The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-09
P0NzI LEAVES JAIL WITH one IDEA
T0ACCUMlLATE ANOTHER FORTUNE
Get Rich Quick Schemer Now
Looking For a Way to
Amass a Big Fortune,
Again
BY HAROLD MATSON
NEA Service Writer.

Boston. Aug. 9.-Expect new-things
of Charles Ponzi.
The little Italian, at present en-
joying breathing spell between one
prison term and the possibility of
another. has no intention of retiring
into obscurity-nor does he expect to
go behind the bars again.
81 have to make money!" he told
me when l talked with him in Ply
mouth county Jail just prior to his
release. II have to make lot 4of
money. A man with debts and a fam
lily can't get along on a clerks SAL
airy. And I certainly cannot afford
to spend any more time in prison
cells"
A plea something Of this sort will
be made in Ponzi's behalf before the
courts that will hear 10 Indictments
against the man, indictments that
could not be satisfied until the fed
eral government had done with him.
Let me out and I'll pay my debts"
is Ponzis idea. However, he didn't
make it clear that he meant to pay
back all the money lost through his
get-rich-scheme, nor that he hopes
to open all the banks that were
closed on his account. He does, new
ertheless, expect to accomplish some
degree of restitution to his victims,
those countless small investors, most
of whom were fellow Italians, for he
asks the question: "How can l get
square with the world if am kept in
jail" 80
How he expects to accumulate an
other fortune is his own secret. but
he smiles that he hasn't been in Jail
four years without thinking about
something! No doubt the scheme will
be within the law. Ponzi has had
enough of prison life. -g
The jailer had said that Ponzi
wouldn't talk to newspaperman
However. he consented to bring
Ponzi into the sheriff's office if the
prisoner cared to come. Ponzi cared
And Ponzi talked.
His short little body has taken or
some 80 or 40 pounds during his con-
finement, and his brown skin, fresh
|
been made trusty, was allowed te
walk the field within the walls), gives
him the appearance of hardy, we'll
fed man. He went into prison 4 sicl
man.
"It's been a sort of sanitarium ir
effect" Ponzi joshed.
"Look out for your watch ane
chain," an official cautioned US il
passing.
Ponzi laughed. 1t is we'll to laugh
at an officials joke. It is easy t.
laugh when ones term is nearly up
give been the librarian here" HI
volunteered Il have had grea
chance to do some reading. Mosti!
l have been planning for my future
you know, I have to work prett!
fast when l get out for Pm no sprinl
chicken.
"And I have been studying m!
case a lot-watching politics, 100, TO
change in politics might have al
effect on my case. You know, if poll
tics bad been little different il
Washington during my trial ther'
might have been a different story
Daugherty wasn't any too popula
even then. Somebody had to go t.
jail"
The man was excitely interested
in anything that pertained to hi
case, yet he seemed to be casua
about his Jail experience. 1t was
matter-o of fact affair that he shoul'
have landed in Jail. Justice, morals
There was no talk of these. He wa
merely playing big game, and tn
game went wrong-"somebody had t
60 to jail"
~ was particularly interested il
the oil scandal" he continued. q
read it all-but l haven't read We
about anybody going to Jail. Strange
how some people 60 to Jail and som
! people stay out of jail"
Prison life at Plymouth, close t
the spot where the Pilgrims LANDED
was surprisingly tolerable, Ponzi dis
covered.
> "Of course. it hasn't been fun bu
it could, have been worse"
The mans eyes lit up at mention
of his wife. -
Hasn't she been thoroughbred
Waiting for me. working for m
freedom all this timer"
Ponzi laughed at the suggestio
that a tidy bit Of his ill-got money
waiting for him. cached these fiv
years. He seemed unworried at tn
, possibility that some upforgiving il
weston might seek a personal bran
!, Of revenge when he is finally free
mo. My troubles are all in no
,, to make new money-not with tn
old" ~
! The jailer led his prisoner awe
) commenting:
"He probably will make .mone
again-while you continue TAXI,
notes and while I lock up cells #