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TWO PIJ1AD TO SWINDLES.(ietlt A4altl«4 hj J. K. Barrrlt eadal Arralcanfal.John Francis Barrett and his non. Reginald. charged by the government with misuse of the mail* in connection with the aale of fake oil and mining stocks pleaded guilty late today when arraigned before Roy B. Tbompaon. I'nited Statea commissioner. The elder Barrett la held in default of a $10,000 bond, and the non on a $5,000 bond.The father, credited by the government with being the head of the gang, will be held with other membara for the grand jury, which convenee in April.Reginald Barrett and Robert R. Riddell will be taken to Spokane. Waah., where they are under indictment on aim ilar chargea.Barrett and hia non were returned today by poetofflce Inspectors from Fort Worth. Tea.John Francis Barrett, a amali man physically, and nervous, wan the picture of injured innocence aa he talked from behind the bare early in the day.With the amoothneaa of long practice. Barrett made himself out the “goat in all the Barrett operation*. placing the mantle of leadership, now no longer desirable. upon the narrow shoulders of John Armstrong.Barrett said Armstrong, a “retainer of the Barretts, held here in connection with the alleged swindles, opened the main offices of the combine, which resulted in the mulcting of many investors.It was Armstrong. Barrett continued, who opened all the hank accounts and handled all the money - and who spent most of it. It wss Armstrong who. sober, was unmatched for cleverness, hut who, drunk, was foolish and spoiled all plans, he said. And it was Armstrong who was the plotter of all schemes.“I am only a poor court stenographer. Barrett said. He had enthused himself with his own tale.Barrett aaid, also, that he was too poor to employ a lawyer, advancing that reason why he should plead guilty.Armstrong, the man upon whose shoulder* Barrett attempts to throw the chief i blame for their swindling operations, is, the post office Inspectors declare, a minor member of the gang. iThe Barrett gang, it is charged, is one ' of the cleverest groups of swindlers ever broken up by the government. The Bsr-retta are said to have swindled the public in ail parts of the I'nited States tr.rough the sale of fake oil and mill company stock, as well as robbing In vestors who Intrusted recognised securl 1 ties to them for sale. Inspectors charge] no investor's money that once fell ioto the Barrett hands ever was returned ] The operations are believed to have re* suited In the theft of at least $100,000.possibly much more.
Newspaper Details
Kansas City Times
Kansas City, Missouri, US
Sat, Feb 15, 1919
Page 35
Full Page
Clipped by
Roger B.
CA, USA 25 Nov 2016
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