davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1922-03-19

genuine. The effect OF these references
upon sympathetic and well meaning men
and women parishioners may easily be
understood This man was but one of the
band The individual activities of the
others are not as yet known-only that
traced to them.
The method Of approach, as it is called in.
such circles and the modus operandi are
about as follows: Wherever possible, and
it does not infrequently happen, the pro.
fessional beggar in the guise Of a clergy
man., obtains a letter from the consular
agent Of the city to be worked. That is not
so hard as might be imagined. The agent
probably knows nothing OF the locality his
caller processes to be from, and he would
much quicker give protesting clergyman
mild testimonial than incur the risk OF
refusing in case the man was genuine. AS
likely as not the agents in places apart
from diplomatic headquarters in Washing.
ton are fooled by the fake credentials OF
the supposed patriarchs or metropolitans
abroad.
with letter from his consular agent
vouehing for his identity and standing the
rest is comparatively easy. A call on some
influential clergyman or member OF his
sect follows. Then come letters to the local
clergy, who frequently contribute them.
selves or give letters commencing the
callers cause to the philanthropic of their
flock. Most often they do both. Should
a~>public drive for that particular or an
allied relief be on at the time OF the visit
so much the better. The only bad feature
of this Is that the agency itself generally
supervises these meetings and collects the
funds, paying the itinerant pseudo clergy
man for his services in stressing the appeal
with eyewitness stories. The recompense
The New York herald., 1922-03-19
America the Rich Field,
Once IT Was Known

Western Europe and America were tn
next fields for exploration. Tales OF Amer
ica's riches had penetrated the hills and
spread to the plains OF the Near East
through students az the Presbyterian mis-
sions in Persia There were examples OF
men who had gone to America and re-
turned laden with money and goods. The
following translation is from an account
OF how the game was organized and Is be-
Ing worked in America to-day, how the
country Is apportioned and how false Gre
dentials are prepared and exchanged. IL
was written for the immigration Service
by one thoroughly familiar with the Near
East:
Some of the travellers 70 America sue
ceeded in convincing generous persons
there that they would start a mission
Many OF them received large sums ofmoncy
for this purpose, but with 1t they bough.
farms and built houses for themselves
Every year they gathered group Of boys
and girls, took their pictures, which they
sent to America as pictures OF their mis-
sion and the men and women they had
converted 10 Christ. This class opened
the way for the present professional beg.
gars.
The men travelled IN pairs. The chief
thing was to get letter or a paper signed
by some Bishop or priest stating that these
men were selected to be sent to their Chris
tian brothers in America TO collect funds
for churches, schools and orphanages de.
stroyed by the Turks Even those OF little
influence were able TO get such documents
simply by bribery or by force Some OF
the Bishops at first did not realize the
danger and gave the letters When they
refused the men took paper and ink with
them TO America and made the documents
there.
The men travelled as deacon and a
priest under an oath for usually three
years. The deacon would obey any orders
The New York herald., 1922-03-19
Amazing Organization of SOn1ber
Frocked Impost0rS Gather In $5,OOOOOO
Yearly for Thirty Years in America by
Daring Frauds That Astound
authorities Here and Abroad 4

A N amazing disclosure of the activi-
II ties of an organized company of
international swindlers who have
been operating in the United States for
thirty years unmolested, and who have
gathered in an average of SIS, ,OOO0 900 a year
from their victims during all this time.
has resulted from the arrest of a bogus
Chaldean priest by the authorities Of the
city of Newark, N. ].
Five millions of dollars a year collected
ir the United States alone! Other mill
ions in Europe and South America, A
convention each year of the swindlers held
at permanent clubhouse maintained by
their band in New York city! Governed
by chairman and board of directors!-
such are just few of the startling reve-
lations just made.
X Capitalizing the widely advertised woes
of the Armenians who thirty years ago,
began their plaintive appeals for protec-
tion from Abdul Hamid and also the
needs of the Syrians and Chaldeans, these
swindlers have maintained their busy or
ganization for the purpose of collecting
funds for these suffering peoples-funds
which were carefully divided among the
swindlers themselves.
immigration authorities and the officers
OF the Episcopal Church in the United
States, particularly those most concerned
with foreign missions and relief work
abroad, estimate that there have been and
are probably 400 bogus HISTORIAN priests,
members of this organization, operating in
America. Each is armed with colorful
credentials of distinctly exotic tinge and
probably fortified with anywhere from ten
to two dozen letters from local clergy.
They hold their hands and put just the
proper pathos in their broken English as
they tell of the terrible plight of their
brothers abroad. But always they collect.
The New York herald., 1922-03-19
Bogus Levsnia Diocese
Issued the Credentials

