Omaha daily bee., 1911-09-14
SWINDLER HELD BY POLICE
Has Been Selling Counterfeit Money
to Hundreds in Middle West.
OPERATIONS Melted $l,5Oo,oOo
Prisoner Also Wanted by English De-
tectives of Scotland Yard for Ex-
tractins Money From oredu-
lous Londoners.

CHICAGO, Sept ls-s. A. Potter, who Is
said to have garnered more than d,5OO,OOO
from the unwary Of two continents during
the last few years by means Of gold brick
swindles and confidence games, was locked
In Jail tonight He was arrested today
by c. e. Dewoody division superintendent
of the Department of Justice, after he had
been sought for a year by the police of
almost every city in the country.
English detectives of Scotland Yard also
are said to have sought Potter and his
companions who were credited with having
extracted numerous dollars from credulous
Londoners.
Potter, who also was known as George
w. Post, was wanted here on an indict-
ment for swindling. Potter and Edward
Starkloff are wanted in Philadelphia. where
they forfeited $4,000 bond in the United
States court year ago.
Protection Money Ready.
In view Of this forfeiture and the report
that the confidence men Of whom Potter
! Is said to be the leader, continually keep
a large amount OF protection money within
reach, Chief Dewoody will make every
effort to keep his prisoner undo: lock and
key until he is brought to trial.
A cash bond Of $4,000 offered by Potter
was refused by federal officers, who de-
clared nothing less than $4,000 cash bond
would gain him his temporary freedom. A
bond Of $4,000 set by the court, when the
prisoner was indicted. was cancelled by
United States District Judge Carter, be-
fore whom Potter sought release this after
noon. This means that when he demands
his release on bonds, the matter will have
to be argued before a court of jurisdiction.
Lee
with Potter under a score of names, is in
the city. according to Dewoedy and secret
service and city detectives are searching
for him. A ruse to land him, when at
the Potter home. failed Starkloff tele-
phoned to Potter and Dewoody answered
the telephone. When Dewoody pretending
to be Potter. failed TO answer a question
asked in secret code. Starkloff rang
off suddenly
sucker List" Found.
At Potter's home much evidence, includ-
ing what the secret service men termed 4
sucker list of former and prospective
victims was found. The nature of th'
other evidence was withheld. The list Il
said to contain a great number Of namei
OF persons in the middle west most Of
them living in cities.
at all the better known swinding games
the gold brick game, the "sickener" anC
the "salted mine" plants. Potter and hi
companion are said TO have appealed L
the avarice Of victims, and according Il
detectives, his latest and one Of his mos
highly remuneratlve ventures made hi
victims equally criminal.
/ Sell Bad Money.
After jumping his $4,000 bond in Phila
delphia Potter and Starkloff are said L
have opened an office here and flooded tn,
middle west with advertisement of spuri
I Gus money for sale at half price. TIL
counterfeit bills. il was advertised, wer
) made from plates stolen from the Unite,
States mint at Philadelphia and wer
: splendid counterteits Safety was guar
3 anteed and money rolled in for a time.
The investor usually received packag
= Of blank paper for his money. Being Il
. the position Of having sought to defrau
a the government the investor would no
y dare to complain and the swindis wa
conducted with little risk by the per
!. petrators.
: Potter was arrested In an expensive an
handsomely furnished home on the sout
Z side His wife begged Chief Dewoody nc
= 70 arrest her husband and Potter aske
+ a few minutes in private, but the Officers
: however. kept him constantly under guar
until he was paced behind bars.
e Chief Dswoody tonight said that It wa
= likely the prisoner would De taken I
Philadelphia for trial Instead of facing
e charge here Of using the malls 10 defraut
I Il is believed there is more evidence in tn
3 Philadelphia case and. a greater penalt
Il could be imposed there.