New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-22
BLUE CHRISTMAS
TINTEDBY FRAUDS
Decrease in Holiday Con,
tributions to Charity
Charged to Swindlers.
BOGUS COLLECTORS
SKIM OFF CREAM
War Relief Has Also Helped 10
Empty Public's Pocket5ook
Early in the Season.

Whether Christmas be white or green
underfoot the atmosphere about many
charitable organizations which exist
largely by contributions is likely 70 be
tinged with blue. Donations this year
have been small compared with other
Christmas seasons. War relief funos
may have done considerable 20 exhaust
the publics pocketbook but also 70 be
rcckoued with in placing the responsi-
biiity for the lukewarm response %
appeals Is the great number Of bogus
collectors Of aims for charitable pur-
poses who have been active for weeks
Tho police and the Charity CrganiZa-
ton Society are aware of their pres
encs and the harm they are doing legit-
innate enterprises. The public is being
pandered By representatives OF orphan
asylums that do not exist, agents for
purely imaginary day nurseries, solicit
tors for funds with which to buy
Christmas dinners for newsboys who
never sold a paper and collectors for
homes for aged and infrm inmates who
do the collecting in person. Their &C
tivities have done much to disgust
persons who in former years gave
freely.
yes, We know there is a great deal
Of fraudulent collecting for charities,
but we have nothing whatever 70 do
with seeking TO stamp il out" de-
clared a representative of the State
Board of Charities yesterday. Our
7 functions, you know, are much larger"
Police Get Many Complaints.
At Police Headquarters Lieutenant
McAulif, in charge Of the mondicancy
squad. said:
we are after them all the time. and
there is hardly q day goes by on which
We do not receive complaints. but IT IS
difficult to appreheud the fake collect
ors. They are too wise to call back for
contribution. The unusually large
number operating in the city is proba-
bly, due TO the defects in the state
charities law, which provides no pen
atty for their punishment
Under surveillance, IL was learned
yesterday. are several organized fraud
ulent institutions. One Of them con-
ssts OF a string Of day nurseries and
another is an organization OF hoboes
VINO are allowed 70 make their head
quarters in a West Side basement. In
payment for food and lodging they
solicit aims during the day, presenting
as credentials a paper representing
them TO be authorized agents of So
ciety designed to aid the unemployed.
They also receive a percentage on the
amounts they collect.
In Brooklyn a few days ago woman
was arrested By an officer of the men
tlcancy squad as she sat jangling a bell
beside tripod supporting an iron
kettle. Contributions, placard an
nounced, were for the american Sal
vation Army an organization that has
gone out of existence. She was ar
rested and fined.
A man with whom the police are de-
sirous Of renewing acquaintance Is one
81. =. Collins" who has written 10
business concerns declaring that an or
ganization Of state and county Civil
Service employees IS asking financial
aid for the erection near Police Head
quarters of a gymnasium.
Bait for Property Owners.
In his letters Collins declares he is
az assessor in the Tax Department and
that if generous contribution is made
the recipient of the letter will be re-
membered when his properly is assessed
next year.
Another false agent who has imposed
within the last three days on the Yule-
tide spirit of the public is one who
represents himself as a collector for
home for blind girls. lie has pursued
the game for several years, the police
declare.
Another method of imposing on the
public is by the circulation of free
coal funds The Charity Organization
Society has found that contribution
lists have been circulated bearing the
names Of wealthy citizens rubber
stamped at the heads Of the lists, with
substantial figures, which they are
supposed TO have given, written in.
While women form a large proper
ton Of bogus collectors, zen, 1t is said,
obtain the largest amounts. By driv-
ing 70 the Offices and homes of BUSH
ness men In expensive automobiles they
create an impression Of responsibility
which assists in obtaining from their
victims substantial sums.
nYIITs UEnAnATo NJEyJrn,