With the many changes in the map OF
the world consequent 10 the war II is Ger.
tain that very few people know whether
there Is or IL not a section In the Old
World which IL entitled Levania. Ameri.
cans are 40 accustomed TO give without
questioning that Il In surprising there are
not great many more impostors. But, In
deed. there are enough--too many.
The very ingenuousness Of the scheme
worked by this army OF solicitors for what
is on its own cognizance a most worthy
cause 10 disarminE. The impostors are
exceedingly well schooled. II is no wonder
that the "Levanian Relief Committee has
managed 70 set i've million or 40 dollars
from this country In "a short a durance as
q ycar--and an equal amount from the rest
of the world.
But America has been Its richest source
n those who have not been caught are wise
enough % 30 back 20 their native lands In
the Near East before disastrous justice
The New York herald., 1922-03-19
One Example of Them
Worked With Many Names

There is Youhanan Zamroo, alias REV
erend' Yohan Danoo, alias Isaacs, alias
Elias, alias Jordan and half a dozen other
names, who arrived in America on the
steamship Oscar III. in November, 1916.
Yohan, as he prefers to be known, accord
ing to the embossed cards now in the pos
session OF the authorities, was taken in
handouts a fortnight ago to Ellis Island
on a warrant issued by the United States
Department Of Labor. lie will be deported.
He posed as a Chaldean priest, as his COM
panions do, and was found collecting funds
for Armenia and Syria.
This Danoo pseudo Chaldean priest, ar
rived In America In 1916. In April, 1917,
he was arrested on a warrant from the De-
partment Of Labor charging him with pro-
fessional begging. He was paroled on the
promise that he would assist the Govern
ment In apprehending the group of pro-
fessional beggars who at the time we're
congregating In New York city and its
environs A day later he disappeared.
In October OF the same year he was ar
rested for the same offense and sentenced
10 sixty days in Jail. There was question
OF his sanity. and he was sent to Connec-
ticut institution. from which he escaped
later.
lie IL the one ready example OF the or
ganization which IL countrywide There
are many others who have not been so
unfortunate an this Danoo; that is they
have not fallen into the hands OF the law.
Perhaps they are oleverer than he, perhaps
more fortunate. or perhaps have less dan
gerous fields in which 10 work.
The New York herald., 1922-03-19

Drisk and thriving business
that was done In Russia by these parasites
selling nails, stones, bones or whatever
took the fancy Of their victim. All were
supposed to be sacred. An amusing story
Is told OF one Russian General who fancied
himself relic hunter This Is the YER
sion that reached the Government man.
Three OF these professional beggars trav-
cling from Persia TO Russia came upon a
dead ass, left on the roadside by a caravan.
One, the most ingenious Of the trio. was
struck with a thought Why not sell one
OF the dead animals limbs as that OF the
ass on which Christ entered Jerusalem?
Accordingly the bone was cleaned. polished
and wrapped in silk and eventually sold to
Russian OF high degree for many rubles.
In time the news spread and in due course
the same officer was offered and purchased
the second, third and fourth legs OF what
he supposed was the same animal. II was
not until tardy but yet hopeful priest.
appeared with a fifth leg that the Russian
realized he had been hoaxed, whereupon
the unfortunate last man was thrown into
prison while the origlnators OF the swindle
went free.
The New York herald., 1922-03-19

sskA0
land. He also
succeeded in
selling his SER
ice S to the
genuine Near
East r e L | e (
Committee.
An incident
here is worth
recording. Da-
moo, according
to Samuel d.
Barbari of the
i'm m i igrati t ion
service, W h o
in v e s tiga ted
the mans his
tory, is a ma
tive of Kurdis-
tan. He has the
dark, piercing
e y e S of the
"a stern Asi.
attic. They fire
with emotion
when he talks
of t h g eShard.
ships of h | S
people in the
diocese of Le-
vania. Levania
Is a phantom
diocese and a
fictitious name.
The Rev. John
G. Donnell, rec
The New York herald., 1922-03-19

