Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-11-24
post Office Department Nails
GrafterS to the Cross.
WIRELESS AND OTHER GRAFT
Dear public Stung Again by
GrafrerS.

New York, Nov. 21.-In raids sc
important that Postmaster General
Hitchcock took charge in person, in.
spectors took action today against two
concerns which they charge with
swindlng the public out Of more than
S40,O 100000 by fraudulent use of the
mails
Sheldon FL. Burr, president; Eu-
gene A. Burr, secretary and treasurer
and Frank H. Tobey, vice president OF
Burr Bros, were arrested in the first
raid and held in $4,000 bail each.
The government charges that the
firm sold between $4O,000,O00 and
5O,O00,00O of mining and oil stock
worth little or nothing.
Charles L. Vaughan, director of
the Continental Wireless Telegraph
and Telephone company, incorporated,
in Arizona, was taken in the second
raid and held in $1,000 bail. In
spectors say his company has sold
stock amounting to at least $1,000
900 which has brought no returns to
investors. Vaughan is treasurer of
the Columbia Finance company, which
acts as fiscal agent for the Continental
Wireless Telegraph and Telephone
company, and had charge Of the
Continental office in this city. Both
raids today are further evidence that
the government in its warfare against
alleged interstate swindlers means
business and no longer will be con-
tent with issuing fraud order denying
them the use of the mails, but will
Spress for convictions on criminal
charges.
The present campaign began some
months ago and has resulted i'll the
arrest Of Louis 4. Celia of st. Louis
and his associates, charged with opera
ting a string OF bucket shops; the Off
GERS OF the United Wireless company,
ol the FL Pfogresso Banana company,
Of the United Exchange of Chicago,
Of the Steel-Miller Cotton firm of Cor
NTH Miss, and of more than 50
other firms in all parts Of the country.
Postmaster General Hitchcock esti-
mates that the public has been feeced
out OF at least S100,000,000 by get
feliqulek concerns in the last five
years. but he says their heydey has
gone lie said today that other ar
rests involving corporations that had
sought investors throughout the coun-
ny Were expected shortly.
lhe arrest today by postoffice in
speetoFs Of the principals in two inn
poftant companies, Burr Bros, with
ofilces IN the Flat Iron building, and
ene Continental Wireless company,
with headquarters at 5 Pine street, .
saia The postmaster general, ''consti-
.a'e TWO more cases in the series OF
INVESTIGATIONS which postal officials
nave been making in their crusade
against the fraudulent use of the
mals.
" It'll the work accomplished to-
pa'' . cases have been brought to a
aeaa within year. 1t is estimated
alat the swindling operations of these
g eases have filched from the Ameri-
sal people IN period of five years
over 100000, 900.
1afi X. keene, postal inspector,
'ola the story of the Continental Wire
sss' ihe company was organized,
1eosd he said, in Arizona, on October /,
h hsos, with a capital of $5,O00,O00,
Iu' ald not begin operations on a
'a'Ee scale until May of this year.
wi II obtained control of the Collins
o;e1 "lreless lies. Telephone company, the Pa
a .,,,e W lreless Telegraph company, the
eas s,alk Wireless Telegraph-Telephon
TIL l'pahy and the Massie Wireless
telegraph company.
ihe Columbia Finance corporation
%, aas organized to market the stock
wa ,a an ambitious selling campaign
II as carried on all over the country.
oa. spite of the great amount of busi-
La ass alone, Continental Wireless today
tba no bank account, he said, that
ana Inspectors have been able to find
Of a y, Investigation has shown no trace
T hefe the money realized has gone.
Iorgan; collins Wireless company was
w;s, ;s,ahized IN the District of Columbia
c.a;..a a a capital of $1,0OO,OOO. The
s95 ,al nno OF the Clark company was
v@o,UO0, 900. fhot of tho paa;eo en-