The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-19

Detroit's business men could. II
they would, tell many experiences
that they have had with men who
have obtained money from them on
one pretext or another: but they
hate to admit that they have been
cheated by the members Of this
nationwide fraternity OF I'VE boys"
This expose of the methods Of the
I'VE boys" Is based on stories told
by Detroit business men, mot for
publication--oh, no. just between
you and me-" No names will be
used. but many reader will see
just how he has been approached.
and will recognize In himself the
victim Of the sharp, interruptions
I'VE boy re 4ds0
The cheat who Is known az I'VE
boy gets his name from the fact
that one OF his best games Is to
pose as newspaper man. or for
mer newspaper man.
"we boys are trying to do some
thing for So-and-so." 10 one OF his
favorite approaches. I'VE boys are
trying TO raise funds for news
boys home" or home for retired
newspaper men, or reference work
or something or the sort.
or course. the man approached Is
usually fairly well acquainted with
the newspaper fraternity Of the city,
so It would not do for the I'VE boy"
TO come without credentials. He Is
too shrewd to run the risk OF being
suspected.
Phone 10 Used First.
His first step is to call up his
victim on the telephone.
This Is Smith," he says, giving
the name OF weilknown publisher
or editor In the city. Il am sending
Brown over to see you. He has a
proposition in which we are all in.
terested. and I think you will find
II worthy OF attention"
IAN right. send him over" re-
turns the tap" as the victim is
called.
SO the CRATER hangs up the tele.
phone with q chuckle, and hurries
to the taps" once. where the un-
suspecting gentleman OF well-known
benevolence receives him with a
hearty shake Of the hand.
Then the scheme Is unfolded.
"You know Jones-old Jonesy.
who was with US for so many
years"
II Is easy enough to get the name
OF some good newspaper man past
his prime.
"well. Jonesy is all in, down and
out. He's sick man--cant last
much longer--and what his wife
and four kids are going to do when
they call 30 on him. we don't know.
for Jonesy has just managed to get
along on his salary, and he has
never been able to put anything
aside.
Everything he ever got went to
support his family--good old
Jonesy! Now he's sick. and his
wife's health isn't any too good
remarkable woman. too. a fne wom-
an, SIR. a fine woman-and there
are DOCTORS bills to pay.
"And then, Of course. Jonesy has
had to borrow money, and he has
that debt hanging over him.
We'll, we boys talked II over. and
decided to see II something couldn't
be done.
We've made up q list OF some Of
the men who we felt sure would
come through for poor old Jonesy
perhaps you'd like to look II over"
Out Comes the Old List.
Here the gentle CRATER hashes q
list that has been used In preceding
campaigns OF the same sort.
The signatures may be few
years old. and the original purpose
for which they were obtained has
long since disappeared. but they are
genuine signatures. The tap" sees
the names of many OF his friends,
with 800 or $50 OF s25 written after
them.
He thinks OF his own comfortable
family. and then of the wife and
children OF poor old Jonesy.- Per-
haps he thinks also Of the stand