The evening world., 1920-07-30

change rate, and casr in countries
where money had deprecated far less.
IT. worked. Then, all through the fali.
busled myself pcrfcctng my plans"
And how" | asked eagerly, "dld
You obtain the wonderful European
organization you must possess, the
thousands, perhaps millions. OF
gents in every country who buy
your coupons, who exchange them for
stamps, who realize the stamps in
money"
Ponds shoulders sunened. His
mouth set in straight, obstinate
line.
That" lie declared, rs my secret.
That Is TO my business what hs pat
'ent IL Ia tho inventor n is my safe
guard, my protection from imituturs
nd Interference.
Il have been offered a million dol
lars for il. would not tell. Tho
United States District Attorney has
asked me, your question. I would not
answer him. | do not think he has
the right to demand my business Sc
crets.
This Is all / can tell you; | have
not bought an international reply
coupon In this country. | have not
redeemed one here. So the United
States postal statistics do not apply
to my business. / made up my mind
20 4" ~" wh"l" thing abroad
II went 10 the American office of
certain European institution with
branches everywhere. | shall not
say what institution, but you wilt be
near enough IL you call it "A bank with
world wide connections. | put up my
proposition 10 them and asked them
II they would procure my Euro
pean agents. They said they could
not assume any public responsibility
or contribute any money. | promised
TO provide the cash and / gave them
n namc-not my own, but another
which 1 told them to use in all deal
ings with European representatives
They have handled all the machin-
cry from that time on. They are pro-
tected. SO am |. II | were commu-
nicating directly with European
agents my cables would be stolen,
my letters opened, my wireless
tapped. The institution which acts as
my proxy is protected against all
these leaks. for no one except myself
knows what thC institutiono Is. I COM
municate with II daily, hut as talk to
can know who are my secret service
agents. / am on guard even against
dictagraphs.
81 know who are a few OF the thou
sands OF European agents the instl-
| tuition employs for my work. | know
| that many of these secret agents on
! the other side are men OF high stand
| ing. men OF Governmental positions,
| But most Of them l do not know per-
sonally. All ] ask Is results.
Most of my coupons are bought in
! IRntpNAnip
( Greece, Turkey, Portugal and Bull
| garia, countries whore comparatively
| little foreign money buys a great deal
of native money and therefore a great
many coupons. o.
! THE coupons are redeemed and the
stamps sold In the countries where
money Is not badly deprcCiated-
| Switzerland, Holland, Denmark. Eng
land, Sweden, Norway, Japan and
the South American countries, Since
most OF these countries are compara-
lively near the first group | can make
quick turnovers.'
And how are the European agents
paid2" | asked
"Evcrything over 200 per cent. or
the money spent, which | get and
OF which | pay so per cent. TO my
investors, gYes 20 the institution
have mentioned, replied Mr.. Ponzi
"and Is divided between II and the
buying and selling agents, SomP
times nearly 400 per cent. is realizet
on the transactions, and often the
rate ia 800 pcr cent. or little less.
when 1 FIRST began, last January
I deposited money intrusted to me
in Boston banks, and then had then
open accounts for me I'm foreign
, | hanks That may be done dirpctly
or by a letter OF credit or by
foreign draft With that money
, financed my first deals,