day at the general post
office declared that the raids made
during the day by inspectors Of the
postofice department In conjunction
with men from Deputy Police Commits
sioner Flynn's office on the firm OF
Burr Brothers, promoters and bank
ers and the Continental Wireless
Telephone and Telegraph company,
was only part Of the crusade against
the swindling schemes the govern
ment has been investigating, which
during the past Ave years have cost
the American people over $1OO,0O0,tvO
or more than $2O,OO0,O0O year. Mr..
Hitchcock added that the campaign
inaugurated would be pushed with the
utmost vigor.
Powerful Influence Protected.
$50 powerful have been the In
fluences behind these men," said Mr..
Hitchcock, referring to the arrest Of
Burr Brothers, that postotiice In
spectors have been afraid to go after
them. Three months ago | brought
Inspector Warren W. Dickson from
St. Louis and put him in charge Of
the New York office for the purpose
of rounding up this class Of swind-
lers."
Mr.. Hitchcock when questioned, de-
clined to discuss the identity OF the
powerful interests back Of Burr
Brothers and with equal emphasis de-
clined to give any indication Of the
further arrests to be made since 1t
might lead to a miscarriage Of justice.
These were arrests made:
Sheldon C. Burr, president Burr
Brothers, promoters and dealers in
bonds, stocks and other securities,
in the Tombs in default Of $4,000
bail.
Eugene W. Burr secretary and
treasurer OF Burr Brothers in the
Tombs in default Of $4,000 bail.
Frank H. HOBBY, vice-president OF
Burr Brothers in the Tombs in defa lit
Of $4,000 bail.
Charles L. Vaughn vice-president
and treasurer of the Continental
Wireless Telephone and Telegraph
company, in the Tombs, in default OF
$4,000 bail
Warrants for Others.
Warrants have been issued for the
arrest in Portland Oregon Of e. W.
Preston, Formerly connected with
Burr Brothers but who is now accord
ing to the postofiice department, con-
neeted with the California Consoli-
dated Oil company and for the appre.
hension Of Charles H. Tobey, Of Burr
Brothers, who 1t was expected would
be located in Michigan. Postmaster
General Hitchcock said he expected
to receive intelligence In the morn
ing that both these men had been
taken into custody.
The arrest Of the two Burrs and OF
Frank H. Tobey were made under the
most sensational circumstances II
had been carefully planned by inspec-
tor Dickinson, inchaEga Of. the district
and Postmaster General Hitchcock
and Chief Postoffice Inspector Robere
s. Sharpe came here from Washing
ton to see that 1t was carried out
successfully. The postmaster general
made his headquarters In the federal
building and after giving careful In,
ntFuctions to Postoiiice Inspector Kin.
cald, Reddy, and Booth. they with De-
tectives McMullen, Murphy and John
P. Flood sailed forth and made q
descent on the establishment Of Burr
Brothers in the FlatirOn building
where the Arm occupied an expensive
suite OF Oflces.
The large force OF stenographers
and clerks employed by the firm were
brought before the federal grand jury
n. all