The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-20
Soliciting For News
paper Mems Home
Is Favorite Graft
GRAB VICTIMS
IN BUSY HOUR
frequently Given
Checks just To Get
Rid of Them

There 10 q multitude OF ways IN
which the business man and the
professional man are worked upon
By the I'VE boys" who make a good
living by preying upon the generos-
isy OF the taps" as they call their
victims.
One OF the best ways is TO solicit
help for poor old Jonesy." but that
10 only one of the games. Il
wouldn't do to work Jonesy twice
In the same year; so when the I'VE
boy" ind that someone has cleaned
out the taps" on Jonesy. he turns
to something else.
Sometimes It's a newspaper mems
homo for which he solicits funds.
home to take care OF q number OF
eaies--brpken-down newspaper
men who have been unable to save
enough money to keep them In their
old age.
The latest newspaper mans home
TO be promoted In Detroit had It's
headquarters In Denver. and the
Hats which were circulated had a
printed statement at their head.
containing the purposes and plans
for the home.
IL was an impressive document.
and looked genuine to the unwary
tap" The first names on the list
were taken. OF course. from some
other paper on which the tap" had
written his signature, for the I'VE
boy" never starts with blank
sheet. Always he lures his victim
by the sight OF the names OF his
friends.
Any Way 10 Get the Money
Sometimes It's home for news
boys that the CRATER is trying 10
support. Sometimes he Is raising
funds for a weli-known cartoonist--
Tom Mays name has been used In
this manner.
Poor boy--he's all In" says the
we boy" We're trying TO do
something for him. Wouldn't you
like TO have q copy OF book con-
tanning cartoons Of all the prom
inent men In the city-yours among
them!"
It's q nattering proposal. and
many q man has become zone
grand" through this scheme. at
cost Of 800.
Another scheme which yields
large returns Ii the book OF promi-
nent men,"
The I'VE boy Is about TO publish
Q book containing pictures and biog.
raphies Of the prominent citizens OF
the town. you can't AFFORD to be
left out" The prominent citizen
sees the point. and agrees TO come
In.
Make your check payable TO
Brown" says the I'VE boy" and ut
this gentle hint the prominent citi-
rem cheerfully pays In advance.
Another favorite game with the
I'VE boys" Is to represent them
selves as prominent newspaper
men.
A I'VE boy" will drop into q bus
mess mans once and introduce
himself as Irwin Cobb. or Fullerton.
or oLaughlin. depending on the
time, the place. or his victim.
'T met you In New Orleans. you
remember" he says-having made
sure that the man has been In New
Orleans. The victim 10 nattered by
the call. and though he doesn't re-
member having met his caller. he
willingly Acknowledges that he has.
Then comes the ''touch"-S100 to
get back TO New York. or something
OF the sort.
Cards for Any Emergency
The I'VE boy" goes so far as tol
have engraved cards made. bearing
the name OF the man whom he rep |
resents himself TO be- He usually
carries the cards OF several promi-
nent newspaper men, to be used In
an emergency.
Sometimes the business man
wants TO know more about his call
or. and asks him II he isn't acouaint.
ed with certain newspaper men OF
the city or course, the I'VE boy
knows them all. Then why doesn't
he borrow OF them!
"oh, wouldn't have them know
that I'm In this position for worlds
replies the sensitive I'VE boy
The CRATER feels that he IL lucky
II he can catch his victim at a busy
time. Neither once girls nor prt
cate secretaries can keep him out OF
the taps" once at such times. II
he can only catch him In a confer.
ence. and call him out for hasty
confab, he IL overjoyed. for in nine
cases out OF 10 the harried business
man will give him q check to get rid
OF him.
Sometimes the man who wants TO