AMERICAN SWINDLERS.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13270, 22 November 1911, Page 3

AMERICAN SWINDLERS.

Tho Chicago police arrested recently one of the most accomplished swindlers in America in the person of 6. U. Potter, just as he was about to relieve a group of jveulthy Englishmen of £11)0,1)1)1) by what is known as the "gold brick" swindle. Potter and his partner, Starkloif, who were arrested last year and "jumped their vail," are reported to have netted •USUUjOOO by various ingenous frauds. uuo of the most successful of these ivas that practised on English people, suggested by the publication of wills in English papers. Starkloff, under an assumed name, would write from New iork to a dead Englishman, pretending he had no knowledge of his death. He would recall an imaginary incident in which the Englisman had befriended him at a critical moment in his life, and had put him on the road to fortune. Then lie would say he wanted to show his gratitude by permitting the Englishman to share with him in a rich mine ho was about to secure. In many cases the bait was taken by the dead mail's relatives. They would visit America, would meet StarklolF, who would introduce them to Potter as the mine owner from whom the purchaso w«is to be made. The Englishmen would part with their money, the amount varying usually I'rom £1000 to £5000, and then would start home with mining shares, which, later, they would find to be worthless. Potter and Starkloff were also skilled in .what was known as the "green goods game." They would inform unscrupulous people that they had secured from a Government mint a quantity of the green paper on which dollar bills were engraved, and also some of the Government's engraving plates. They could thus make paper money exactly similar to what was turned out by the Government, and they were prepared to sell this at 50 per cent, discount. They secured large sums by this means, which was a safe swindle, for after their victims feund the. "money" they had bought was in reality nothing but a bundle of blank paper, with a real note of two on top, they naturally did not feel inclined to complain to the police. Selling bricks supposedly of pure gold, but really of baser stuff covered with a thin veneer of gold, was another favourite trick. When the two were taken into custody last year they were living in luxuriant style in a fashionable suburb of Philadelphia. Each occupied a separate house, Avas active in society and church affairs, and made friends easily. Potter had similar luxurious quarters in Chicago. In his. rooms was found a long list of former and prospective victims.