The Sentinel=record., 1911-09-13
GOLD BRICK
 MAN CAUGHT
}. A. POTTER SAID TO HAVE MADE sf,5oo,ooo ON GOLD
 BRICK SWiNDLEs.
in Chicago by Secret Service Men After Being Sought by of-
 ficers of Two Continents.

Chicago, Sept. 12 -S. A. Potter, who is said to nave garnered more than $l,500,000 from the unwary of two continents in the last few years by means of gold brick swindles and confidence games, was locked in Jan here tonight.
 He was arrested today by O. F. DeWoody, division superintendent oi the department of justice, after be- ing sought for year by United States Secret Service men and the police of almost every city in the country. Scotland Yard men also are said to have sought Potter and his companions wno we're credited with having opened in London. Potter, who also was known as George W. Post, was wanted here on an indictment for swindling re- turned in tine Unised States Count in July, 1.10. Potter and a companion, Edgar W. Starhoff. also are wanted in Philadelphia where they forfeited a $23.00G bond in tine United States court year ago.
 In view of this forfeiture and the report tlIas the confidence men of whom Potter is said to be the head, continually keep a large amount of protection money within reach, Chiei |DeWoody will make every effort to keep his prisoner under lock and key until he is brought to trial.
 A cash bond of S50,000 offered by Potter was refused by Federal off cias, who declared nothing less than s150,0O0 cash bond would gain him his temporary freedom. A bond of $l0,000 set by 7Ihe court when the prisoner was indicted was canceled by United States District Judge G. Al. Carpenteh. before whom Potter sought ,teleas this afternoon. This means when he demands his release on bonds, the matter will have to be |argued before a court of jurisdiction.
 Stark who is said to have operated with Potter under a score of names is in the city, according to De Woody and all of the secret service men and police Fer are searching for him. A ruse to land him at the Pot ter home failed. Starkloff telephon- ed to Potter and DeWoody answered the telephone. When DeWoody fat to answer questions apparently asked in a secret code the man at the oth- Ter end became suspicious and left the Instrument.
 At Potter's home a great quantity |of evidence including what the secret service men termed sucker list was found. The nature of the other evil Idence was withheld. The list Is long and contains great number of names of persons from cities.
 Potter and his men are said to have appealed to the avarice of victims and according to detectives, one of his most gtighly remunerative ven lures made his victims equally crim- inal.
 After fleeing his S2S.0O0 bond in Philadelphia, Potter and Starlkloff are said to have opened an office here and flooded the country with adver- tisements of spurious money for sale at half price.
 The bills, it was advertised, were made from plates stolen from the United States Mint at Philadelphia and were splendid counterfeits. Being in 1.-the Tsosition of having sought to defraud the government, the investor would not dare complain and the swindlc was conducted with tlittEe risk by the perpetrators. Potter was arrested in a handsome ily furnished home on the south side His wife urged Chief DeWoody not
 to arrest her husband and Potter ask ed to have a minute in private to
 prepare himself for the street. Tne
 oAfsci ials, however, kept him con
 stantly under guard until Inc was plac
 ed behind bars.
 Chief DeIwoody said tonight ac
 was likely the prisoner would be talk
 en to Philadelphia for trial instead
 of facing a charge of using the malls
 to defraud here.
 | It Is believed there is more evi-
 dence in the Philadelphia case and a
 greater penalty could be imposed.