The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-05-31
FARMERS DUPED::
POLICE SEEK MAN
(Continued ON Page Two.)


BiSman drew up an extensive list OF
his own in which he offered a hori-
zontal price II per cent higher than
any Of the Salt Lake commission men.
These lists with attractive letters OF
Salt Lakes new commission house
which was willing to pay the farm
ers what they should have for their
produce" he circulated through the
mails to a majority of the farmers in
Utah and southern Idaho. The re-
sponses came back with such rapidity
that the little tin mail box was often
damned full of letters.
Bisman is said TO have stood at a
distance as the postman delivered his
mail to watch for a possible visit of
postoffice inspectors. Hours after
his mail had been delivered he walked
cautiously to the box and carefully ex-
amined every letter. They all con-
fained a description of the produce
FOR sale by ranchmen and some of
them expressed elation over the fact
that there was at least one commits
sion man in Salt Lake who dared
quote better prices than the combine
offered.
First Consignment In.
Shortly after the arrival of the
first batch of letters the Oregon Short
Line and Denver & Rio Grande
freight depots became filled up with
vegetables and eggs consigned to "B.
5. Bisman." His attention to the
shipments was called by railroad Off.
Gals With two assistants Bisman ex-
amined the articles and placed nu-
merous deliverymen under temporary
contract. Then in person Bisman
called on restaurants. groceries and
hotels and showing them samples of
he h1d 10
prices below those of other commits
sion men.
Bisman asked for spot cash and
buyers were only too willing to pay
on delivery in consideration of the
low prices. Other merchants began
to hunt up Bisman and he flooded
the market with produce. Secret in
designations were conducted by rep
resentativeS of the commission trust
Detectives were assigned to find out
who the hackers of Bisman were and
unable to learn anything in Salt Lake
they went to the respective freight de-
pots and obtained a list of shippers.
The early communications with the
ranchmen of Utah and southern
Idaho, who had been dealing with
Bisman, brought back letters to the
investigating committee of the COM
mission trust A little later the ranch
men became suspicious and through
attorneys tried to locate Bisman.
placing demands for settlement in
their hands for the produce they had
sent him in accordance with his
quoted price list. About ten DAYS ago
automobiles with lawyers began to
bound down to 1895 South State
street, which had been the headquar-
terS of Bisman.
Bisman Not At Homo.
For three days lawyers called. but
were unable to find Bisman at home.
Then the matter was reported to the
police and the sheriff's office. When
it developed that Bisman had used
the mails in the transaction of his
business the absence of the newest
commission man was called to the
attention of postal authorities Post
office Inspector Nelson went down to
the State street headquarters of Bis
man, but was unable to find him at
home. From neighbors he obtained
a detailed description Of the commits
sion man and furnished 1t to the DO
lice and sheriff.
In the opinion of inspectors and de-
tectives who have investigated the
case Bisman has defrauded produce
men in many parts of the country.
There are few records of operation as
extensive as in Salt Lake. Methods
he used show him to be an expert at
the art of playing the role of a bogus
commission man. Such as purchased