Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-08-24
Involves Big Sum.

Chicago, Aug. 24.-FederA inve6d-
gators delving into the Affairs Of
Charles w. French, alleged head Of q
group of swindlers operating on 4
national scale. today estimated that
twelve million dollars might be in-
volved in the swindler's activities
Their manipulations, it is declared,
are the most audacious ever uncover
ed by federal agents and included
banking schemes, bond manipula
tions stock transactions and various
business enterprises.
Investigators today were confront
ed with a bewildering mass of late
confessions. new evidence. victims
and more startling revelations. Seven
teen companies and three banks are
thought to have been involved in the
bands manipuiations. These include
railroads, toll roads, real estate, house
wrecking, electrical construction, Sau-
furniture, meat packing and market
ing, printing and hthographtng. ce-.
ment; lumber and plumbing.
49, Three Alleged Cornerstone.
Three alleged confessions barring
the affair are in the possession Of the
federal authorities today. Federal
agents have, also recovered million
and a half dollars worth of doubtful
notes. have made eight arrests, assert
today that more will follow and have
heard the complaints of number of
alleged victims. es.:rs:ssgs
Ava Harshman. for the past six
yesterday to John Clinnin, assistant
district attorney regarding the bands
activities. He was released on $5,o00
bonds and is expected to be a witness
for the government. Another alleged
statement Of the bands work came
from Rudolph Kohn, head Of the
American Rubber company, Chi
statements which were not made pub
lie.
Believed He Was Safe.
French, who was arrested some
time ago with the activities Of John
W. worthington. alleged head Of
group engaged in disposinE of securi-
ties obtained in mail robS><5es. evil
IDENTIFY considered himself free fronn
suspicion regarding his alleged swind-
ling operations.
"A, letter which he had written to
III. Leets. said to be his Cleveland
agent, was seized when he was arrest
ed. In 1t he tells Of his designs on a
Milwaukee bank, calls Mr.. Cnnnin
honest, but foolish" and asserted
that most of the federal agents could
be bought for ten dollars. :
Others Implicated.
French is held here under $25.ooe
| bonds. Besides French and Worthing-
| ton, both of whom are under arrest.
| Harshman. in his confession, impi-
| Gated a. number Of others among the
| following:
Owen T. Evans worthington's al
legged lieutenant and a government
| witness against Worthington.
Charles W: Dennicki, a Chicago
| furniture man.
William F. Middleton, friend Of
French, now dead. and David F..
Robin Chicago attorney whose ar
rest is expected today. Leets and Dem
nicki are to be questioned today, fed
eral officers here announced. s.
In addition to G.. X. Strobel, Akron.
Ohio, real estate man; Elmer Gerber
of Cleveland and A. E. Strelzin Of
Milwaukee were yesterday taken into
custody in these cities as agents Of
French. Today federal officials were
said to be hurrying to Washington to
question the cashier of a bank there.
He is said to be involved in the opera
tions Of the swind1ers.
! 81 don't know when arrests will
end Mr.. Clinnin said, the whole
affair Is almost too big to grasp
doubt il even French could tell its
| ramifcations easily. Arrests will cease
when we find no more guilty persons" "