The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-28
Rooscvelt's Works Are Cob
bl,d Up at 81 900 Each.
Twenty Volumes 20 Set
BANKER A SUICIDE,
LOSSES NOT KNOWN
One Woman, Eighty Years
Old, luls Up S130.0C0.
Now Lett Without
Even Books

NEW YORK. Nov. 27.--The secre
method of the syndicate of alleges
book swindiers. twelve of whom hav'
been indicted by the federal CRANE
jury. were disclosed today.
According TO the evidence unearth
ed by government agents, the book
sharps used not only persuasion ba
the threat OF blackmail to fleece ,heil
victims. Women are said to nave
been employed TO involve book pur'
chasefs In scandal. 50 that when .
duIe found his rare volumes OF lit
lie yaiue, and demanded his money
back. he WAS told the scandal woule
be made pubic unless he kept quiet
Banker Kills Himself.
One prominent banker, IL was said
killed himself when he found thai
both his money and MS reputation
were gone. The name of this man
although at present withheld by the
postal authorizes, is likely 10 be
revealed later at the trial OF the al
legged s@.ndiers. ' 9-f'c'
James j. ragmer, reputed mead oil
the basS of alleged swindaets, and
whose indictment lead that OF his
eleven associate book dealers, sur
ft4HssIener Shield, Already unurr j.
TOO. Farmer WAS reaatS5ed 10 furnts
an additional bond or $1,000. Georgs
NJ Fisher said to be a canvasser FOL
Farmer. among the most exclusive
New York society circles. also ap-
peared and was released on s5,oee
bal. William Cooper. another con-
yas er, gave sa.5ee bail. In Boston
Norman Nathan. another member oi
h2 ~
arrested.
Three of Farmers associates we're
arrs sted and recessed on bail Tues
day The remaining five members
az the syndicate. 1t Is reported, VIII
either surrender or be placed under
arrest tomorrow.
Reap $4,000. COO harvest
Because many Of the victims have
refused to come forward and make
known their leases, the rrori,s OF the
Farmer syndicate may even exceed
the ss.ooe. 600. which was at hrst be-
iieyed TO have been their harvest. In
the case Of the banker who Killed
himself. for example. the ruiz eAteht
Of his loss Is not known.
Seizure OF the papers of the Anglo
American Authors association, anu
the kel.ar. Farmer company, when
occupy joint offices at No. 20 frta
avenue. and are said 10 be dominated
by Farmer. produced a mass OF cor
respcndence which reveal multi
fude OF schemes TO sell books at from
ten to flttv times their value.
The commnnest method was to rep
resent To a prospective purchaser tha'
an American millionaire travelling
abroad was willing to buy a certain
collection at Il tremendous figure II the
collection could only be gathefea To-
gether, IF, therefore. certain sum
was advanced TO secure an option on
the collection. the books would be re-
sold Immediately at a handsome pro-
1T
Victims Were Easy.
Mr.. Livingston, of Saratoga. is
said to have lost si5s.0e0 on resale
scheme OF this sort The deal was
saia Ia have heen handled by samuel
warfeid. who had been convicted OF
defrauding the wife OF James w. Pat
ten the Gotten plunger, but who was
ont pending appeal. Livingston final
ly baked when he was asked, In addi-
ton to his s15a.a0o. to buy $4,000 OF
tho notes OF another customer When
called to New York last week to testi-
~ before the grand jiry. Mr.. Living
stonss health appeared to be SO shat
tered ty his experience that he was ex-
cuscd.
evidence was also obtained that a
Nrs. Stackpole, OF St Mary's. Pa. paid
ia 600 10 Glen Farmer. one Of the
twelve indicted, to secure collection
10 be rescld to a Boston millionaire
travein- in Europe. After she threat
ened 10 sue unless she saw the Million
a.re. Farmer came to her On crutches.
and sad he had been In an eutcmo-
bile wre k, In which the millionaire
was killed
Bull Moose Comes High.
Ona woman. OF eighty years. who Is
connected with large charitable in
stitu,ion. was sw'ndied out Of 100000,
ana IL 20 near death as the result OF
her misfortune that her name IL with
held. According to federal agents the
hook sharpers rot every cent she had.
She began buying In 1905. one of her
tirst purchases teing twenty-five vol
umes OF Roosevelt's work, at $4,000 n
volume. The books were placed in
storage. and when the millionaire didn't
buy them. as promised. they were re-
moved to Farmers Offices.
Al present she does not possess even
4 book to show where her $4,000 has
gone
The Roosevelt editions. which seem
10 taya been included In nea-ly all the
collections ~ Farmers syndicate, were
said to have been bought originally
from some reputable dealer ard then
rebound in luxurious covers and from
tiepiece.
Stand For Loss.
A Mrs. Iaidlaw is said to have lost
$4,000. To save her from the pub.
iicitv Of q law suit. her sens. who are
wealthy Wall Street brokers, are said
to have stood ser the loss.
IA banker who signed i'm for 5000. 900
Of books In said TO have made such a
show Of fight that the book dealers
agreed to hold hin for only so 900.
and Herewith ccndscated all his books.
Farmers defense that II any fraud
was committed, 1t was the fault OF mis-
agents and not himself II believed by
tbs government to be shattered by the
following correspondence between FAR
(Contlnned on Second Pngesl