The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-10-27

violation of the state law
against conducting "a lottery
was drawn this morning by
Deputy Prosecutor Seldcm
against Jacob VOgelbaIm,
manager of the Home Cloak
a. Suit House, 93S1e Pacific
avenue.
This action followed the
disclosure I'm The Times yes
terday of what victims al
legged to be an illegal scheme
to eXtricate money from
patrons.
The information was filed
this afternoon and warrant
for his arrest was issued.
AS the result OF the disclosures
yesterday more than score of
indignant men and women APP
peared before Deputy Prosecutor
Seldom and Thompson today de-
handing the return of their
money and the prosecution Of the
officials of the establishment.
They charged fraud and misrep-
resentation.
Stories Agree.
All the victims of the suit
club scheme" told practically the
same story. They declared they
had been chosen members of a
club of 80 and were told by
agents of the concern they would
be eligible to free suit to. be
drawn by lot each week.
After paying sums ranging
from 81 to SIS or more, several
of the victims made visits to the
store.
Some of them said they wero
put off on some pretext when they
demanded satisfaction.
Many of the vistims said they
were absolutely denied the return
of any money. Mrs. n. Harvey,
1902 SO. Pine street, was threat
ened with a suit, she said, when
demands were made for the re-
turn of $3.50.
Refused Money Back.
]. s. O'Dell, 5S05 So. J St.,
declared to the prosecutor that
he was suffering from a cancer,
causing him to lose his Job.
When he appealed to the mana
ger of the cloak house for the
return of $3.50 so he could OBJ,
tain medical treatment, he wy
turned down flat, SO he said
Some of those who complained
to the prosecutor are:
Mrs. N. Harvey, 5000 oS. Pine
ST.; Mrs. A. ]. Davis, COG SO. j
ST.; f. Sovey, 2409 Broadway;
Mrs. B. c. Reynolds, 541S So.
M ST.; Mrs. Robert Howard, 5426
So. M st.; Hanna r. Fisher, 3Sl1
So. Sheridan; Mrs. c. K. Peter
son, 1898 e. G ST.; Mrs. G. H.
Lavanway. 1414 So. G st; Mrs.
Herbert Johnson, 521 e. 18th st.;
Mrs. r. Spedafore, 1916 So. Sher-
idan; Mrs. j. A. Jardeen, 1914
So. 18th ST.; Mrs. M. Christoffer-
son, COS E. 29th St; Mrs. Clark
Whitworth, 3S49 e. J st.; Mrs.
Thompson, sos So. 34th; j. s..
O'Dell, 5S05 So. ] st.
The women had names of
lucky" winners of free suits,
which they said an agent of the
suit house had given them each
week. Some of these names were
w. b. Cornell, 3545 Mckinley
av.; Mrs. F. McCabem, 1894 So.
Junette st.; MRS f. III. Alien,
1916 N. gath street, and Mre.
d. e. Kenyon, 1920 Center st.
Complaints Still Coming.
At late hour complaints were
still coming in over the telephone.
Several complaints we're reported
to the police. All persons were
referred to the prosecutor.
Persons who believe they have
been victims of the schome were
advised by Deputy Prosecutor Sci
den to get as much In merchant
disc as possible from the firm.
I'VE are not going to refund a
cent of the money paid on the
SUITS" said Manager Vogelbaun
this morning. I'VE have the con-
tracts and we will deal with our
patrons just as the contract
reads"
He denied he had conducted a
lottery of any kind, and that
there had been any chance draw
ings for the suits. A suit was
given away each week for adver-
tisement purposes, he said.
I'VE are going to stick to the
contract" he said. +
Deputy Prosecutor Selden de-
clared today that the supp ,sed
contract. by which the holder
agreed to pay so cents week
into the store for the lucky
chance Of getting suit free, is
not binding, as IL has absolutely
no signatures attached.