The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-16
COL. BILLS NOTES AT
DE LUKE BOOK TRIAL
Accused Nirtuoso Tells Of Scan
dial as Big Help in Clos
ing Deals.
CALLS BUYERS SUCKERS"

Tho breezy letters Of Col. Bnl Hartley
regarding his cndeavors to sell de luxe
hooks to cautious New Englandcrs made
Judge Foster and every one else in the
United States District Court smile yes
terday at the trial OF Col. Bll, James
J. Farmer and Sam Warneld for mail
frauds.
Col Bits communications were live
Hest when describing his experiences with
Franklin II. Munson of Adams, Mass.
Mr.. Munson is n lawyer who has a
library. He says that Col Bill first Wis
tied him in 1909 calling one afternoon
and staying three hours without saying a
word about de luxe volumes. Then at
o'clock the Colonel and Munson
the lawyer says, made a deal by which
Munson was TO buy twenty-eight VOL
unes at 500 n voune-ten OF Plutarch
and eighteen called the Versailles His
torical Series" In turn. Col Bill, for
the Anglo American Authors Association
flames ]. Farmers corporate master
piece. was 10 buy for $500 a Shake
speare In Munson's library.
stopped Payment on Check.
Munson handed over check for 500,
but stopped payment on 1t early the next
day because he felt things might not be
right. Col. Bilrs letters tell the sequel
The first is dated June 10, 1909. and WAS
written "on train to Pittsheld for more"
Col. Bill says:
"FNrEND JIM: This Is gilt edged. be-
lieve me. lie Ii n mutt Tho kind you
Ike talk ubptIt tha gaHYpnupsa an
contracts and tho crlminality Of trying
to secure books from you TO resell at a
large profit before they are fully paid
for. T.. 5 Romeo Nathan il
with me. He knows all about Munson
and said he would pay all of It cash
sooner than be exposed as Il party to
any such a deal as is this Of his with
me"
Romeo Nathan whom Col Bill mem
lions, Ia one OF two defendants who
have pledaed guilty to fraud charges
The Colonel wrote 70 Friend Jim Farmer
again four days later from Pittsheld
saying:
DEAR ON FAT BLOND PAL: The victim
is ready for the killing lie went over
and lifted the can on the check and told
the bank 10 pay H. He'll also write to
you "a. A. a. A. and say how sorry
he was for stopping payment on check
lie wants part OF my $1,000 check, but
could not get u cashed up there tneed II
for Fan River to show my victim), so
said Id send him one from Chicago by
end Of week He won't make notes for
books because he says II he has 10 nav
notes h. might as well 20 out and dig up
the cash.
He is truly one big sucker Cannot
aford, he says. to have "A scandal like this
leak out SO II fail him he knows he
has 10 pay A. A. ~ A. $4,000 Ten
hundred cash and 1900 time GOO per
month"; unless he gets sick OF the dam
deal and pays II in full He Is worth
fully $4,000 in cash. lands and various
stocks. but he has lots loaned and IL
keeps him money poor.
says Nunson Feared Scandal
"All of which he told me when got
him to make the check good and take
the Plutarchs Lives out Of tho cXpresS
office Then he put mo on tho trolley for
here ihours rid } after buying me cigars
and drink Of egg p osphate
so you write him nice letters after
you get his, and ut,le tact will do the
rest II you use caution. He is ready -
take advantage of any loophole OF course
20 avoid payment and will do SO II ne
can. But he breads a scandal up here
whore every one calls him Judge and
he has never fallen down on a dollar of
his debts yet ."
Col. Bill winds up with many means
over the fatigucs Of the book business
In letter dated six days later he says
FRIEND JIM I'll see that Nathan goes
TO see or fixes over phone the Adams
party Yes, you can send me the volumes
you speak OF in your letter, they may
servo a purpose M here IL | can arrange
to got 70 tho wealthy summer residents.
especially now that President Taft Is com.
ling up here. But don't ian io
toll me the lowest cash price or time price.
for a little sure money beats big unccr-
tain money. Then make letter for ea III
one. telling all the good points or the
particlar set--see and put EN- all in
one envelope. Mark each one 800 per
volume in the letter. but in u separate
take -
The trial continues to-day