The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-12-04
MADE Large HAUL
Rich ?EOPLED SWlNDLED OUT OF
MANY millions
They were EASY Marks
A so-Called Book Syndicate Said to
Have Scooped Many Rich People
Out OF Five Million Dollars OF
Easy Money in q Very Queer Book
Deal.

The secret method OF the syndicate
OF alleged book swindlers, twelve, OF
whom have been indicted by the fed
eral grand jury, were disclosed Fri
day in New York. The story reads
more like fiction than the real, hard
truth.
According to the evidence unet--
thed by government agents, the book
sharps used not only persuasion but
the threat of blackmail to fleece their
victims. Women are said to have
been employed to involve book pur-
chase-s in scandal, so that when a
dupe found his 'rare" volumes OF lit
tie value, and demanded his money
back, he was told the scandal would
be made public unless he kept quiet.
One prominent banker, It was said,
killed himself when he found that
both his money and his reputation
we're gone. The name Of this man,
although at present withheld by the
postal authorities, is likely to be re-
vealed later at the trial Of the al
legged swindlers.
James ]. Farmer, reputed head OF
the band Of alleged swindlers, and
whose indictment leads that OF his
eleven associate book dealers, surren-
dered himself before Commissioner
Shield. Already under $500, Far
mer was requested to furnish an ad-
ditional bonk of $1,000. George NJ.
Fisher, said to be a canvasser for
Farmer, among the most exclusive
New York society circles, also ap-
peared and was released on $4,000
bail. William Cooper. another can
vasser, gave $4,000 bail. In Boston,
Norman Nathan, another member OF
the band, was reported to have been
arrested.
Three Of Farmers associates we're
arrested and released on bail Tues
day. The remaining five members OF
the syndicate. it is reported, will eth
er surrender or be placed under ar
rest.
Because many Of the victims have
refused to come forward and make
known their losses, the profits OF the
Farmer syndicate may even exceed
the s5,000,000, which was at first
believed to have been their harvest:
In the case Of the banker who killed
himself, for example, the full extent
Of his loss is not known.
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 doninat-
ed by Farmer. produced a mass OF
correspondence which reveal multi
tude Of schemes to sell books at from
ten to fifteen times their value.
The commonest method was to rep
resent to q prospective purchaser that
an American millionaire travelling
ab.tad was willi2g to buy certain
collection at tremendous figure II
the collection could only be gathered
together. II, therefore, a certain
sim was advanced to secure an op-
ton on the collection. the books
would be resold Immediately at a
handsome profit.
A Mr.. Livingston OF Saratoga, is
said to have lost $153.000 on re-
sale scheme of this sort. The deal
was said to have been handled by
Samuel Warfe!d. who had been con-
victed OF detrauding the wife Of Jas.
W. Patten the cotton plunger but
who was out pending appeal. Liv-
ireston finally baked when he was
asked. in addition to his S153,000, to
buy $4,000 OF the notes Of another
customer. When called to New York
last week to testify before the grand
Jury, Mr.. Livingsto2's health appear
ed to be so shattered by his exper-
ience that he was excused.
Evidence was also obtained that
Mrs. Stackpole OF 81. Mary's Pa, paid
$4,000 to Glen Farmer, one Of the
twelve indicted. to secure collec-
ton to be resold to Boston million
aire travelling in Europe. After she
threatened to sue unless she saw the
Farmer came to her on
crutches. and said he had been in AZ
wreck. in which the mil
lionaire was killed.
One woman Of eighty years. who
I. connected with large charitable
institution, was swIndied out or
$4,000, and is so near death as the
result OF her misfortune. that ner
name is withheld. According to fed
eral agents the book sharpers got ev-
cry cent she had. She began buying
IT. 1905. one Of her frst purchases
being twenty-five volumes OF Roose-
velt's work, at 81 900 volume. The
books were placed in storage and
when the millionaire didn't buy them.
as promised. they were removed to
Farmers Offices.
At nrnsert sne Goes not possess