A Woman's Get-rich-Quick Company.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7847, 13 June 1905, Page 4

A Woman's Get-rich-Quick Company.

Inquiry into the affairs of tiie-"Get-rich-quickiy" swindle, carried on by the "Storey Cotton Company," .of rhiladelplr.fi, show that the: promoters clciirccl over £400,000. Al- ' though the," were supposed to speculate in cotton, and earn enormous prohts for investors, it is now proved that very few speculations were entered into. The gang simply pock-' leted the money entrusted' to them.. I The police have also discovered that Sophie j.tck, the company's shorthand elerk. took the foremost part in organising the swindle. The woman, who is extremely attractive as well, .as shrewd and. unscrupulous,, had a I remarkable career. She started irii Chicago a few years ago as a .vtenoIgrapher, and eventually went into a, t partnership with Frank Warr.in, an- ! oilier of Hi-.- gang who had figured in ImimcEous frauds. The two launched various schemes to fleece the public, and cleared largo sums. Marrin and several others afterwards atarted the "Storey Cotton Company," and Sophie Beck was installed as secretary at a salary of £IOO per monih.with a large interest. She wrote enticing letters to investoss, managed the correspondence and advertising', appoint- j ed agents, and took charge of, the money. Foreseeing exposure recently, the woman gathered all available funds, and, it is believed, deposited them nlu'oiid. When the crash came the members of the gang disappeared, with the exception of StanleyFrancis, one of the managers, who was capture! in Philadelphia. H» was found to be living luxuriously, and' indignantly protested when the police refused to allow him to drive to prison in an automobile with his valet. Through Beck's cleverness he has been released on £2OOO tail, the money having been deposited- in a Philadelphia' bank to meet a possible contingency.