New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-14
ARREST FARM BROKERS"
E. M. Rogers and G. H. Laporte
Accused as SWindIerS.
SAID THEY HAD $4,000
Bond Dealer Who Answered Adj
vertisement Says They Got
$50 "for Expenses.

Complaints to the District Attorney from
persons who said they had been swindled
out Of sums varying from 500 to 500 each
resulted yesterday in the arrest of Emory
NJ Rogers and George II. Laporte in their
Office, at No. 200 Broadway. They were
held in the Tombs police court in SoVVo
bail each for a hearing this afternoon on
indictments charging them with grand lar
ceny. Assistant District Attorney Du
Vivier. who investigated the charges
against the two men. said that further IN
dictments will probably be returned
against them.
The complainant in the specific charge
UPON which the men were arraigned was
Charles Hedges. Of No 80 West 6Sth street.
who is associated with Werner Braun
OF No. 80 New street. Mr.. Hedges also
gave the names of fifteen persons who an
swered an advertisement inserted by nm
in a newspaper calling for the names OF
others who had had dealings with the ac-
cused men. OF six of the fifteen examined
by Mr. Du Vivier five acknowledged that
they had given to Rogers and Laporte from
500 10 s7OO each for which they had re
ceived no return
According to the complaint Mr.. Hedges
who was seeking investors for the bohds
Of a fruit growing enterprise In the state
of Washington, became acquainted Win
Rogers and Laporte by answering the lol-
lowing advertisement in December. 1910:
"A Paying Enterprise Wanted-By
combination OF farmers who subscribed
$4,000 TO a stock which they cannot get
Kirkwood."
Rogers and Laporte. Mr.. Hedges said
assured him that they had the funds men
toned in the advertisement, and that II he
would pay the expenses Of man to so 10
Washington and investigate the fruit grow
ing enterprise. they would invest Sloo'oo IN
the bonds. provided the man reported
favorably.
Rogers represented himself. it is alleged
as a trustee OF the estate Of John Bureh'
and Laporte as his right-hand man. lie
said the farmers who subscribed TO the
$50 900 fund lived In 81. Lawrence county
this state, and that Laporte came from 81
Lawrence County
After some negotiations Hedges was IN
troduced to Adolph Sterk. Of No. 52S KOS
ciusN street. Brooklyn. who had been Sc
lectad bv Rogers and Laporte to Visit
Washington. and on February II. l'l'
Hedges paid over $50 for Sterk's expenses
Rogers promising to give $50 for the same
nurpose. Sterk was to report by March L
We did so it is alleged. but Rogers and
I,arorte did not produce the money for in
yestment in the bonds. neither dld they
offer TO return the $50 advanced.
His suspicious aroused. Mr. Hedges said
he visited a trust company where Rogers
said he had an account to find that he had
been deceived. The climax came when the
Rev. Or Rushtoll, Of No sol West ohh
street. denied that he was a trustee in any
estate with Rogers but added that ne had
lost several thousand dollars in a patent
medicine undertaking in which he was as
ISOLATED with Rogers.
Hedges then inserted his advertisement
asking for the names OF persons VINO had
rAplied to the $4,000 "Kirkwood" adver-
,isement. He gave the following names OF
persons who replied to his invitation:
Gerald A. Tough. No. l49 Broadway; ia
cob J. Mead No 107 John street William
Conley. Hotel Albany; f. J. Sterling
Evanston III: G. D. Lawson. No. 56 West
ls4th street: George Z. Reynolds. No. 81
West l59th street; T. w. Anderson. No
80 West l7sth street: ". J. Hughes. No.
So7 East 9th street NJ. II. Throop, No. 10
East nth street, Ernest \. Johnson No.
29I Wildwood street. and a. c. Mascot, No.
leo Lexington avenue Brooklyn A. ).
Wikander. South Windham. Conn stanton
Clarke. Detroit. and Ernest '. ABBOT NO.
i5 Cedar street. this city.
Correspondence and interviews with these
men satisfied Mr.. Hedges that the matter
was one for the attention Of the District
Attorney. and the indictment of Rogers and
Laporte followed.
Rogers gave his age in the police court
as forty-two years and his address as No.
25S West 57;h street. Laporte said he was
ffty-one years old, but refused 10 give his
address The office at No. 200 Broadway
bears the sign. Estate Of John Burgh-
Real Estate"