The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-16
Police of Too Continents Hunt
Ex-Barber on Fraud CHARGES,
i'm Which Millions Are Stolen
Raid on Chicago Gold Coast
Apartment Reveals He Is
Wanted in London; Beat
Wales in Gaming Coup.
By United Press

BIZ United Press
CHICAGO, May 16.-John (Jake
the Barber) Factor, who once cut
hair in Chicago at Is cents a head
and then made millions in huge
transactions which police of two
continents say were fraudulent, was
hunted today throughout the west.
That Jake the Barber" an Amer
lean police character for fifteen
years, was being sought by Lon
don officials on charges of frauds
involving millions, became known
Friday night when federal and city
detectives raided his fourteen-room
apartment in the Gold Coast only
to learn from his beautiful wife that
he had "juSt left for Los Angeles on
business"
Although there were rumors that
not long ago Factor won large sum
from the Prince of Wales in a
gambling game, the federal agents
disclosed it was not in connection
with that incident that he was
hunted.
Wanted in Many Countries
The prince, they indicated, was
"too good a sport" to say anything
after realizing he had been fleeced,
but other victims said much.
Reports from Europe were that
Factor was wanted in half a dozen
countries on charges of winning
fortune after fortune in fraudulent
stock manipulationS and gambling
sprees.
A specific complaint against Fac
tor and Harry Green was filed by
Godfrey Haggard, British consul
general for Chicago, upon advices
from London that the men were
believed to be here.
This complaint was that Factor
had defrauded investors of 100000
pounds sterling, but reports from
Europe we're that actually the for
mer barber had obtained much more
than that through sales of stock in
fake oil wells and mines.
Kept Costly Homes Up
1t was said Factor travelled regu-
larly between America and England
by way of Canada, maintained cost
ly homes, kept in constant employ
ment a large number of spell
binders" who helped him sell stock,
and that, all in all, he carried on
a monsSrous international swindling
business that has had few equals
in criminal history.
Fifteen years ago Jake the Bar
Der" ran a three-chair barber shop
on Halsted street. His prices were
Is cents for a hair cut and 10 cents
for shave.
He left this business to promote
oil lands in the southwest, and as
his riches grew transferred his in
tereSt to Florida real estate.
1t was said he sold more than
100000 worth of land during the
Florida boom. He disappeared when
indictments were issued charging
that about 100000 worth of the
land he sold was under water.
Aided by Legs Diamond
Chicago police say Factor went
from Florida to New York and Sc
cured the aid of Jack Oegs) Dia-
nlond in getting out Of the country.
From time to time there were re-
ports from various places in Eu-
rope of the activities of Jake the
Barber.
One Of these reports concerned
his game with the prince of Wales,
who quit abruptly when he learned
the identity of the man he was
playing against.
After Friday nights raid upon
the gold coast apartment there
were rumors Factor and Green
would surrender to federal men
next week.
Factors wife, the former Rella
Cohen, a famous beauty. was not
arrested.
1t was said that in England Fac
tor worked among persons of mod
crate wealth, gathering his millions
in small amounts. which the Eng
hshmen invested" with him in
mines and oil wells that never ex-
listed.