The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-24
Continued from First Page.

Police HEADQUARTERS He is known in
Mexico for his oil swindles, in South
America for his railroad schemes and In
London for his financial adventures.
Now he has appeared in Paris, and again
the eyes Of the world arc focused on him,
eager to learn or his latest financial
swindle.
Few men have operated under more
aliases than Silberberg. A few of the
names adopted byihm during the last
twenty-five years are J. Coleman Dray-
ton, son-in-law of Mrs. Aston; J, Dali
ton, G. J. Wilmington, Henry Goldstein,
Whitney *. Forsythe, Jackson Cummins
Davis Henry Sederberg and ]. J. Craig.
He probably scored his greatest success
while masquerading under the alias OF
J. Coleman Drayton.
Used Money Lavfshly.
The key to his evil success was his
personality and lavish use OF money. this
attracting gamblers who sought to use
him as a decoy. He found the game
easy while In New York and appearing at
hotels where he would be known would
deposit $500 to his credit with the man
sger. Then he would perform his
swindling tricks. charge large accounts
and disappear.
Silberberg's father was a rabbi, a man
OF great gifts with q genius for public
speaking. Young Silberberg inherits
from his father the gift for public speak
ing, for on several occasions he stumped
for politicians in the West and after
aiding them, interested them in swind-
ling schemes. His father originally
came from Poland and for a time had a
synagogue in Memphis, Tenn. but later
40 rfx
war he became ablockade runner and
made fortune. Harry Silberberg was
born in Atlanta. When he was 10 his
father died. leaving him and an older
brother chain of stores throughout the
Middle West. He became SO rich that he
began to spend his money recklessly.
After many vicissitudes, young Silber-
berg went to Rochester. n. Y. under the
name of ]. c. Davis. There he married
beautiful young widow. Unfortunately.
his money was tied up an dihs criminal
career soon started. He was first ar
rested for passing a worthless check.
Then several more. After his wife OBJ
tanned divorce he went to Europe and
continued his operations.
He visited Venice where he met
Countess, who introduced him to some
of the best known families in Europe
as J. Coleman Drayton, son-in-law OF
Mrs. Aston. Wherever he went he was
mentioned as an Asor, and always OBJ
tained large credit. He spent thousands
OF dollars on the Countess until he was
arrested for swindling a diamond mer-
chant in Baden-Baden. He was SEN
fenced to two years in prison. During
this time the Countess visited Paris,
leading an adventurous life. She met
Government officials and soon became
possessed of their secrets, which was the
beginning of the conspiracy to convict
.Dreyfus. She later became the woman
in the famous case.
When Silberberg was released from
prison he was ordered to leave Ger
many. He came back to America and
In November. 1897. married Clara Bark
low at San Antonio, Texas, under the
name Of J. Coleman Drayton. He now
represented himself as a cousin Of the
original Drayton and settled in Denver.
1t was not Ions before he began to move
about the country. A political speech
he delivered so won Gov. Thcmas's
heart that he was appointed a Com
missioner in Colorado. Later he moved
to Montana, where he stunpcd for SEN
ator William A. Clark. Here again his
oratorical gift was disclosed, and he in
terested the Senator's son In several
ventures which proved disastrous for
young Clark but profitable for Silver
berg.
Dut tho United States was Incoming
too slow for Silberberg and after meet
Ing charming young woman, whom he