Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-19
HoUu Crooks
CashinQ| In
On TheMdr

subtle forms of robbery practced by gangs of tire
thieves Securities swnders, using part
crooked sales talk. and fake charities appealing
Tense Causes, have popped up everywhere like
Police officials, from the Federal Bureau Investga
ton down. taking active steps to crush the
of racketeers and counting public Indignation
to materially help their American author
tiles confident that they blot rackets just
as successfully as British officials cleaned them within
a year after England was plunged into
United States Attorney General John J. Bennett al
ready has issued warning to potential investors guard
against sharpsters who mold their schemes current
world events and trends" Gasoline rationing the
Eastern seaboard according Bennett brought out a
whole flock of confidence operators worthless oil
shares with sales talk that the shortage would
prices sky-high The Attorney office also has
issued warning against swindlers who are proposing
elaborate schemes for growing domestic rubber
ing substitutes for rubber"
The Pearl Harbor widow" gag reports from police
bloters all over the country reveal is being by willy
women crooks to relieve persons with sympathetic
their hardearned money.
One of the meanes of rackets on by women
who around getting sympathy from patriotic Americans
becauseso they say-they lost husband loved
when the Japs made their sneak raid Hawaii This
SLICK widowhood story is now the stock IN trade OF all
types Of female shapters from beautiful blonde operators
who take their victims into camp for several thousand
dollars, to ordinary purse-lfters
Here is sample of how this crooked game was
worked recently on Mrs. Clara Bolobin New Yorker
She told police that Of these Pearl Harbor widows
engaged her in conversation the subway
the woman left Mrs Goobins purse neatly cut off from
it's straps disappeared with the pretty and p stranger
The biggest wartime racket at present is the auto
tire theft rings City and Federal authorities already
taken steps TO impose drastic penalties persons
steal war-rationed automobiles or tires in any other
way take advantage of war-imposed conditions.
ANY crime which takes advantage Of wartime cond-
tions amounts to sabotage" is a recent ruling of New
Yorks District Attorney. Frank 8. Hogan
In Washington. bill pending before Congress
will make the theft tires tubes ofense pun
ishabe by 81 900 fine imprisonment than
year, both The bill is designed to prevent the
development Of bootleg market in tires, tubes
and introduced after the American Automobile
ISOLATION reported tremendous upsving in tire thefts
AS they await the enactment of more stringent laws
magistrates and judges throughout the country taking
matters into their hands and passing out heavy
fences for crimes of this type, In Orange New Jersey
for example Police Judge Philip Singer recently sentenced
23yearod Robert L. Owens to so DAYS in the penitentiay
for theft which formerly called for 10 days Jail
Norfolk Virginia, police reported the other day that
indignant motorist to the station house. saying
that he had found his auto lacked up and the tires gone
purse containing diamond ring that was on the seat
untouched, but note left inside read:
Roses red violets are blue.
I'VE like your jewels but your tires new"
One of the most despcable and vicious rackets that
perpetrated ght-fngered chislers who scoop thou
sands Of dollars from Americans who think they
contributing worthy wartime These racket
either make collections in behalf of bonafde
izatons keep take invent their charities
war-chary crooks have found the field easy picking
because most people have the mistaken idea that all char
ties must register with the United States State Depart
ment Domestic charities are exempt from all govern
supervision and thus woudbe chsers have found
comparatively easy to sail under false colors
San Antonio, Texas. authorities recently broke up
racket whereby Colonel" Virginia Fulton turn
ing neat profit by selling uniforms to Woman's Motor
Corps which she had organized.
Colonel Walter w. Metcalf, Acting Regional Director
Second Civilian Defense Area recently warned citi
zens that they being made suckers when they
bought certain so-caled "blackout necessities Colonel
Mecaf particularly the purchase of special
blaclout candles when any candle will do Takers also
he said selling high prices blue light which the
Army specified is not acceptable The Defense Chief
also pointed out that no gas masks now made for civilian
satisfactory for war gas.