does overtake them they will
be able no doubt to live the
rest of their days in luxury.
They seem to be wise. They
are willy, at any rate. But
they are criminals, and it Is
the failing of the swindler as
1t is of other thieves that he
never knows when he has
enough.
To return to Danoo-he is
really getting off very light in
being deported. 1t might be
that he has settled a nest egg
in the land to which he is
being returned, and that he is
really being done a favor. He
will soon be on his way to
Assyria-but not to his be-
loved diocese of Levania.
Between the time of his
arrival in America and his
transfer last week to Ellis
Island for deportation Danoo
was constantly active. Among
his victims were some of the
most representative clergy
men and laymen of the Epis-
copal Church in New York
onl N1au, EpU
The New York herald., 1922-03-19
How@eFa1se Priests Of Chaldea Ticked heW6rh

signatures of some OF the
most prominent Episcopal
clergymen in New York,
with amounts indicating
contributions to Danoo's
fund. T h e S e included
Bishop William T. Man
ming, Dear n Howard C.
Robbins, the Rev. DR.. Err
nest NJ. Stires, the Rev. DR..
John Haynes Holmes and
others almost equally we'll
known. The lay victims
included George Gordon
Battle, Col. Austin Colgate,
William Skinner, Stewart
ii. Hawthorne and others.
Among the papers seized
with Danoo's effects was a
printed report OF the work
of the Committee on Near
East Relief with printed
signatures of Cleveland H
Dodge, Bishop ManninG
and other officials. An
otherwise blank paper
found at the same tim0
showed that some one had
assiduously tried to copy
these signatures and with
enough success to deceive
the average person. What
was a manifest attempt TO
copy Bishop Manning's
signature appeared a dozen
or more times on one page.
but there was nothing to
show that a forgery of this
name was actually per-
petrated.
Until the war Russia
was a fertile field for these
professional beggars, the
credulous Muscovite-be-
ing several degrees more
gullible than the average
American-gave freely OF
his rubles for what good
he thought 1t might do
him. Investigators of the
immigration service have
long been aware OF the
hy-fcL a ;, a ~ =. L-s
The New York herald., 1922-03-19

Continued 81 run Page.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-21
SUE OIL COMPANY
FOR LOSS OF STEAMER
Especial to The Times-p,s,,,c,

iSn"c!hl to The Times Dispatch1
NORFOLK, VA. Jan. 20.-Thc mat
ter Of signals Is playing an impor
tant part in the crOss-lihcl OF the
United States. owner Of the steamer
Lake Calvcnia. against the Standard
OIL Company. as owner Of the tanker
IL. III. Rogers. The Calvenia was
sunk off Thimble Shoals on the night
of April 10, 1920. after collision
with the Rogers, the crew being
taken OF by coast guard cutter.
The United States is seeking 5000.
eco for loss of the steamer and tho
standard oil Company s4S.5oo in its
cross-libcl FOR damages to the
Rogers. The government claim is
that the Calvenia changed it's course
;wic" in answer To the signals of the
Rogers. the final change bringing her
broads!da 10 the other steamer. The
cross-bill states that the Rogers sig
nails were not answered until the
third attempt. and then an exchange
of signals did not give the Rogers
time To change It's course before hit
tinE the other vessel
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-21
FORD READY TO SOLVE
BIG FERTILIZER PROBLEM
Wires Farm Delegates Will
ACT if Congress Says
Word.
EIGHTEEN STATES REPRESENTED
Gathering mt Nitrate Plant Demands
Quick Resumption of Activities
There for Benefit or Nations Agri-
cultural interests.
IRy Associated prcssl

