The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-11-27

glaryo was dull in Duluth, N. j. @.
Ramsdell, most pernicious and ubiq-
| uitious member Of the bunch Of adver-
Using burglars that has infested Duluth
for many, many moons, roped . goodly
number of Mesaba range citizens into
the rotten and fakish Pioneer National
Detective Bureau.
When advertising burglar Ramsdell
represented the phony detective bureau,
he worked for the Minneapolis office
| of the concern that assumed to put
Pinkerton, Burns, Thiel and others out
iof business. The office was represented
as being at 250-52 Security building.
The Duluth branch of the detective
skin-game was at 318 Manhattan build
ing, the telephone number being Mel.
rose 1882.
When little Ramsdell came onto the
Mesaba range he sang seductive song
about how the Pioneer National Detec-
tive Bureau would catch all the thieves
that might try to break into q sub
scriber g home or store and steal world
.ly possessions, all for a fee Of $25 a
year.
Of that fee. nervy little Ramsdell did
not tell his victims that he received
half, so per cent, or $3.50. Had he
been working for the Duluth branch Of
the Pioneer National Detective Bureau,
it is understood that he would have
been given a rakeoff Of only Is per
cent, or 1925 of the subscribers an
nual fee to the organization.
Advertising burglar" Ramsden un-
doubtedly is canny and clever enough
to tie up where the pickings are the
biggest and best.
| Among other suckers caught and
stripped of their monetary scales at
Hibbing was the Hibbing Vulcanizing
company. The manager Of that con-
Germ signed up for years membership
at cost Of $25.
Right after the Hibbing Vulcanizing
Co. had signed up for year Of service
at the hands of the Pioneer National
Detective Bureau, the place was bur-
glarized. The fact was promptly re-
ported to Ramsdell, who had not yet
finished angling for suckers in Hib-
bling.
"We will take up the matter at
once", bold advertising burglar Rams
dell is alleged to have said. ct have
three detectives in Virginia right now,
two men and a woman, and IN get
them to work on the case immediate
ly." -.
Despite those assurances, the Hib-
bling Vulcanizing Co. never saw one
detective, to say nothing Of three Of
them, and it did not see little Ramsdell
again, either. It was not many days
before he faded out Of town.
When the Hibbing suckers signed up
with Ramsdell and gave him their
checks, he gave in return a post dated
check, in the sum of 1927. so, payable in
one year, that check being guarantee
and evidence Of good faith. It was
signed by ~. D. Pierce, president"
and civilian Hecht, general man
ager," Of the Pioneer National Detec-
tibe Bureau. The check was drawn on
the Mercantile State Bank of Mime.
apolis.
In due course, the Hibbing Vulcan.
izing Co., being in doubt as to the char
aeter of the concern SO vigorously rep
resented by Ramsdell, sent the check
to the Minneapolis bank. The paper
came back we'll plastered with the sad
dening words, "No Funds" emo
Funds" "No Funds" emo Funds"
The Hibbing concern also was informed
that the check was worthless.
When the Hibbing vulcanizing Co.
signed up for year Of detective serv-
ice, the $25 check was made out to the
alleged detective bureau. When Rams
dell presented that check at the Hib-
bling bank, payment was refused be-
cause the check was made out to the
alleged detective bureau and because
Ramsdell could not show authority to
endorse in behalf Of the concern he
represented. Coming back to the office
of the Hibbing Vulcanizing Co., he
turned in the check and had another
made out in his own name, which he
promptly turned into real money.
A couple of weeks ago, the manager
of the Hibbing Vulcanizing Co. was in
Duluth, earnestly looking for Ramsdell.
Being unable to find him, the Hibbing
man called at the county attorneys Of
fice-but all that is another story.
Victims of the Pioneer National De-
tective Bureau were supposed to re-
ceive a certificate Of membership and
yellow metal tag, costing not to ex-
coed Sc gross. The Hibbing Vulcan
izing Co. received neither, to say moth
ing of lack of detective service in the
burglary case. The Minneapolis office
was written three or four times, but no
satisfactory replies ever were received.
Aug. 4, 1920, acknowledgment of a pre-
vious letter was made and information \
given that the Pioneer National De-
tective Bureau was out of the metal
signs. Ramsdell also was acknowledged
as an agent Of the Bureau. The yellow
tag and the certificate Of membership
came after time. All reference to
the matter of detective service in the
burglary case was avoided by manager
Lang.
The Pioneer National Detective Blu
reau assumed to collect bills and ac.
counts for its patrons as well as to
detect crimes. Patrons Of the question
able concern inform the Rip-saw that
accounts turned over for collection
never were given serious consideration
in some cases and, in others, money col
lected never was turned over.
s The Minneapolis and Duluth offices
blew up some time ago and, in Duluth,
at least, those in charge flew away.
One A. G. Warner was the last manager
Of the Duluth office. Entanglements