Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1915 — AUTO INSURANCE FRAUDS RETORTED [ARTICLE]

AUTO INSURANCE FRAUDS RETORTED

Two Mon Solicited Business Here, Got Money, Skipped Board Bill and Made Escape.

This is an age of frauds. The man with a square deal is apt to meet many a cold reception because some of the most plausible people you meet are rascals. The past week two men claiming to be representatives of the Motor ists Security Alliance of Chicago came to Rensselaer to solicit business. The high standing of the company and the fact that the men were supplied with the blanks of the company gave them standing and they are reported to have done considerable business. It proved, however, that the men were not sent out by the company and they suddenly left town some time Wednesday night, leaving their at the White Boarding Houes unpaid. The victims of the swindle seem reluctant to admit that they were stung and consequently full information can not be secured. The'Motorists Security Reliance is a company formed as a protection to auto owners against theft and in case a car is stolen the detectives of the company are at once placed on the trail. The Main Garage of this city has been a member for some time and when the solicitors came to Rensselaer they went to that garage and talked with the proprietors. They then started their business of soliciting and among those who signed applications for membership the following are reported: Dr. J. Hansson, W. O. Babcock, Mark Schroer, Dr. I. M. Washburn and Editor Babcock. Most of these either deny altogether that they signed the applications or that they did not put up their money. Mark Schroer says that he signed an application but did not pay out any money. He says that his application was sent in and was the cause of a visit 'here Friday of J. Lester Williams, the president of the Alliance. Mr. Williams made an investigation and returned to Chicago determined to stop the work of the crooks. Mr. Schorer states that Mr. Williams informed him that the men had made application to the company to work as solicitors and that the blanks had been supplied to them but that they were* 1 not to stait out until they had furnished bond. They did not give the bond but Mr. Williams informed Mr. Schroer that the company would make good any business the men had done here.

Mr. Williams, however, did not inform A. E. or N. C. Shafer, of the Main Garage, to this effect, but left them with the impression that the. men were frauds and that the company of Which he was the head could not be expected to make good their representations. The fact that the men, who gave the names of Dunlap and Howard, skipped their board bill, is conclusive evidence that they were frauds.