The sun., 1919-04-09
'SWINDLER AGREES
TO REPAY VICTIMS
Alexander POtruch Proves
Himself Blue Sky Artist
of First Order.
HE SOLD SUBWAY RIGHTS
Also Disposed Of Fictitious
Sugar-Judge Releases
Him on Parole.

When Alexander Potruch bowed in
his best salesmans manner at the bar
of General Sessions yesterday and
thanked the court for 50 graciously Sus-
pending sentence on him the following
turned in their graves;
The man who used to sell tickets to 60
UP In the Sobelisk in Central Park, the
man who sold Brooklyn Bridge to a
farmer from Pennsylvania in 1885, the
man who sold City Hall to another
farmer in 1897 and the man who sold
the park around the Hall to the same
farmer the next day. the man who sold
the East River to an Australian IN 1903
and the man who sold the Statue OF Lib
erty to a Calabrian in 1917.
For they felt that Potruch had out
classed them all, since their salesman
longing to the commonwealth. while
Potruch had sold property possessed by
Mr.. Shonts. And got away with II.
Take II all in all. It was hats Off in the
graveyards yesterday.
Potruch was turned out by Judge Ro-
salsky after he had COPIED a plea to an
Indictment charging him with attempted
grand larceny and reciting that he. had
taken various persons to various subway
stations and there sold them the privi-
lego Of selling newspapers and maya
sines in newsstands over which Mr..
Shonts ct al. and not he. the salesman.
exercised domination and control One
Joseph Wells had sworn before a Grand
Jury that he had paid Potruch $1,000
for a newsstand which he never received.
His wife, Lena. testified also as to the
commercial talents Of the defendant.
Potruch promised the court that he
would make restitution. He has until
May to make his promise whole.
He fves at 90 East 11lth street. The
| traveller TO those parts will seek in
| vain there for lowing kline. the ripple OF
brooks and harvests of hay, stacked and
mellowing in the sunshine, but Potruch
contrives to discover customers, never
thelesa
1t Ii recorded that at one time a
neishbor Of his accompanied him to one
Of the highest floors Of the Municipal
Building and there was presented to a
parsonage in a silk hat and encompassed
In frock coat and wearing a bright red
mustache. Conceding that he was the
Mayor OF the city when addressed by
that title the parsonage admitted that
the building was for sale, speaking in
fluent Yiddish and advising the investor.
who was introduced to him, that the
building must be sold that day or not at
| all.
Later Gov. Smith. speaking also in
easy Yiddlsh. appeared upon the scene,
| then in quick succession men who were
presented as Sheriff Knott, Judge Swami
and Commissioner Enright A policeman
strolled along and directed them not to
collect so In the hall. II was the alacrity
with which the putative Richard Enright
! obeyed the order which set the investor
| thinking. and. after he had slept on his
suspicion, spoiled the sale.
| When not vending real estate Potruch
| has taken an occasional fiier in sugar.
meeting his customers as a rule on the
main floor OF the Criminal Courts Build
ing. and thus .contriving to invest his
| transactions with an air of safety as
well as of Genuineness.
| Frequently he called Gov Smith and
City Hall from there by telephone, ad-
dressing them in Yiddish always, and
| cleaning from them. as he would inform
his customers. the days quotations OF
the sugar market. Mrs. Weis, for in
stance. complains that he sold her sugar
which he never delivered and received
s1ls from her. ne1Daniel Brandenburg
states that he turned $500 over TO him
and received only promises
As Potruch stood yesterday before
Judge Rosalsky his smile was ingratiat-
ing and confident. But as he left the
room It faded slowly, as though there
had come TO him tormenting doubt as
TO where he was going 20 get the restitu-
ton money, which is the only barrier be-
tween him and a cold stone cell.