New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-06
Jury ConvictS Dealer
Exposed as Faker
by The Tribune
40-YEAR PRISON
TERM POSSIBLE
Witnesses Tell How Ex-
Convict Duped Them
Branded Swindler

Through the persistent activity OF
The Tribune's Bureau of Investiga-
ton. which had been on his trail since
August, Charles T. Ackron, a past
master of the art Of fraudulent adver-
tising. yesterday was found guilty by
a jury in the Kings County Court OF
grand larceny in the second degree.
He will be sentenced on Monday by
Judge Norman S. Dixie, who presided
at the trial, and may get term Of 40
years in prison, as an habitual offender.
Il was shown that he had served three
terms in the penitentiary for similar
offences.
Ackron has had many schemes for
defrauding the public, his mediums OF
deception being automobiles, bad
checks, pianos and Photographs.
He was thriving well upon the credu-
lous people Of Brooklyn for nearly a
year through misleading and deceptive
monograph advertisements inserted ir
Chat" "The Corona Star" and "The
Evening Telegram" He even boasted
of his ability as shrewd ad writer,
who was always within the law.
Weman Aid to Prosecution
One Of the most powerful weapons
put into the hands Of Thomas PeterS,
the prosecuting attorney, was the tes-
timony of Mrs. Esther Weiner, OF The
Tribune's bureau.
you have heard what this woman
from The Tribune told you under oath
about Ackron," said Mr.. Peters in
summing up to the jury. When she
protested to him about his misrepre-
sentations the prisoner, Ackron, re-
plied
"'Yes, am a clever crook. can do
business anywhere this side Of jail. /
ran cafe in the Tenderloin (The
Tivoli), and when The World exposed
me I profited by the publicity. ] even
sent a check Of $1,000 TO the owner Of
that paper for the favor he had done
me-"
Ackron's trial began on Monday, after
his counsel, Lawrence T. Gresser. had
postponed it for many weeks, asserting
that his client was i'll. Impatient at
the delay, Judge Dixie ordered Ackron
10 appear for trial on December 4. de-
claring that II he failed he would be
held in contempt.
Tried on Two Counts
The two counts Of Ackron's indict.
ment were brought through the COM
plant of Frank r. Stone. of 24c9 Bed
ford Avenue, Brooklyn, one Of the
many victims Of the prisoners alur-
ing phonograph Advertisements. The
prosecution called some twenty wit
nesses, who testified that they had
been taken in by Ackron. In his charge
TO the Jury Judge Dixie said that this
testimony might be considered to show
the general intent Of the prisoner.
John Hetherington, former District
Attorney of Queens County, who con-
Quoted the defence. called a variety OF
witnesses, including makers Of phono-
graph cabinets and motors, 10 prove
that Ackron had given his victims ac-
tual value.
The prisoner, who is ffty-fve years
old. lost none Of his bravado when the
District Attorney sought 70 prove that
he had been thrice convicted and had
served three Jail sentences since 1855.
Ho even shook hands with one of the
two policemen who were called to
identify him as the man they had ar
rested in 1885 and 1910, respectively.
One of His Advertisements
The following, which is one of Ack-
ron's various advertisements, appeared
in "The Evening Telegram:
"VlCTROLA, large mahogany cab
met, 5000 size, used four months,
PLAYS all records, combination repro
ducer, diamond point, sacrifice, $50
with records. ACKRON, 254 Stuy-
vesant Avenue, near Gates, Brook
lyn. Phone 66S2 Bedford"
Aekron always arranged the visits
Of his customers so that each caller,
on arrival, thought he was the lucky
bidder for the bargain Victrola.
when they arrived at the Ackron
home" said Mr.. Peters, in his address
to the jury, they were led into a dark
dining room. There, behind a door, in
a dark corner. was this fake instru-
mcnt, worth about $50, awaiting in
spection.
"Under the lid, where the word Vic
trola' appears in the genuine instr1-
ment, they might read-if there was
light enough-the word Victoria.
Witnesses have told you that Ackron
told them the instrument was a Vie
trola. His excuse for the sale was
that his daughter had come 70 live
with him and had brought along her
5000 Edison instrument, and two pho
nogrAphs were unnecessary in the
house. lie sold forty Of these new
cheap instruments, that usually proved
ursatisfactory within day after pur-
chase.
where is this daughter that had
como 20 live with him ard had brought
hsr Edison machine? He has not pro-
duced her. don't believe there is
any daughter.
ut was Misrepresentation, pure and
simple. and you are 10 decide whether
the public is TO be protected from such
swindlers."
The jury, which was out less than
two hours, returned a verdict Of guilty
Of grand larceny in the second degree
az charged. Counsel for Ackron said
that an appeal would be made.