The New York herald., 1922-08-29
POLICE SEIZE ONE
IN $4,000 FRAUD
Charge Thomas Baker Is
Wanted for Swindling
Missourian.
CALL HIM EX-CONvICT
Assert He Has Operated Many
Years Over Country I'm
der Various Names.
CALL HIM EX-CoNvICT

Thomas Baker of 334 West Fifty
first street, who is said by the police
to be one of gang of confidence men
arrested in Florida last winter after
they had reaped a fortune of almost
$2,000,000 in various swindles, was ar
rested at Fifth avenue and Forty
third street last night by Detective
John Barron and Agents Stone and
Vaughn of the William j. Burns De-
tective Agency. He was locked up at
headquarters. charged with grand
larceny and is being held for the
authorities of Newkirk, Okla, who
hold warrant charging him with
swindlings T. A. Linville of Cowgirl,
Mo-, out OF $4,000 in 1919.
According to the police and the
agents of the Burns agency, Baker
was known as Thomas Ochaltree some
years ago. and used that name in
Florida last year. He was not con-
vlcted. however, of any share in the
swindles there. But the detectives Of
the New York force declare that
Baker, or Ochaltrec. has been known
to them for many years as one of the
most notorious swindlers and conf
dence men in the United States. He
operated at times with the notorious
Gondorf gang, they said last night.
and has also worked many big
swindlcs alone, generally using the
~ Drh hn1t I.r ffst..
Adams and Thomas Putnam. He was
arrested in 1908. they said. and sent
10 Sing Sing for three years.
Old Stock Market swfndIe.
Baker. according to the Burns agents.
used the name Of Thomas Putnam in
swindling Linville.
When Baker was arrested In Florida
under the name of Ochaltree the author
tiles there photographed and finger
printed him in spite of the fact that he
was not tried on the charge. and the
photographs were sent to all detective
agencies and police departments. Ac-
ccrding to the Burns agency the picture
OF Ochaltree was identified by Linville
DIS lLdL VI tHe IfldIl- ne fldu k1OWn az
Putnam, who had persuaded him to draw
$4,000 from the bank and put 1t into
a sure thing tip on the market.
In his complaint to the authorities at
Newkirk. Linville said that in August
1919. he went to Manitou Springs. Col.
Several days later stranger introduced
himself as T. G. Putnam. They became
friendly and one day took a walk. Put
nam found in the roadway a pocket
book containing papers and large sum
of money, and he and Linville returned
II to the owner. j. II. Maher. Maher
told them that the papers were very
valuable. and he asked them 10 accept
the money as a reward.
Grateful Man Gives TIP.
But Putnam refused So Maher said
that TO even matters he would give them
tip on the stock market and more
than that he would handle the deal for
them, so that they could not lose. Lin
VILE was told to get all the money he
could, so he drew the $4,000. which
was all he had. He gave II to Putnam
and Maher to play the market with for
him and the next day they told him II
had been lost And the day after that
both disappeared.
BIker denied that he had anything
10 do with the swindle. lie will be ar
raigned this morning in the Yorkvillo
Court, and tho police will ask that he
be held for the Oklahoma authorities.