RETURNING THE $1,500 OBTAINED BY BOGUS EYE SPECIALISTS FROM ANTON GROSSMANN. The above photograph was taken at the moment when County Attorney T. O. Streissguth of this city handed Mr. Grossmann the package of “greenbacks” which Roy L. Martin and Elliott Wilkinson had obtained from him for performing an “operation” on the eyes of his sister, Miss Margaret Grossmann (extreme right), and for an electrical belt, which was to cure her of a kidney ailment. Sheriff W. J. Julius is standing at the extreme left, wearing a thousand-dollar smile of satisfaction for his excellent work in connection with apprehending the scoundrels and recovering the loot.

Restores $1500 Obtained by ‘Eye Specialists’

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COUNTY FALLS HEIR TO $8,000 FORFEITED BAIL

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Although the final chapter will not be written until the fugitives from justice have been apprehended and punished for grossly and flagrantly violating the laws of Minnesota, yet the closing episode, so far as the restitution of the money obtained by Roy L. Martin and Elliott Wilkinson, bogus eye specialists, who succeeded in mulcting quite a number of people in this state, and no doubt elsewhere, was recorded by the camera, when the above interesting group picture was taken, some time ago.

Roy L. Martin

Money Came Easy

Money apparently came easy to the fake oculists, if one is to judge from the numerous letters and telegrams of inquiry received by County Attorney T. O. Streissguth and Sheriff W.D. Julius, not only from points in Minnesota, but from distant places as well. Several of their alleged victims journeyed to New Ulm while they were still in jail here, last fall, for the purpose of identifying them. But only two of the claimants, Mrs. Ida Miller of Watertown, Minn,, and Mrs.Augusta Heler of Albany, Minn, were able to do so. Through the efforts of the two Brown county officials named above, restitution in the sum of $250and $650, respectively, was made to the two ladies out of funds which the bogus “eye specialists” provided, while Sheriff Ben. E. Schoener of Stearns county was paid $100, which he claimed for expenses in connection with the machinations of the swindlers.

Big Amount Returned.

But the climax in the matter of making restitutions came when County Attorney Stressguth handed over to Anton Grossmann, well-known farmer of Cottonwood township, the munificent sum of $1,500 in green-backs, which Martin and Wilkinson had obtained from him for performing an alleged operation on the eyes of his sister, Miss Margaret Grossmann, September 11, last year, and as advance payment for an electrical belt, which they were to send to her.

Quick Action Saves Coin.

Elliott Wilkinson

But for the quick action of Sheriff Julius and Mr. Streissguth, there would have been a far different story to chronicle, and it is highly probably that the to chronicle, and it is highly probable that the two wily fakirs would have been able to make a get-away with their ill-gotten “fees.” Everyone conversant with the affair, realizes this fact, but probably no one appreciates it more, than do the Grossmanns, who came very near losing their hard-earned savings, and would no doubt have lost them, had it not been for the timely and aggressive action of the officials.

First Arrest Made.

Most of our readers will probably remember the circumstances leading up to the arrest of the two bogus eye specialists here about four months ago. How President O. M. Olsen, who had previously summoned Attorney A. W. Mueller, called Mr. Streissguth into the Citizens State bank, while he was casually walking by in company with Chief of Police Alwin Harmening, and how the latter, upon the advice of the county attorney, stepped across the street and arrested Martin, who had been pointed out to them by Mr. Olsen as having had a financial transaction of considerable so a well-known resident of Cottonwood township. But some of the subsequent happenings are probably not so generally known.

Wilkinson Is Nabbed.

Martin was taken to the county jail here, and Deputy Sheriff Wm. H. Gieseke was dispatched to the Jahncke farm to get Wilkinson, who had remained there, while Martin accompanied Mr. Jahncke to New Ulm to secure the funds with which to pay for an “operation” similar to the one which the “eye” men had “performed” upon Misa Grossmann. Upon arriving at his destination, the officer failed to find his man anywhere in sight, until, while driving off the place, he observed him dodging among the trees in the grove. Wilkinson was promptly apprehended and placed under arrest. His chief concern seemed to be for his partner, but all doubts as to the latter’s whereabouts were soon allayed when Mr. Gieseke informed him that Martin was safely lodged behind the bars.