FLORENCE, ALA. Jan. 20.-Ncnry
Ford expects speedy action by Con-
EIcss on his proposal to lease and
operate the power and nitrate plants
at Muscle Shoals, and is prepared
TO formulate a definite plan for tho
great fertilizer question of the flu
iurc," hc tclegraphcd the Southern
group OF the American Farm Bureau
Federation. in session here.
The telegram was read tonight n,
a banquet here in honor OF the dele
yates. and came ut The close of a
day In which the conference had de-
ciared immediate resumption OF con-
siruction work on tho governments
property at Muscle Shoals necessary
for providing ample fertilizer for
American farms. The telegram fol :
lows:
Il wish to acknowledge receipt OF
the large volume of letters and tele
grams urging me to accept your In
vitation to the conference OF the
Farm Bureau at Muscle Shoals.
These letters from farmers OF many
states are Significant OF the tremcn-
Cous possibilities for public benefit
which center around Muscle SHOALS.
Awaits ConRrcSs' Action.
After careful consideration, I
have reached the conclusion that the
interests OF the conference and that
Tor which II stands can he served
best by meeting with you after Con-
gress has disposed OF the Muscle
Shoals proposal. l am hoping for
speedy action. and am prepared to
formulate n definite plan for the
great fertilizer question OF the flu
ture. Please accept my best wishes
Cor the success OF your conference
and for the prosperity OF the Amcri-
can farmer"
Immediate resumption of construc-
ton work on the governments prop
erty Mt Muscle Shoals with an idea
or providing IN ample supply OF fer
,slizer for American farms was de
clarcd essentially necessary for ac-
ricuitural progress by the Southern
group of the American Farm Bureau
Federation. meeting here today for
two-day conference.
Delegates Inspect Plant.
An inspection that carried the
delegates to every unit of the dor
mant war project resulted In ex-
preston of sentiment that the nj
trate plants are capable of turning
out sufficient fertilizer ingredients 10
supply large part Of the farms OF
America.
The delegates announced that they
would proceed from Florence To
Washington To attend the National
Agricultural Conference. where their
findings on Muscle Shoals would be
presented.
The group meeting was attended
by representatives from eighteen
States. California and Colorado being
among those sending delegates. Zach
OF the Southern States registered
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-21

delegates. and others came from IN.
corn and wheat belts OF tho Miss,s-
sippi Valley.
In an address. before tho confer
encc. Gray Silver, Washington rem
resentai've of the Farm Bureau. de-
clared that ammonia can be made In
the Muscle Shoals plant NOR.
surely. more chcapiy and more eco
nom'cally than i, can be made from
Chilean nitrate In the soil"
interests Against Ford.
Mr.. Silver declared that "A pr.,,
chemical combine" which had ",nr
years been selling the farmer plrs
In bags" was opposing Henry Foras
proposal to lease and operate tho
Muscle Shoals plants. Tho chemical
interests. he said. had some s,ronr-
supporters in the by-product coke
people"
Mr.. Silver named also the alumni
mum manufacturers and packer,
among others opposing Henry Ford,
ana his plan to help the farmer"
Mention OF the Detroit manufac-
tuTer's name brought prolonged an
plause from the members of the con.
ference.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-21
CHICAGO GRAIN MARKET.

CHICAGO. Jan. :J.-SnOwfal!s In Kansas
and Oklahoma brouEh, about something
OF setback in wheat prices today. after
an cary advance The close was easy at
Nff'. cent net decline. with May s!.i4 to
Sii',, ana Ju!y Nol4. - l",7. corn los,
a u = Z" ~'ts = cent, and oats y To /, cent
IN PROVISIONS ia" outcome varied from
~. cents "r TO q cents advance.
~ mrs: IN" wheat market was !nflu-
creed Chiefly by cold weather adviccs anil
hN assertions that tn. w!!le- cro;, was
without adequate covering. Besides. uro--
r"citN- shortage OF domestic Suppli.s &C.
g"'hcr with talk of large quantities q.
hr"adStrn- that EuroH. mus. obtain !ur-
ins the next five months continued TO
bc factor.
ON the other hand. rural offerings I'm
ihc southwest We're said TO In W. incrcas ed
owlnS To an adyAnc. in prices bid 10 MO-
tEccrS- Then, too. Liverpool reports told
OF greater pressure To sell new croIr wheat
from Argentina II was under these cir
cuwsthnce< that word Of snow Hing In
'"tiinus Wacre most needed by tn, 10.
mystic winter cr"p belt gave a decisive
advantage 10 the hears Som, of IN.
w'hSeG longs We're letting go OF their
holdings - the session came to an end
FularEo9 country sales az corn 10 ar
ri"" her" had bparish effect both on
corn and oats. Export business In corn
WAS only fair. mainly with Denmark.
provisions nvcrag"d higher with hogs
and on account of F.ant"rn buying of lard
aiding futures ranged as follows
w IL FAT HIGH f>lnuc
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-21
ATTORNEY
w. & M. SPEAKER
Especial to The Times-pispa,cbl


