Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-23

known to all the swindlers over the
country tomorrow.
IAN Of these men have lists Of ad-
victimized. These are called sucker
lists, and they are classed according to
the ease with which the men may be
swindled. One list may be headed
hard suckers another easy suckers
and a third will take any fool thing.
The big swindlers have their agents and
branch Offices scattered over the country
to whom they send instructions and
take, for instance c. E. Mitchell Of
Spokane. Wash. whom we convicted
last May. He was an examining news
paper reporter. lecturer and theatrical
manager who dealt In fake mines. taking
stock, and paying dividends out of the
funds received. In writing one OF his
agents he said: This includes all the
people who have ever bought shares OF
me. I give them our best propositions
and use follow-up letters. / am sending
you here a letter I have just received
from Mrs. Blank She is not a heavy
investor herself. but has brothers and
sisters who are well heeled and 1t Is
worth while to cultivate the family In
another letter this man wrote that ne
had a wealthy German in Iowa who
would take $4,000 in German-American
stock il we (MitchelD could answer his
questions. He continued: VIII /?
on this deal
I'VE have all sorts Of fake mining
swindles," continued the inspector. ''They
are backed by men who send an agent to
Arizona or Nevada or some other state
of the west we'll known for its copper.
silver or gold. This agent Is instructed
to get some land near the gold mines.
and he. perhaps, spends 500 or so to buy
the side of a mountain. He then has a
fraudulent mining engineer make a report
on the property. and he may even dig q
few holes and put up a derrick or SO: He
takes out a claim and goes through all the
operations that he would with a legiti-
mate enterprise. There may be some pho
tographs taken and money spent in print
ing Then the stock Is gotten out at 81
per share, and the advertisements are put
sold for millions, and then report is
made that the gold lead has played out.
1T Is the same with rubber planta-
tons In Mexico. many of which are paid
for in installments until the time the trees
are supposed to come into bearing. Often
the title Is no good to such lands. and
the photographs OF the p antations are
those of other rubber districts, perhaps
far away
Not infrequently the man who handles
stock has his Office In his carpet bag,
where he carries the seal of the com
Iany, and moves about from place to
place. One man tried to sell me A.OOJ
worth Of stock In fake mining scheme.
He came here to Washington. and we aft
erward found that he had the seal with
him. and that he signed with his own
hand the names of both secretary and
president on the certificates. We had a
draft for $4,000 sent to him to Chicago,
and he went there straightway to receive
it. In the meantime it was SO directed
hal alr
we never open mans mail except by
mistake. This draft was on bank which
did not exist in Chicago. and we had our
men there to arrest him. He Is now
serving term in the penitentiary.
1t is impossible to know how widely
these fraud schemes extend" said In
spector Sharp. 'They swallow up the
savings of army off1t ers, the insurance
money Of widows and the savings Of all
classes. even to the government clerks.
Take the Wireless Telegraph Company.
1t has cost the people millions.
Can YOU give me some idea Of the