New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-11
Federal Grand Jury IndiCts Six
Men on Charges of $61 900
De Luxe Volume Fraud
in Book Deal.
AUTOMOBILE MAN VICTIM
Prominent Librarian in New
Orleans and Three Chicago
Men Under Arrest in Swim
die That Was Revealed
by Dictagraph.


was disclosed yesterday through the
indictment in this city of six men,
charged with fraudulent use Of the
Imails i'm selling practically worthless
books TO Harry NJ. LevingstOn, OF Sara
toga Springs, as a priceless collection
Of Americana. The collection. for
which Mr.. Levingston paid SOL, 100,
consisted mostly of government reports
given away freely instead of being
valuable editions Of American authors.
The men indicted were:
William Young Conn Humes, James
Plunkett and Edward J. McArdle, a
lawyer. of Chicago; William Beer,
librarian of the Howard Memorial Ii
brary. of New Orleans; William B..
Sherwood, OF Syracuse. n. Y, and Glen
f. Farmer, who has been indicted sew
leral times for dc luxe book swindles,
and is now said TO be in California.
McArdle. Humes and Plunkett were ar
rested in Chicago last night on orders
sent out from this city.
Sees Profit in "Bookworm."
The Indictment charged that James
Punkett represented to Mr.. Leving-
ston. a wealthy automobile dealer, that
he knew a "bookworm' in New Orleans
who owned marvellous collection or
Americana. The "bookworm," he SAID,
was utterly ignorant of the real value
of his collection, and there was no
doubt he could be induced To part with
it for about $4,000, although the
library was fully worth between S-Vo'-
600 and 100000 II Mr.. Levingston
purchased the collection Plunkett was
ready TO resell it for him at huge
profit
The two went to New orleans to look
at the books and to meet the 'Dooh-
worm" Mr.. Leyingston was INTRODUCED
TO Uumes and later met William Beer
the librarian, who posed as the owner
of the collection. There was much taIk
about the books, but they were not
sbown-a little thing that did not prove
necessary
lIeyingston was sufficiently impressed
by talk to pay 5000 in cash as a
binder on the deal.
ON May u. 1911, the indictment
charged. Plunkett-who, by the way
figured as "A representative OF the gov
ernment-and Humes came to Ne"
York. telling Mr.. Levingston that the
books had arrived. They would not ac-
cont q certified check. so Mr.. Leving-
s,on took them to the bank OF MS Ne"
York brokers and there paid over soo'-
100 in cash to them.
Buys More De Luxe Books
Meanwhile Mr.. Livingston was BUY
ing dc luxe editions from the James +
Farmer gang Of swindlcrs, investing IN
all almost $4,000 in books which ne
oxnected 10 dispose OF at great az
vance as had been represented 10 hini'
William Sherwood, Of Syracuse. ap-
neared on the scene, and Mr.. LeNlhe-
ston opened n book store in partnership
with him TO sell his dc luxe editions.
All this time he expected Plunkett 10
nroduce a buyer for the collection Oh
Americana. but Plunkett became Ill a'
,,o psychological moment and could
not continue his energetic search Tor
purchaser. Glen Farmer came into the
breach and offered to sell the coiiec-
,ion to a Mrs. Moore. OF Greenspurgh'
ponp He met Mr.. Levingston in New
Work but the latter had grown sus-
njcious and brought lawyer to the
;rtorview Farmer offered $4,000 In
notes made by Mrs. Moore, under tne
condition that he receive SJO.OOO cash
as commission. The lawyer adViseu
against the deal, and the proposal iell
,brourh. The notes offered by Farmer
wore obtained by him from Mrs. Moore
in navment for fake de luxe books ne
sold 20 her.
II was alleged that Humes then tried
another trick He disclosed himseli
as an art connoisseur and told MT
Levingston he had valuable collection
NJ paintings which he was ready 10
exchange for the Americana upon
navment of 100000 in cash. MT.
Ievingston went to Chicago to arrange
the transaction. He was accompanied
nv clifford l.. Beare. lawyer thor
ouohlv familiar with the tricks OF the
hook swindlers. Beare arranged trap
for them. obtaining evidence which
,,,ul nrove of great value at the trial.
Dictagraph Is Used.
Mr. J.evlngston simulated sickness so
that he need not leave his room in the
,ud,,orium Hotel. A dctagraph was
,Ioced conveniently. and the interviews
with Uumes one morning and that with
plunke,t the next were carefully taken
dowp by stenographers. These two
r tried TO "double-cross" each
other. and in this laudable endeavor
,bev practically gave away each others
scheme.
lance y. Boyle and +. NJ. Roosa.
,ss;stsnt United states Attorneys in
charce of the case, said yesterday the
.ap,oricana" sold 10 Mr.. Levingston
zero mot worth the 81 900 he paid for
ho,,,no them catalogued. AS matter
of fact. tho collection contained reports
Coot,oued on third page. third column.