The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-14
&C E R A NJ &c
ECO r A TT n G.
Pupils Galore Paid Their Hard
Earned Money to Learn the
Art of FASTING Pictures on
China-Policc Are In
vestigating the
Affair.

several hundred women pupils Of the
Elite School OF Ceramic Decorating IN
DecslcomaInie Transfers on China and
Porcelain when they crowded into the
studio OF Professor II. r. Evans and his
pretty young assistant. Miss Minnie
Wingate in the Virginia Apartments
yesterday afternoon and found both the
manager and the instructress out
Somebody passed the word that Evans
and his facinating partner had shaken
thc dust of Richmond permanently
from their feet. forgetting in the hurry
for the train TO fulfn certain obligs-
tions more oil. less vaguely promised by
them TO the pupils.
BY noon yesterday half dozen out
ragged women had called on Captain
NcAfahon at Police Headquarters. and
Detective Sergeant Frank ]. Gentry
VAS assigned 20 clear up the mystery.
on taking possession Of the vacated
rooms. the detective found them strip
ped Of everything but the furniture.
numerous records OF financial trans
actions between Evans and his pupils.
and several rows OF plates decorated
by the scholars Of the Elite School OF
Ceramic Decorating.
After listening 10 the furrleo walls OF
score or more of excited women ana
examining thier contracts with the
professor. Gentry came TO the com
ciusion that the China and Porcelain
Decorators -hOuid be investigated.
However. in order 20 give both sides
the faircst opportunity. the detective
will meet nc scholars at 10 o clock IN
the studio this morning and With them
await the arrival Of Evans and Miss
Wingste
Easy Money Galore
Two mont hs ago. h Evans ana
Miss Minnie Wingate. arrived IN Hich-
uiand and prepared 20 open school
OF 'cera mic decorating. which in this
n
design 10 china plates by means of
brush po. Of glue ana "A roller. They
ayT,earcd before the State and city
authorities and obtained duly registered
license for their business. suite was
engaged in the Virginia Building. furn-
ished elegantly with 500 worth OF tx
lures from a local house-bought on
tho installInent plan by preliminary
deposit of s2a-and inserted ads in the
daily papers
The ads took like vildfire; pupils
locked to the Elite School OF Ceramic
Decorating in Decalcomanie Transfers
on China and Porcelain. and the fame
% tho wonderful opportunity for pin
money" flashed by feminine from one
end OF the city 10 the other According
to reliable statements. as many as 100
pupils a day passed in and out OF the
studio--at s. per pass. The police figure
the proceeds of the school were firt-
ing with the thousands when Evans
left on business.
Evans told pupils that he was repre-
senting the firm Of Kellog Il Evans. of
1889 North Clark Street. Chicago, and
that the plate made by the students
we're sold 10 the Great Atlantic and
Pacific Tea Company 10 be used as
premiums. The manager of the local
house was kept busy yesterday explain
ing 10 offended pupils that he had never
bought SO much az tea cup from the
studio
Plenty of Names.
Evans and Miss Wingate took ioGg-
ugs in a Main Street house short way
from the Virginia Building. and re-
NAMED there until several weeks ago
when Evans wac called out OF the city
on business Miss Wingate was Jeff IN
full charge OF the studio The police are
irving TO figure out why the contract for
furniture and rental OF the Virginia
suite was made IN the name of Miss A
Keller. and why Miss Wingate always
signed contracts only with the initials
NJ. w The day following Christmas.
Hiss Wingste returned 70 her lodging
house after several days absence with
companion whom she introduced as her
husband. Louis Herold-
when pupils applied for admittance
10 the studio Saturday afternoon. they
we're met with d polite but firm refusal
from Mr. Herold- That is the last time
most OF the scholars saw any member
40 the Elite COMPANY Before lear-
ing SATURDAY Mrs Herold. or Miss VIM
gate. or Mrsi Keller. turned over the
business to former pupil. in token
thereof leaving her the keys TO the
sparfment Mrs. Heroid said good-by
with the assurance that she would re-
turn yesterday
"SaIabIy Dccorstcd?''
In the contract which tho pros
pcctivc pupil Of Ceramic Decorating
signed was a stipulation that Evans
would buy back decentralization ply
decorated plates a. 81 per dozen.
and that when twelve dozen plates
had been accepted as perfect from any
pupil the s. tuition money would ne
refunded. Armed with neatly dec
GRATED plates by the dozen. represent
ing Iabcrious hours Of work with tho
roller and Glue brush. the pupils ar
rived 81 the studio Yesterday only 70 he
greeted ~ the crstwhilc pupil who vas
authorized 80 give lessons a. 81 but not
20 buy back finished products.
The frst corners remained the more
uSht-hesrtcd TO laugh and the others
"a rage. After Detective Sergeant
Gentry arrived on the scene. the pupils
took full possession. explored. and
r,okod here and there 70 hearts con-
icnt A. the finish. the suite looked
ike the morning after The more
onsirnis.ic declared that they would
10 on hand this morning 20 greet Miss
Viugstc- Kcilcr-iicrold - and De
tecfivc Gentry
Tn. real estate firm which handles
the affairs Of she Virginia Building OK
pressed - passing interest N the matter
Yesterday afternoon. Tho Ceramic
Decorators have . rental bili already on
the dun list