Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-12-05
BOOK SHARPS ARE
BLAMED FOR CRIME
Suicide of Banker Who Sought
to "Renig' Laid to Door Of
Woman Blackmailer.

New York, Dec. 2-The secre
methods of the syndicate OF alleged
book swindlers, IL Of whom have been
indicted by the federal grand jury were
revealed Saturday. 1t is believed their
operations netted much more than $5,-
100000. the governments original es-
innate of their receipts. They secured
this through the sale of worthless
rare" collections.
In addition to the names OF rich men
and women. made public by various
suits to recover money, the federal
authorities have found evidence OF
many more, who have lost from $4,000
to 100000; but who have kept their
misfortunes to themselves, rather than
face the publicity of litigation.
One list, said to have been turned
up through the arrest of William
Cooper, one of the syndicate's cam
vassers. contains the following names
and the amounts of their book pur-
chases:
Frank Brooks, st. Johannesburg, VT,
$50. 900.
E. A. stearns, Pawtucket. r. l.,
$50. 900.
Fred NJ. Smith, Holyoke. Mass. $780,
600.
Sophia Curtis, Great harrington,
Mass. 100000
Edith f. Bartlett, Fall River. Mass,
$4,000.
Miss Coburn Concord. N. H, SIS, 900.
Jane Pope Portland, Me-, 100000.
A. d. Chase. Portland. Me, $4,000.
Surrender and Give Bail.
In addition to Cooper, James j.
Farmer, the reputea head of the syn
1,s,
Commissioner Shields. Already under
$4,000 bail, Farmer was required to
furnish an additional bond Of $1.500.
George M. Fisher, said to be a cam
vasser for Farmer in exclusive New
York society circles. also appeared. and
was released on $4,000 bail. In Bos-
ton Norman Nathan, another member
of the band, was arrested.
Three others of Farmers associates
were arrested and released on bail
| Tuesday. The remaining five members
Of the syndicate. it is expected. will
surrender or be arrested.
One of the most astounding develop
| ments was the governments reported
discovery that some of the book sharps
used not only persuasion, but the
| threat of blackmail to fleece their VIC
| Tins.
| Women are said to have been en-
ployed to involve book purchases so
back, he was told he would be exposed
unless he kept quiet
Suicide Laid to Swndle.
One prominent banker. it was said,
killed himself when he found that
both his fortune and his reputation
were ieopardized. The name Of this
man is at present withheld by the
| postal authorities.
| 1t is understood the woman in this
case gained the bankers friendship in
the same way she approached other
purchasers of rare volumes.
Seizure Of the papers Of the Anglo
American Authors association and the
Kellar-Farmer company, which occupy
joint offices at No. 225 Fifth avenue
and are said to be dominated by Farm
er. produced a mass of correspondence
which reveals a multitude of schemes
to sell books at from, 10 to SO times
their value.
The conmonest method was to rep
resent to prospective customer that
an American millionaire. travelling
abroad, would buv a certain collection
at an enormous figure as soon as the
collection could be gathered together
IT, therefore. a certain sum was adj
vanced to secure an option on the col
lection. the books would be resold i'm
mediately at handsome profit.