Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-11
FAKE WAR HERO
SENT TO PRISON
Man Who Swindled Dead
Soldiers Relatives Gets
Six Months
VICTIMS IDENTIFY HIM
Told Survivors of Killed He
Had Befriended
Their Kin

The fake war veteran" who has been
victimizing parents of Phila delphia SOL
diers killed or missing in France was
captured today after an exciting chase.
He was sentenced to six months in the
House Of Correction. .sN
The man gave his name as Elias Nc
Caulley, forty years old, and said his
nome was in Plattsburg, N. Y. He never.
saw service In France. . "a.
McCaulley was captured after ne tried
to obtain money from +. o. Mosier. local
representative of New York Insurance.
company, after telling him a tale OF
having cared for his dead son, Lieu-
tenant Everett Mosier. in base hos
pital In France and of a promise made
to the dying officer that he would bring
message to his parents In this city.
Mosier, however, was suspicious. His
friend, Nelson Perrine. 521 South Forty
eighth street, was victimized. by a man
telling a similar story a few weeks ago,
He called Perrine and learned that the
description of the man who had OBJ
tanned money from him tailed with the
applicant for assistance today
The army intelligence office in-this city
was notified and had man secreted In
the office in the Commercial Trust Build
ing when, McCaulley appeared. Mosier
asked so many questions and was, 90
searching in his queries regarding the
fate of his son that the informant be-
came suspicious and ran from the Office.
Eluded Pursuers
Mr.. Mosier and the intelligence OF
ficer gave chase, but McCaulley gained
the stairs first and reached the street
floor several yards ahead of his pur-
suers.
Mr.. Perrine had gore to City Hall for
assistance from the Detective Bureau,
not expecting the informant for some
time, and he'd just reached the entrance
Of the building with Charles Smith, a
detective, when McCaulley ran out. Mr..
I'errine recognized him at once as the
man who had told him the story Of his
sons disappearance and secured money
from him. ..
He and Detective Smith gave chase
and caught the man. He was taken to
City Hall and given a hearing before
Magistrate Mecleary. .a-.. x,
Charles W, Munder. 3423 North six
teenth street, who had previously COM
planned of being victimized by a man
who represented himself as returned
soldier, was called and identified Nc
Cauley. The latter. Munder said, told
him story of washing the wounds OF
his dying son and of promising to carry
a message for the fatally Wounded SOL
dier to his relatives in Philadelphia.
Victim Identifies Man ,ti
Munder testified he took the man to
lunch and gave him some money. At
lunch, he said, woman overheard Nc
Caulley telling of working as an orderly
in base hospital in France and asked
! il he had seen her son, McCaulley,
| Munder said, inquired the name of the
soldier, and then told a graphic story
of his herosm on the battlefield, taking
the womans address and promising to
| call and give her further particulars.
Mrs Mosier is i'll in bed at her home,
| 6349 Drexel road AS in every other
| case in viii 4 he was implicated Nc
Caulley first tried to interest the women
members of the family before appealing
/ to the men for assistance. ~