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 We're 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
IN the Tomlinson- Humes bankruptcy
proceedings. now in progress IN Chi
cagu, and these same proceedings
have also shown that pretty much
the same method Is used by the con-
hdence man, though he be selling a
rustic customer green goods" or his
millionaire patrons "art treasures"
This is shown by tho contracts
yielded up by this Huntsville Trunk
OF Inner Secrets" BY skillful appeal
to the artistic tastes" as well as to
the itching pockets" OF millionaires
the sellers OF the de luxe books and
art treasures were able to tie their
customer w. In a partnership through
the form Of contract by which he
was to retain the real gems OF the
collection, but still make 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 II was here in Huntsville that
the foundation for the scheme orig1-
mated, for II was here that the origi-
nal collection was purchased.
Some 60 years ago a scion Of the
famous Calhoun family in Alabama,
whose tastes ran to art. married
daughter OF the Meredith family.
There was art in the Calhoun homo
md art in the Meredith home. OF
which the bride OF Calhoun was the
chatelaine, and on their bridal trip
Paris Calhoun added a number OF
works to the joint collection,
Art Left TO Widow.
Then came the war and the ruin OF
he fortunes OF the houses OF Cal
loun and OF Meredith, and finally the
iismantling OF the mansions. But
entlemen never sold their works OF
ri. and until his death Colonel Cal
oun held to his treasures. Then his
idow held them until her death. and
ley passed, with other effects, into
re hands OF a lawyer named Humes
he family counsellor and chief credi-
lor OF the Calhouns Humes never
attempted TO dispose OF the cOllec-
ton, and Il passed to his widow at
his death. II 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. Tomllnson 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
tion 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 proft and
she was glad TO know that he could
buy the collection and make a proflt
$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 a 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 500
600, 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 q slight
profit was not to be thought OF as q
anal word in the disposal OF the col
lection.
Then came the endless chain
scheme and its ANAL arrival in the
bankruptcy court.