Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-28
OLD ALABAMA
TRUNK IS BAIT
FOR ART LOVERS
Chicago Bankruptcy Case Reveals
Startling Story of Confidence
Game Started in Huntsville.
PICTURES WERE THE LURE
Thousands of Dollars Were Spent
on CaIhoun-Meredith CoIIec-
ton, Almost Forgotten.

HUNTSVILLE, ALA. Sept. 81
Monster profits made from the con-
tents of an old trunk that remained
in a Huntsville home for years, well
nigh forgotten, have been revealed
proceedings. now in progress in Chi
cago, and these same proceedings
have also shown that pretty much
the same method is used by the con-
fidence man, though he be selling a
rustic customer green goods" or his
millionaire patrons art treasures"
This is shown by the contracts
yielded up by this Huntsville Trunk
OF Inner Secrets" BY skillful appeal
to the artistic tastes" as we'll as to
the Itching pockets" of millionaires,
the sellers OF the de luxe books and
art treasures were able to tie their
customer u2 in a partnership through
the form of a contract by which he
was to retain the real gems of the
collection, but still make a profit
through the sale to someone less
gifted in artistic lore with the spuri-
Gus works in the collection.
Enormous Profits Yielded.
The enormous profits yielded to the
men conducting this endless chain Of
art sales increase as the investiga-
tors delve deeper into the wonderful
trunk. Sets of pictures, books and
bronzes were sold time and time
again.
And 1t was here in Huntsville that
the foundation for the scheme origi-
mated. for 1t was here that the origi-
nal collection was purchased.
Some so years ago a scion Of the
famous Calhoun family in Alabama,
whose tastes ran to art, married a
daughter of the Meredith family.
There was art in the Calhoun home
and art in the Meredith home Of
which the bride of Calhoun was the
chatelaine. and on their bridal TRIP
to Paris Calhoun added a number Of
WI " lllt JOiuA NOAltNAlOAAs
Art Left to Widow.
Then came the war and the ruin OF
the fortunes of the houses OF Cal
houn and of Meredith, and finally the
dismantling Of the mansions. But
gentlemen never sold their works of
art. and until his death Colonel Cal
houn held to his treasures. Then his
widow held them until her death, and
they passed, with other effects, into
the hands Of a lawyer named Humes,
the family counsellor and chief credi-
tor of the Calhouns. Humes never
attempted to dispose OF the collec-
ton, and 1t passed to his widow at
his death. 1t was the chief part OF
her legacy.
There came to visit Mrs. Ellelee
Humes in the first days of her widow
hood her nephew from Chicago, w. Y.
c. Humes, who had been associated
with Herbert o. Tomlinson in the sale
of editions of the favorite authors
This was in the year 1910. The
nephew learned of his aunt's legacy
and had an opportunity to view the
Meredith Calhoun collection. He
knew that his aunt wished to dispose
of the collection and he asked an OPP
ton This was granted and Mr..
Humes was privileged to purchase the
thirty paintings, marbles and bronzes
for 500, 900. He told his aunt that he
would have to share any profit and
she was glad to know that he could
buy the collection and make profit
$4,000 Paid for Collection.
Humes returned to Chicago and in
terested Tomlinson. and they both
went to Los Angeles and interested
Eli P. Clark. the multi millionaire art
collector. The three then went to
Huntsville Ala, and while there en-
tered into the remarkable agreement
shown by copy of contract dug up
from the seemingly ineXhaustible
trunk and dated at Huntsville October
"a, 1910.
BY this agreement Mr.. Clark be-
came the purchaser Of the Meredith
Calhoun collection at the sum of $780,
900, which was a first raise of 200
per cent above the option price OBJ
tanned from his aunt by Mr. Humes
This was but the first step in the
agreement. however, for such a slight
profit was not to be thought OF as a
final word in the disposal of the col
lection.
Then came the endless chain
scheme and its final arrival in the
bankruptcy court.