The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-20
CLAIMS HE USED
MAILS TO DEFRAUD
PETER LANDRLooM ARRESTED
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON ON
CHARGE OF USING THE MAILS
IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUo
cRooKsToN MAN.

Peter Landbloom, who achieved no
toriety in local police circles in June
by being compelled to marry a girl he
had wronged, was arrested again late
yesterday afternoon. by the city police
department on the complaint of Louis
Lauritsen of Crookston, on the charge
Of using the United States mails to
defraud Landbloom was arrested by
Deputy Marshal A. B. Wood, and a
preliminary hearing was held before
u. S. Commissioner Montgomery, at
which the defendant pleaded not giity.
The case was continued until Monday
morning, when an adjourned hearing
will be held at 10 o'clock. Taylor
Crum has been retained as counsel for
the defense.
Had his scheme worked perfectly, 1t
is said, Landbloom would have been
500 better off and doubtless in anoth-
er part of the country by this time.
But his oversight in a few Of the
minor details attracted the. attention
OF the local postoffice authorities,
which eventually led to his undolng.
Several days ago Landbloom was in
Crookston on a business deal, as he
claims, and while there fell In with
Mr.. Lauritsen, whom he interested in
the moving picture business, which he
said he represented. He told the
Crookston man that he owned a half
interest in a prosperous moving pic
ture business which operated houses
in Fargo, Wahpeton and many other
points throughout. this section Of
North Dakota and Minnesota He
claimed that he did not get along
amicably with his partner, one P.
Arness of Fargo, and that he wished
someone would buy Arness out, as he
had expressed a desire to sell several
times. Landbloom urged Mr.. Laurit-
sen to buy him out and they would at
once begin to improve the business.
Arrangements were made whereby
the new Crookston member of the firm
was to purchase the interest of Arness
by paying 800 down and other remit
tances were to follow. Mr.. Lauritsen
paid Landbloom $50 at once and later
$40, all In currancy, which the latter
was to mail to his partner who was
supposed to be in Fargo. The money
was placed in an envelope, and sent
by registered mail but before mailing
the same, Landbloom substituted
another letter in place of the one
which contained the money.
He then boarded the train and came
to Fargo at once. Yesterday morning
he presented himself at the postof1ce
and claimed the Letter addressed to
P. Arness, stating that he was Arness.
He was told by Assistant Postmaster
Alfred that he would have to be per
sonally identified before the letter
could be delivered to him. Landbloom,
alias Arness, said he was unknown in
the city and informed the postoffice
officials that they would have to re
turn the letter to the sender, who was
Peter Landbloom, at Crookston, and
he left the building.
Finding his new partner had sud-
denly disappeared, Mr.. LauTitsen
jumped on the train and fastened to
Fargo to look up Arness, of whom he
had supposedly purchased half Of the
moving picture business. He arrived
in the city and accidentally ran across
Landbloom and at once reported the
case to the police demanding his ar
rest.
In the commissioners court yester-
day afternoon, Landbloom stated that
he had accidentally mailed the wrong
letter, as he had several in his pocket
at the time. 1t is presumed by the
authorities that he had overlooked the
fact that he would have to be identi-
fed at the postoffice when claiming
the letter addressed to himself under
another name.
Bond was fixed at $500, in default of
which the defendant went to jail.
About two months ago Landbloom
was the central figure in a case in
the police court which has hitherto
been kept quiet. He was married in
police court early in June to a girl
he had wronged on the order Of the
court.