New-York tribune., 1912-12-15
0OIQ TO13 &I FOO O .

federal grand jury. 1t was estimated by
lawyers acquainted with details OF the
traffic that the operations of this group
Of book men and their associates had
netted upward Of so 100000 and that their
victims had been sought out and sepa-
rated from their thousands all the way
from Portland, Me, to Portland, ore.
Four arrests were promptly made.
namely, James ]. Farmer, president Of
the Anglo-American Authors Association,
and Glenn f. Farmer, his son and star
salesman, who were held in 5000 bail
each; Colonel" William J. Hartley, who
posed as a member Of the New York
Athletic Club, and William II. Scott, who
had acted as statesmen, and who fur
nished $500 bail each after surrendering
to the postoffice authorities. Within a
few days several more arrests were made,
including Samuel Roscnfeld, one OF the
concerns most expert statesmen, who sur
rendered TO the authorities and gave
s., 800 bail for his appearance 10 plead 20
the indictment
, The Investigations into these book deels
led the government agents 10 uususpected
sources Of information, disclosing the
amazing effrontery and the lavish use
Of money employed by various bookseli-
ers to carry out elaborate campaigns
against the bulging purses Of men and
women Of means. The operations Cf
other groups of swinders were uncovered
as well as those which led TO indictments.
The operators were born gamblers. They
/ loved 10 take a chance, and the game of
/ bluff was their favorite indoor pastme
and outdoor sport.
/ There was one group which always
worked in small coteries Of four or five
men. Their names cannot be mentioned
\ here as they have not yet been indicted.
/ One afternoon they might be in Boston
occupying an expensive suite I'm a fash
| :onable hotel which had been their head
I quarters while they lanced the bank ac-
/ count Of some resident of Beacon street
I or its environs Then into the presence
/ OF the conspirators would bounce the
ringleader. waving a telegram on high.
ON TRACK OF A "PROsPEcT."
( Come on. boys" he shouts. i've just
got a tip from ST. Louis. Rich old widow.
Looks good
1t doesn't take any urging to start the
book boys. It's what they call easy
meat" Within an hour they have sent
their big touring car TO the railroad sta
ton. where It is hoisted aboard the eX-
press car. while the owners stow away
their luggage in a Pullman compartment
and Law plans for a bibliophlic cam
paien against the "rch old widow
More than one successful venture that
netted the buccaneers small fortune
i'm itself was undertaken on no greater
information than the name and address
of the intended victim and hint as
10 the size Of his bank acc Junt.
CAPTAIN Kidd would have blushed with
morti6cation at the unrehned methods
/ and uncouth directness Of action in vogu;
/ in his day had ne been told Of one
scheme that was carefully planned by
another group of de luxe book manipu-
lators There were a half dozen or so
men in the crowd and in casting about
for some fresh plan that would have the
advantage of being new and unfamiliar
| to the public, they hatched the following
plot:
Negotiations were opened with the
agents Of a millionaire. whose ocean
going steam yacht was lying idie, for
chartoring the vessel for ote summer.
IL was to be fitted up luXuriously, and IN
the main cabin was TO be placed collec-
ton Of de luxe books having an alleged
value Of more than 100000. With this
outfit the piratical crew intended sail
ing ND the coast of New England visit
ing the fashionable resorts from New
mort 10 Bar Harbor and forming, wher-
ever possible acquaintances with the
weather cottagers. one man was 10
pose as the owner and the others as his
guests.
,.,- nr IuII " cCLEME