The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-16

the solicitors special Instructions to dis
cuss only the merits Of our club and to
10 nothing that vas questionable.
'Mr. Howard. on behalf OF the Press
Club. visited me yesterday and told me
OF rumors he had heard. I said an In
vestigation would be made and that u
necessary hereafter the agents would be
instructed not even to say that the vaude-
VILE Comedy Club was AFFILIATED with
The Press Club.
The board Of contro, individually took
mp the matter and after an investigation
one OF the agents Of whom we we're not
'ute sure was let go. None Of US In
tended that any special stress should be
aid on our connection with the Press
Club and no evidence has been produced
% show that the agents hive done any
thing wrong The request from the Press
be considered by the board Of control"
staaAarA or MAJ . victi..
The men representing themselves a.
solicitors employed by the Press Club
have been at work OF and on for several
months. Two Instances OF their work
have been laid before the Grand Jury.
A man giving the name OF J. Il. Auchin-
Gloss has been calling on people In the
Wall street district In one case @. q.
clifford. manager OF the Bayonne works
OF the Standard OIL Company. gave his
check In payment for special membership
In the Press Club His check was cashed.
but the money never reached the club
treasury.
r. C. Welt Of :s Broadway. an old time
Standard Oil man. and John r. Parsons.
counsel for the American SUGAR Refining
Company. sent their checks direct to the
Press Club after they had been approached
by the pseudo agent Of the organization
James NJ. clifford OF Clifford. Hobbs 4
Beard gave his check. An Indictment
was obtained on the Information fur
nished by Mr.. clifford.
Mr.. Welt told the officers OF the Press
Club he was called on the telephone
ostensibiy by member Of the club whom
he knew personally and asked to grant
an Interview to another member Of the
club ION n matter OF special interest ="
Mr.. Welt named an hour and man who
gave his name a. j. b Auchincloss APP
ness to become a special member OF the
Press Club. but beins busy. asked his
caller to come back the next day for the
check. Mr.. Welt later instructed his
secretary to draw his check for the
amount and send II to the Press Club,
and when "Auchincloss'' called the next
day ne was told this had ,een done.
That was tho last seen OF the man In Mr..
veits once.
Get Cheek ~ waiting.
Further investigation showed that Mr.
Welt had been Influenced largely In
promising his check by the assertion that
O. Il. clifford had already become a spe-
cial member. Mr. clifford obtained from
his bank the cancelled check he had
given. In this case "Auchincloss' had
managed to outwear Mr. Ginord's patience
by sitting around until Mr.. clifford found
irns IN Chack md hand
I "Auchincloss'' In person. This check. un-
like that OF Mr.. veita which was drawn
to the order OF the New York Press Club.
was drawn In the name OF Eduardo ].
kenney, named by "Auchincloss" as sec
| rotary.
The Press Club received las, summer
a check for 500 from John f. Parsons,
fruit OF crooked work. The check came
| to the club out Of a clear sky. and Mr.
| Parsons In answer to Inquiries said he
| rad been asked to contribute to a fund
| for the purchase. equipment and mainte-
| nance OF a house boat on the Sound for
tired and overworked newspaper men. The
/ check was returned to Mr.. Parsons forth
! with.
Edward Percy Howard chairman OF
the board OF trustees. made the following
| statement last night:
| THE New York Press Club In not con-
| Quoting any campaign or solicitation for
special or associate members and nc
person Is authorized to make any such
| solicitations In the name OF the Press
Club The board Of trustees will regard
| II as a favor II prompt Information o!
any such solicitation Is sent to the club
so that the case may be put in the hands
of the District Attorney. Information
, may be sent 70 IN. clubhouse. 81 Spruc,
street Telephone, 35os Beekman."