The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-12
Topeka Man IL Fleeced Out of
$500 I'm Cash
By q Fake Automobile Concern
in Detroit, Mich.
Armed With Brass Knucks, He
Demands Satisfaction.
Starts to Clean Out the Bunch
One by One.

Local automobile men have been list
ening with glee to the report OF the
vengeance wreacked py Topeka man
upon a fake auto agency In Detroit
from which, only by quick and spirited
assault the Topekan was enabled to re-
cover considerable sum OF money
which he had paid for the rights to four
Kansas counties in which he was to act
as the agent for the sale of a new ma
chine.
According to his story the fake agency
is now under federal investigation on
complaints made by other victims. Like
them he had answered alfuring adver-
tisements and. after correspondence. had
paid for t.rritory in which to do busi-
ness. The local man paid $500 for four
counties He prepared to throw himself
into the business in the hope of rich
harvest of commissions through sales
to rich farmers. But communications
from headquarters became unsatisfac-
tory and irregular. He worried a few
weeks and then took a train for Detroit
At the busy automobile center he
hunted up the address of the alleged
factory. In it he found three men ana
six female stenographers. the latter all
busy TRANSFERRING correspondence to
agents" There was no outward evil
dence of connection with the auto BUSH
ness-not even in the pictures. on the
wall. The Kansas man made inquiries
WIIuOuI SOiHACA SAhe iAAOA
ton. Then he announced that he was
ready to surrender his agency and
would like his money back. Nothing
doing. He was disappointed and said
so but after firm assurance that no
money to agents ever came back by
that route he assumed crest-fallen
air and wit--Orew.
Outside he sought a sporting goods
house and invested 75 cents in a pair
of knucks. the vicious brass affairs
that increase the effectiveness Of a hu-
man fist about seven thousand per
cent. Then he went back
I'm Take 1t Now"
The three men were still on the job.
So were the ladies. He had previous
ly ascertained the man who handled
the cash book and addressed himself
to him, with the announcement:
I've come after my $500 and I'll
take 1t now. please" His right hand
was in his pocket, but the knucks were
already in position.
Didn't tell you there was moth
ing doing" inquired the Detroiter. III
you won't live UP to your contract. you
forfeit. See?"
But the Kansan didn't see. He was
80 mad he couldn't. The fist came out
of the coat pocket and landed under
the other naan,e jaw and he crumpled;
then sat down heavily with badly
disfigured face. The third started to
get up, but sat down quickly without
declaring in on the melee. Then the
Kansas man resumed the interrupted
conversation.
IT have come after my money or eight
hundred dollars worth Of satisfaction.
haven't got either yet but I'm going to
have one or the other right now. I'd
rather have the cash
Better give 1t to him." suggested the
man from whom no satisfaction had thus
far been collected, and the plan was I'M
animously adopted without debate The
$500 In real money was counted out and
pocketed by the Topeka person who back
ed gently through the door OF the inner
office, out through the bevy of busy
stenographers to the outer hall. where he
slipped the knucks into a hip-pocket and
went his way rejoicing.