The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-23
VICTIM NOW HELD
Federal Authorities Probe Deep
Into Big SwindIe.
Will Make Alleged "Come-0n"
Tell ALI He Knows.
USE REAL SLEUTH METHODS
DictaphOnes and Tapped Wires
Secured Evidence.
Seven Men Now Held in Three
Million Dollar sSPIOt."
USE REAL SLEUTH METHODS

Chicago, Aug. 23.-The arrest of
y. w. Davis, former millionaire presi-
dent of the Winton Automobile COM
pany, was ordered today in connee-
ton with the 100000 bond theft
trust" under investigation by federal
authorities here. Davis is also presi-
dent of the Diamond Portland Ce-
ment company and Glove Stove COM
Assistant United States Attorney
John V. Clinnin, in ordering Davis's
arrest, declared the Cleveland million
aire would be compelled to reveal his
operations with the band. Two other
arrests were made today, bringing the
Yin, at Milwaukee, and C. K. Strobel,
at Akron, Ohio.
VIII Probe Deeper.
Federal officials today were prob
ing deeper into the three million
dollar swindle, attributed to the rob
bers' trust" of which John w. Worth
ington is declared to be the head.
Evidence already uncovered, federal
agents assert, reveals one of the most
gigantic fraud conspiracies ever at
tempted by confidence men.
The conspiracy, it was revealed to-
day, already has brought an Ohio
millionaire to the verge of suicide. q.
w. Davis, q director of the Winton
Motor company and other large bust
correspondence seized by federal
agents to have made a written threat
to blow his brains out" Davis, who
is under indictment, is said to be
bankrupt
Victim Was Frantic.
81 am a pauper, disgraced and
ruined" Davis wrote to Charles W.
French, who is said to have been head
of the band that fleeced him. MY
wife and family are reduced to beg
gary. And so help me, French, unless
you return to me the $2,500,000 that
you and your swindling band have
stolen from me, I shall blow out my
brains"
French and five alleged associates
were arrested in an deliberately fur
nished suite at a local hotel French
previously had been arrested in con-
nection with the operations of Worth
ington but had been released on his
John V. Clinnin, assistant United
States attorney, what purported to be
the history of Worthington's alleged
operations.
Used Secret Wires.
Among the men for whom warrants
have been issued but who have not
been apprehended are: A. E. Strelzin,
a Milwaukee broker; Ernest Strelzin,
his brother; Richard Weinstein, a
Milwaukee, bond salesman; Elmer L.
Gerber and H. L. Peak, Cleveland
bond salesman: c. K. Strobel, of Ak
ron, o., and Alva Harshman. already
at liberty after his arrest as a confed-
crate of Worthington.
Apprehension of the members of
the band followed a probe replete with
the melodrama of tapped telephone
wires, secret wires and dictaphones.
1t has not been revealed just how
the alleged swindle of Davis was ac-
complished. His connection was dis
covered when federal agents learned
that French and Worthington had
been discounting Davis's for huge
sums in Cleveland and other eastern
cities. Davis is said to have become
criminally involved as a result of his
efforts to retrieve his vanishing for
tune.
Big Financier Confesses.
Rudolph E. kohn, vice-president OF
the American Rubber company, a
$780, 900 tire concern, is one of the
men under arrest. He is said to have
made a complete confession of his
knowledge of the operations of the
band.
Kohn was arrested after he had en-
deavored to discount at the Merchants
and Manufa cturers Security company,
$4,000 worth of thirty days notes