The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1920-11-18
IAND SWINDLER
OPERATED HERE
INVESTIGATION BY LOCAL MEN
LEADS TO ARREST OF A. J.
GOODMAN AT ST. CLOUD
he DEALT IN PHONEY PAPER
TRIED TO TRADE WORTHLESS
PAPER FOR RESIDENCE PRO-
PERTY ON OAK STREET

An investigation OF deed ana
mortgage by M. P. Stadtherr and
Chas. Houghton Of Sank Centre, real
estate men, lead to the capture at ST.
Cloud last week of the one of the
cleverest real estate swindlers oper-
ating in Minnesota in some time.
About two weeks ago, man giving
his name as A. ]. Goodman appeared
at the office of Chas. Houghton here
and made inquiry as to the prospect
of trading $1,000 mortgage on a
farm in Becker county for city pro-
perty in Sank Centre.
NJ. P Stadtherr, proprietor of the
Commercial Hotel, owns residence
on Oak street, and through Mr..
Houghton, a deal between the two
was arranged, subject to an inyesti-
cation of the mortgage held by Good
man.
Both Mr.. Houghton and Mr.. Stad-
their went to Detroit and looked up
the abstract on the property which
the mortgage held by Goodman COW
cred. The abstract was found clear
and also a deed. Upon an inspection
of the property in question, however
it was learned that the farm offered
in the mortgage was owned by An
drew Davis. Mr.. Davis knew moth
ing of mortgage against his proper
ty or of deed given anybody. He
had homesteaded the property and
owned it.
Upon learning the situation the
Sank Centre gentlemen, then aware of
the fraud, returned home and set a
trap, for Goodman. He came here
and negotiated the deal, stalling how
ever in certain important details.
While in the city he seldom visited
the real estate office, but attempted to
transact his business over telephone.
1t seems that following the investi-
CATION by the local gentlemen at De-
troit, county officials of Becker coun-
ty became interested in the case.
1t then developed that Goodman was
attempting similar deal at st. Cloud
using the same $4,000 mortgage. Adj
vices from St. Cloud were to the eff
feet that Goodman there also used
a telephone in carrying on his bust
ness apparently fearing to come into
personal contact with his victims"
At st. Cloud as in Sank Centre, a
trap was laid for Goodman and he
took the bait, hook and sinker. OF
ficers from Becker county were on
the job and arrested Goodman just
he had Closed the deal and was leav-
ing the reality office with post dat
ed check in his hand for $500.
Even after arrested and with a
check on his person made out to A.
J. Goodman, the man denied that he
was Goodman or that he knew any
thing of the forgery of the deed and
mortgsge- on the Becker county pro-
perry.
Goodman who is know to various
local business men through recent
visits here, is now in Jail at Detroit
awaiting trial.
Messrs. Houghton and Stadtherr
failed to snap their trap here to
catch the swindler but it was their
investigation and inquiry at Detroit
which brought the actions of Good
man to the attention of the police.
AS a result of their interests IN the
ease the local gentlemen are out
their travelling expenses to and from
Detroit, but their inquiry prevented
the operation of one of the rawest
real estate swindles ever attempted
in Minnesota.