WILLIAMSBURG. VA. Jan. eo.-J.
Elliot Heath, or Norfolk, president
OF the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar
Association. Will deliver the second
OF the series of seventeen lectures
to be given Mt the College OF william
and Mary under the sponsorship OF
the MarshallWythc school OF gov
eminent and citizenship Saturday af-
ternoon.
Mr.. Heath, who is said to be one
of the best-read constitutional law
ycrs In Virginia. Will lecture on the
early beginnings OF government, es-
pccia!ly that of early Greece.
The purpose of the lectures will
he to give to the students I'm the
school OF government and citizenship
md the public nm entire story of the
growth OF constitutional government
from its early inception down to the
adoption OF the ten amendments to
the newly created Constitution OF the
Cnied States in 1859.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-21
SMALL MILL TAkINGS
DEPRESSING FACTOR
TRY Associated rross.l

INV ORLEANS, la. Jan. c0.-Early
hu'ecH IN the cotton market today We're
not sustained prices weakening after the
rnstinG OF the weekly statistics. which
showed anal! mill ,aliings From adj.
Nnnccs OF IL to ~ points over the close Of
Yesterday there wnn IL drop to levels ! to II
roiuts under. March standing at IT'S best u {
100 and q; 1913 at its lowest ON III"
close March stood 1T 1913 with tho list at
net losses OF To paints. Much Of tn"
selling. Of the latter part Of the session
came from traders who had taken on long
contracts while the market was displaying;
strength.
Around tho opening the near months
were noin;s oft. hut Liverpool started
tn bulge and shorts became very nci .
vous over III: boom in the steel stocks
buviug movement Of Importance set
In ana prices shot upward. highest prices
II tn" day being reached by IN. end of
IN" first hal! hour Of business.
The buying ceased MS abruptly as n hc-
gau. and for y while the 'narKat Dir ftcd.
Selling gradually increased after the most =
ing Of mill takirgs. which were go 90
bales against 27Gnl0 thU wcc's last yenr
ANA 562"H0 thi. week two wears ago. In
the afternoon the market did not have Il
good unlyrtpnC.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-21
\. Y. COTTON BARELY
STEADY AT CLOSE
fnr AssncL1,et prn..l

NEW YORK, Jan. @,-Early advances IN
Che cotton market were attributed large
,! 10 covering for Owe. the weekend. and
were followed Dy reactions. with March
az H. o! net unchanged, IN. genera!
market closed barely steady, net , points
higher to points lower. near months
being relatively vol. sustained.
The market ofcnel steady ut unchHnFcl
prices 70 an advance 80 3 uoinis. aud al
ter some li,tie .rreEuls-.ty sold II 20 u
points net higher on nfIucr late cables
from Liverpool, - lttle trad" buying ana
covering There was "a Ilt;!e scattered
Southern selling a. the start. hut later OF
enough to suggest u fairy steady spot sit
Uatiou which 2r"habiv increased III. Ills.
position 20 cover short contracts FOR over
The Weekend business became very
Uulet above ihc lIiz-cen; !eval for May
contracts however. and the market
comparatively small offerings. January
sold down from I7Sl 70 IL. 20 and May from
..... 90 .I3l. hut the close few
pl.";s W from the lowest on renewed COW
cring
Reports o, untavorahlc financial cond!-
tons .u Lancashire. witA Il possibility %
iugthr- small failures there. restricted
fresh buying. although the showing OF m.
late Liverpool cables was encouraging.
There was no change IN the news from
Indicated that buyers were st!li holding
NJ for the effects NJ cheaper raw ma
t"rIal or wage reductions. and the week
end figures were considered somewhat dis
appointing. probably contributing to the
afternoon decline. New orleans placed
hnics. arains; "5IorH last year. but tn.
local statement was little more favor
able making them 2Sf.3JS against 27O. -
for the same week last yea..
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-21
DIR. BURKE DECLINES
COLLEGE POSITION
Especial to The Tlmes-ptspa,eb.1

Especial to The Times
PETERSBURG, VA. Jan. 2o-br
Joseph NJ, Burke. one OF the most
prominent physicians and surgeons
OF this city and chief surgeon for tho
Seaboard Air Line Railway, has been
rendered the position OF professor OF
materia medica in the postgraduate
Medical College At Atlanta. DR.. Burke
has declined the post, one OF the rea-
sons being that he would have to
surrender his position with the rail-
way. one which he has held for many
years.