The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-11-22
GET RICH QUICK
SCHEME EXPOSED
Lautman Arrested on Charge of
Obtaining Money Under False
P~retenses in Publish
ing Game.

JCIi'QulCh STdll HulIlDtIliS cures o
big bankers. exporters and steel com
pany officials as victims, was re
vealed here in the Indictment and
arrest of A. Albert Lautman. mas
querading under the name of the
United Press Service"-a play upon
the name OF the United Press asso'
Citations. The indictment contained
two counts-obtaining $3.50 under
false p%retenses from the Liberty Ma
tional bank, of New York, and at
lenses from the Liberty Steel Prod
ucts company.
The Burns Detective agency, CO.
operating with Alfred J.. Talley and
Nose r. Rittenberg, assistant dis
dicating that in the last six months
Lautman got large sums from his
victims by trading in the name Of
United Press association, the tele-
graphic news service generally
known as the United Press" or the
u. P.
During this time Lautman handled
approximately $4,000 through his ac-
count in the Guaranty Trust COM
pany.
- oSISAAS 10 q oo'
of the old I'VE boys" graft, in which
crooks posed as newspaper men and
collected money from prominent citi-
zens for various enterprises which
the crooks alleged 1--WE newspaper
boys" were conducting.
Lautman operated by obtaining
subscriptions to a chimerical book
known as the "Scribes' Review Of
America, ~1914-1919," which he rep
resented to be a sort of blue book
Of the biggest concerns In New York
and which was to be sen to news
papers throughout the country. 1t
was to comprise a record, he said, of
the achievements OF the captains Of
industry in their work in aiding to
win the war"
The collection Of evidence was
made possible by officials of the Lib
erty Steel Products company, the
Liberty National bank and Eugene
Michel, advertising representative Of
the Consolidated Steel company.
Through the cooperation Of these
officials with the Burns detectives,
the facts were presented to the grand
jury. Michel made In appointment
with Lautman and permitted a Burns
man to discuss the whole proposition
with Lautnan at first hand.
Lautman, who lives in Jersey City,
created the United Press Service"
On April Is, last, with a small office
in the Trinity building at Ill Broad
way, New York City. Shortly after
yard the "Scribes' Review Of Ameri-
ca, 1914-1919," was evolved. Accord
ing to evidence obtained by Burns
operatives and Assistant District At
torneys Talley and R%ittenberg, Laut-
cans operations were conducted in
the following way:
He would phone for an appoint
ment with the head Of a big bank,
exporting concern or steel corpora
ton, representing himself as "city
editor of the United Press" This
would readily be arranged, as the Of
fetal would be under the impression
that he was dealing with The United
Press associations.
Lautman would appear in person
at the appointed time and offer the
prospective victim the privilege of
having his concern written up" in
the "Scribes' Review of America,
1914-1919"-"not as an advertisement,
Mr.. Dear Sir, but as an opportunity"
Lautman represented that the
phantom volume was published "once
every four years." and that it was
very exclusive" He offered a con-
tract stating that it would be sent to
"all papers receiving the Associated
Press service and The United Press
service. The of the Associ-
ated Press and the United Press
were printed in heavy black type
SO as to catch the eye. The contract
was skilfully worded, merely binding
Lautman to deliver n copy. of the
Review" when issued-without any
specification as to when it would be
issued. In his conversation, how
ever, he dwelt upon the wide pub
LEFTY to be given in our papers,"
For this the victim was asked to pay
only from $3.50 to $1,000, the average !
being about $500.
Lautman scraped acquaintance with
one Of his victims by attending the
recent dinner to Judge Gary, chair
of the Unitel States Steel cor
poration, at the Hotel Commodore.
He succeeded in getting into the re-
ception room. After carefully avoid
ing the real newspaper men, he pro-
tested that he had not received the
Omitted Press tickets, within the
hearing of his victim. The steel man
was convinced that Lautman must
have some important connection with
The United Press. A few days later
Lautman called at his office, re-
ferred o the incident and obtained
a check for $500.
Lautman attempted to victimize
other big corporations, but
JTrttoI prpcG ocSnpiatinnC Lea rn- !
ing of his operations, warned them
and they in turn assisted in obtaining
evidence which resulted in his in
dictment.