Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-06
Plan TO CHEAT ]. S.
J LAID TO ARMY MEN
Man Held as Forgery Suspect
Reveals Alleged Scheme to
Get Motortrucks
GOT $500 "HUSH MONEY"

Plans to defraud the government
said to have been formed by a group o.
former army men. some of them off
GERS, were revealed today to Captain o'
Detectives Souder and officers of the
army intelligence Office here in the al.
legged confession of John II. Muir.
Muir, who is fifty years old. is under
arrest in this city and wanted in Mount
Holly. n. j., to answer 3 forgery
charge.
According to Captain Souder, the
plans to cheat the government were
revealed when Muir was confronted by
two men in sivilian clothing, wbo. arc
said to have accused him Of taking
$4,000 from them in New York to or
gsnize a company which was never
formed
''Yes. I'm the man that got the money
from your crowd" the prisoner is said
by Captain Souder to have answered
Then. according to the detective. he
charged he had been given the money
ito salve" men of the United States
transport corps. through whom. it is
said. they wanted to get ten auto
mobiles.
Found Army Men in Scheme
II want to say that I have found a
number of former army men planning
to steal from the government, Cap
tain Souder said Muir told him.
These men Indicating the two civil
isns who confronted him) are among
them
Muir is then said to have outlined
the plans to form a syndicate in New
York for the purchase and sale of mo-
torcars now owned by the government.
The $1,000 Muir is said to have taken
from the two men was. according to the
prisoners statement to Captain Sou
der, to be used as "hush money
among the service men in charge of
the machines.
The fact that Muir was former
service man was established after his
arrest at Chestnut street hotel by
Detective Abbott. of Central Station.
The arrest was made on charge of
forging a check. but Muir was freed of
the accusation. He was held. however.
for carrying a heavy service revolver
and for false pretense.
Honorably Discharged
Abbott found an honorable discharge
certificate on Muir's person, showing
he had been mustered out of service
six months ago. His record shows he
served with distinction at st. Mihiel.
Two letters were found in his pocket
=
Harold Mccormick, of the luterna
tional Harvester Co., told of their serv-
ice together in France, and mentioned
that the writer had talked of Muir to
'Mr. Perkins.
The other letter, addressed to George
w. Perkins. New York millionaire and
head of the company. had apparently
been. written by Muir. 1t asked the
fnancier to provide the writer with s2o,
600 TO buy cars from the government
and then sell them at higher prices in
the market. The writer said a profit
of $3.50, 900 could be realized in this
way in six months time. The letter
had never been mailed.
Remained i'm Transport Corps
Abbott learned that, following his
discharge from the army Muir had been
engaged as a civilian employe in the
transport corps.
A note written by Captain Souder to
the local Office of the army intelligence
resulted in today's developments in the
case. An officer in uniform, attended by
four soldiers. Secret Service agent aud
the two men in civilian clothing, went to
Captain Souder's office and Muir was
brought before them.
After the proceedings in the de
tective's office, the army officer left
with the two men in civilian clothes.