Money Found on Men.

A search of the clothing of Martin and Wilkinson revealed that they must have made a big haul somewhere, as each had in the neighborhood of $800 on his person. This money was taken by the sheriff for safekeeping until the rightful owner or owners might be determined, and the two strangers were allowed to “sweat” in their cells, pending the discovery of clues that would lead to their undoing.

‘Tips Lead to Big Deal.

Nothing escaped the watchful eyes and sensitive ears of the officials, and when Sheriff Julius got a tip, September 12, that Mr. Grossmann had presented a cashier’s check for $1,100 for payment at the. Brown County bank here, on the previous day, and had obtained the cash, he immediately got in touch with County Attorney Streissguth and they drove out to the Grossmann farm in the evening and questioned the Grossmanns about the matter. Having already been informed of the arrest of the “eye specialists,” the victims were reluctant to tell the officials about their experience, but when assurances were given that they would get their money back, they willingly related the whole story, which revealed some rather surprising details.

Attorneys Had Called.

The Grossmanns told the officials that two attorneys had called on them that morning, and one of them is alleged to have stated that the “eye specialists” were swindlers and had been arrested. The money (just how much of it the attorney did not seem to know) had been found on them and was then in possession of the sheriff. He is said to have offered to obtain what there was left of the funds and return it to the Grossmanns for a consideration of $500. The victims of the swindlers were somewhat skeptical and could not quite comprehend why they should pay such a fee for so small a service.

Turned Over Receipt.

According to the Grossmanns, the attorney inquired as to the names of the “eye specialists,” and when these were mentioned to him, he is said to have stated that they were not their real names. Miss Grossmann produced a receipt, signed by one of the “eye specialists,” and acknowledging payment of $500 for the “eye operation,” $500 for the use of an electric belt for 30 days, which was to be sent to her as a remedy for kidney trouble, and $500 more which she was required to pay as “federal tax”‘ for use of the belt. The “doctors” promised that the two latter sums would be returned to the Grossmanns as soon as they sent the belt back to the Minneapolis “hospital.” The address of the “hospital” would be given them when the appliance was delivered. Miss Grossmann says that the attorney appropriated the “receipt” and has thus far failed to return it to her.

Sworn to Secrecy.

The Grossmann family consists of two brothers, Anton and Frank, and their sister. Miss Margaret, who keeps house for them. The lute secrecy as to the “operation.”

She was to tell no one about it,’or he might lose his position as “doctor”in the “federal hospital” at Minneapolis. She also described his deft manipulations in removing the ‘cataract” from her eyes, which, he claimed, would have caused her to become totally blind in a very short time. The “kidney trouble”‘ with which she was “afflicted” might result in her sudden death, and he warned Miss Grossmann’s brothers, not to leave her alone a single moment, until the “electric belt” arrived. His most skillful “operation,”however, was when he succeeded in “extracting’ $1,500 in cold cash from Mr. Grossmann.

Dragnet Thrown Out.

Circulars containing likenesses of Martin and Wilkinson, together with their finger prints, are now being prepared and as soon as they are ready, they will be broadcast to police officials throughout the country by Sheriff Julius, in the hope of landing the “eye specialists.” In the meantime, Brown county has fallen heir to $8,000 of forfeited cash bail, which relatives of the accused men put up to secure their release, pending the convening of the December term of court last year. Each of the men was required to furnish recognizance in the sum of $4,000. It is said that they were in Owatonna the week before the court opened here, but got “cold feet” and failed to make their appearance in this city. Their bail was thereupon declared forfeited by Judge I. M. Olsen.

Brown County Journal,

Jan. 16, 1925