Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-18
Aged Minister Says
He's Innocent Victim
Continued from Pase One

Continued from Pase One
woman. Mrs. -Lottie Barnes. Fifty -nrs.
street near Locust, who is held be-.
cause she put through her personal
bank account check made out to Thy.
lor & Co. The others who were ar
rested last night are Lawrence Barnes.
the woman's husband. formerly floor
manager for Taylor & Co.. John A..
Scott, $3.50 North Fifth street, said
to be former president OF the firm |;
Milton 8. Kessler. 1920 North Tenth
street, who Ia still connected with the
firm. il is said, and Charles OkamOto,
Of Willow Grove.
"Why bless your heart. I haven't
any ones money" Mr.. Hess said this
morning at his home ut 250 South
Twentieth street.
II am a victim myself. met n
salesman from the firm about six months
ago. lie came to the y. NJ. &. 4.
where was secretary and told me
about an investment he said I would
become rich from. gave him two $50
Liberty Bonds and about $35 in cash.
Later he came back and handed me
$17 which he said was MY first divi-
dend. Then he asked me If had any
friends I would like to sec invest in the
same securities ! held. I told him I
had and later introduced him to Charles
a. Cofiield. 234S Bridge street. At
that time ! had the greatest confidence
in the honesty of the firm and thought
| wns doing my friend a great favor to
put him In touch with such a fine op-
portunity.'
Tn" arrests last night were made
by detectives attached to the District
Attorneys Office on warrants which
mention specific instances OF alleged
fraud totaliing $2l 800.
Profits Check No Good
The transaction in which Mr.. Hess
is said to have had a part resulted in
legged swindle. Upon representations Of
the salesman int troduce,i to Mr.. Coffelt
by the minister the former disposed of
securities held by him and turned over
tn" proceeds to Taylor l. Co. with
which to purchase Crucible Steel stock
which the salesman had said would nd.
vance in price.
\ short time later the promised ad-
vance occurred. According to the story
told, when hs filed h.A complaint
against the firm. he received chccl;
for SiG6 from them to cover profits
made in tho transaction, but when
he attempted to cash it II was refused
ut Taylor & Co.'S bank
Mrs. Cofelt, after several visits ia
the brokerage Office, succeeded In get
ting back $1,000 OF the $500 origi-
nally daposted with the firm.
Other alleged victims who made CONS
plant Of losses on which tho warrants
were issued include the following:
Dr. George Gerbe, Jos West Ever
green avenue, Chestnut Hill, $500
Harry J. Kegel and his wife. Mrs.
Edna Kegcl, 1l24 North Twenty ninth
street. 500 each; Richard i. Oston,
IA Dock street. $1,000; Willard ii.
Young, 325 Calhoun street, Trenton,
\. j., $1,000; 9. II. Elwell, Toms
River. n. j., $1,000; A. g. pisbraw
Toms River, $1,000; Captain Budsull
Toms River, $500; Julia Harker, Toms
River, $500: Charles &. Wager. Fifty.
sixth and Chestnut streets. $1,000, and
Joseph J. Gregory. 40 North Sixth
street, $4,000.
The three defendants held under bal
| for hearings by both Magistrate CowurC
and Magistrate Scullin are Scott
Kessler aud Okamoto, a Japanese.
Securities Mover Delivered
They were arrested along with Leol
| B. Taylor, whose name the brokerage
firm bears, and Walter W. Wood, who
gave his address ss Green's Hotel. A
warrant was also issued for william
$. Reed, but he cannot be located ant
is thought to have left the city.
The charges on which they are being
held by Magistrate Scullin were made
by widow, who alleges she turnet
over 500 10 the firm for the purchase
| Of 100 tbares OF General Motors stocl
and fifty shares OF Middle States Oi
stock She said the securities wer'
never delivered to her. State Repre-.
sentative Clinton Sewers is her at
| tOrney.
The widow, Mrs Nellie Robinson
Fifty third and Market streets, SAID
this morning that she had been advised
to deal with the Arm by Mr.. Hess, but
that she believes he was acting In good
faith.
II have known Mr.. Hess for a lon,
time" she said. "and ] am convince,
he thought no was doing me a great
favor. Consequently, ] did not have I
warrant isanea ios his. arrest. but onlJ
'sas ths stha -. NJ. He's = Asa'