MATRIMONIAL SWINDLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

MATRIMONIAL SWINDLES.

DAUGHTER AS THE DECOY.

CASH AND JEWELS RECEIVED.

A rRKTTY Indiana girl, Miss Louise Farris, who was the decoy in a matrimonial bureau swindle by which a small fortune in cash and jewels were obtained from swains who sought her hand in marriage has had to appear as a witness against her own parents, Martin W. and Emma Farris, also under indictment on a charge of using the mails to defiaud. Louise was much grieved because her father and mother said that she alone was to blame for the "Cupid campaign," and that they knew nothing about her " love affairs," as they call them.

It was believed that Farris and his wife would plead lty, but when arraignment day came and the nature of the charge was explained to them they both declared that if the postal laws had been violated in the manner stated it was " entirely Louise's doings." Mr. Miller told the court that Farris, who is about sixty-nine years old, was an old-time sewing machine agent, and that from the evidence at hand the family, consisting of Farris and his wife and daughters Louise and Ora Mable, had formulated the scheme to operate a matrimonial bureau. Louise was to advertise and carry on the correspondence with prospective bridegrooms and Mrs. Farris was to mail the letters. Ora Mable was to ivarn away the suitors who were attracted for the Jiand of Louise, and Martin W. Farris was to Uneaten them if a warning was not sufficient.

The business flourished and, responding to the encouraging letters of Louise, five suitors called at the same time on one occasion to claim the hand of Louise. But it was not in the plan that things should ever go so far, as the family preferred to carry on the negotiations at a distance and, alter money or jewellery had been received, to break up the love affairs and have Louise call off the " engagements." At one time, Louise admitted., she had been engaged to fifty different men. One of the victims, she said, was a famous pugilist, and lie hau sent her £20. There was always a scramble at the Farris home to receive the letters and packages and whoever opened them retained the contents and gave the letters to Louise to answer in order that more presents might be forthcoming. Ora, who was not indicted with the other members of the family, withdrew from the scheme after writing one letter and tried to persuade the rest of the family to give it up. One man sent a diamond bracelet, others sent engagement rings, and still others railroad tickets. Finally complaints began to be received from both the victims and the postmasters at various points, and these finally resulted in the indictment and arrest of Farris. When the father saw that real trouble was brewing he is said to have sent Louise to Washington, where she was later arrested. About thirty rings and nearly £200 in money were found in her possession, in addition to hnndrds of photographs intended, it is alleged, for mailing to correspondents. Louise, according to her confession, often went to meet infatuated persons, and she would contrive to get away from j them without having to " go to the preacher." In cases where demand was made for return of presents after Louise had written " that it was all over between i them," Farris wrote to the disgruntled swain and threatened to have him arrested for trying to lure a young and innocent j girl away from her parents. j All these statements made to the Court Farris and his wife declared they knew absolutely nothing about, even when the District-Attorney produced letters which Farris identified as having been written by him. He admitted going to Washing ton with his daughter, but declared he went there to see Senator Kern about his case. He even identified a letter which he had written to Louise telling her to memorise a certain passage to recite in case she was arrested.

Louise lias already pleaded guilty. Judgment in her case is witheld in order that she may be lised as a witness against her parents. Many of the victims also will be brought into court to testify.