The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-14

SWIND[ER
IS SOUGHT
Small Town Merchants
Were FavOrite Prey
of q. f. Foster

The United Retail Merchants As
ISOLATION OF America, With Offices
in the Gas building. has suspended
business. and the federal authori-
ties are looking for a clever young
man who goes by the name q. E.
Foster, organizer and promoter OF
the ASSOCIATION. Also. about 100
small town merchants IN Michigan
and Wisconsin are willing 10 admit
that they nave been 'stmg' for
Sl25 each. Fosters proposition
had -Rich-Quick Nallinstord'S
schemes shaded. and his "come-on'
literature, including "Aossy' con-
tract, are samples OF the engrayer's
art.
District Attorney Clyde l. Web
ster started an investigation OF the
United Retail Merchants Associa-
ton Of America. Tuesday morning.
on = tip he received from an up
state newspaper man He found F..
\. olshefke in charge OF the once
Olshefke is as anxious as the fed
eral officials, and the small town
merchants 20 locate Foster. as his
investment OF $1,000 also disap-
peared with Foster. Olshefke was
formerly employed az the Bur
roughs' Adding Machine Co. He
was induced by Foster 10 join him
in the organization Of the associa-
tion and he contributed. as he has
since found ont. all the ready cash
out OF which Foster paid him the
comfortable salary ~ SIS week
From Olshefke's money Foster also
paid himself like salary.
In looking up the history OF the
association. District Attorney Web
Sfer discovered That II was theo-
retically capitalized az $50 600, and
that Olshefke's $1,000 was all the
actual cash paid in. although the
signed articles OF Incorporation
state that s5,0e0 had been paid in.
The letter heads and other adyer-
Using matter used by Foster, state
that the 10000 capital stock t.
paid in full"
!; is estimated that Foster Ven,
away with about 10000. he left
the city last week, telling Oisbefke
that he was going 20 New York to
interview numerous big manufac-
turers. Shortly after his departure
he began TO wire for money. He
continued TO uire a, frequent In
tervals until the cash draT in the
home Office vas emDty. Then he
stopped corresponding with Olshef-
ke. His last message came from
New York city, last Saturday sun
day. Oishefke became suspicious
that all was not VOL aud started
on Fosters trail he got a. far as
Rochester, but found no trace OF
Foster.
The United Retail Merchants As
ISOLATION Of America vas organized
in July. and Foster restricted his
operation 10 Michigan and Wiscon-
sin. His plan was O. pick one mer-
chant in each Of the smaller towns
and then approach him with
50 heme 10 boost saISs He agreed
to advertise locally certain lines OF
goods that the merchant handled
and 20 offer premium coupons 20 at
tract the trade 10 the stores which
signed CONTACT with the United
Retail Merchants Association Of
america and paid Zee ~ sl25
Foster agreed 10 give five dollars
iu trade each week 70 the customer.
having the largest number u %
cent "Uupons In each town lie also
azreed 70 give automobile coupon
ticke1e. the automobile to be award.
ed To- the person holding the largest
number o.. tickets a. nc end o. six
months. Then Foster arranged %
TO q certain amount Of publicity
work in each town. the town mer.
chant 20 get the benefit % this pub.
LEFTY. which va, TO be paid for b.
the association
About 100 merchants "feH for
Foster proposition and paid over the
money to one oil Fosters representa-
tlyes The district attorney il also
inclined 20 believe that Foster was
WORKING he manufacturers on the
other end OF bis sale scheme.
a warrant viii Re sworn out for
Foster. charging him with fraudulent
use Of he mails. lie promised biz
clients 70. launch his campaign Of
publicity on Oct 10. but around the
inst OF the month he sent out let
:"rs postDoninS the start until Nov
IL. explaining that the big rush OF
business vas tho cause OF the delay
The district attorney is waiting 20
hear from the small town mer-
chants who have been "stung"