The Seattle Star

PROF. DE FOREST HAS CREW WAS NEW AND
A MINE FOR SALE BECAME CONFUSED
PROMOTER AND ADVISES GULLIBLE PEOPLE TO BUY MINING STOCK

San Francisco, Jan. 26, 1906.
Editor The Star.
Seattle, Wash.
Sir: There is a man who is using my picture in your paper for the purpose of advertising. Please discontinue it. I am not jealous of Dim or his business, but if he wants to advertise let him put his own silly face in the press.

Very respectfully,
DR. MINOR TRAVIS.

The above letter and two or three other complaints received in The Star office during the past two days led yesterday afternoon to an investigation of Professor De Forest, whose advertisement appears in this issue for The Star. And that investigation developed much.

It developed the fact that De Forest made a very unenviable reputation for himself in this city a few years ago under the name of Del Lampman, his proper name, when he posed as a prize fight promoter and was the proprietor of a questionable picture museum run for a time below Yealer way and afterwards on upper First av. At that time he was closed up by the police and run out of town.

As a Clairvoyant.

Three or four months ago he returned to Seattle and under the name of Professor de Forest opened at Second and Yesler, and began an office above Guy's drug store, widely advertising himself as a clairvoyant. People have flocked to his office and from early morn until late at night a steady stream has been seeking him in the hope of securing a glimpse into the future and good advice regarding investments, love affairs and other matters of like nature.

Yesterday afternoon a Star reporter with $25 in his pocket called upon the professor. He entered the ante-room, in which were several people waiting, and after informing the woman attendant that he was in a hurry and could wait only a few minutes, was ushered into the presence of De Forest.

"I have come," said the reporter, "for the purpose of asking your advice on one matter in particular. I have already invested some money in a mine located near Nome, Alaska. The other parties interested in the mine have asked me to invest more of my capital - a large sum - in the same ground. What would you advise me to do?"

Anxious About Money.

"Have you $20,000?" asked the professor.

"I have," answered the reporter, as cheerfully as possible. "But it is all I have in the world."

"As answer to your question as to the investment requires some very deep concentration," said the professor, "and you must wait a moment."

The professor then arose and entered a curtained alcove, where he remained for several minutes. Returning with a thoughtful, philosophical look, and holding his forefinger to his forehead as though in deep contemplation, he spoke in tones that to some one more unsophisticated than the reporter would have carried immutable conviction.

"The spirits have told me," he cried. "A spirit speaks right here," and he tapped his brow. "That spirit commands me to warn you against putting another cent of your money in that proposition. Not a cent, sir, or you will regret it."

He Knew a Mine.

After some further conversation, in which the professor showed solicitude and the reporter gratitude, the former told the latter that he knew a mine in Alaska in which an investment would be not only safe but profitable beyond the dreams of avarice, and he produced a certificate that showed that De Forest (no Christian name given) owned 750 shares of this same property, which is named the Sandillan, and which is located on Prince of Wales Island. The professor at first erred in stating the location of the mine, declaring it to be on Prince Edward island.

"And here," said De Forest, "is the name of the president of the company. You go and see him and tell him you want to invest in nothing else except in that mine in which I, De Forest, am interested."

So saying, he handed the reporter a slip of paper on which was written the name of Isaac J. Tomlinson, room 523 Alaska building.

Wanted a Wife.

With some timidity the reporter then volunteered the information that there was another matter he desired to discuss and hinted at a desire to secure for himself a wife.

"You will be married within 18 months," said the professor. "You are to make your fortune by investing in a mine which is situated north of Seattle. Not east, west, or south," he emphatically stated, "but directly north."

"And," continued the professor, "I know a lady who is everything that a man could desire and she has been looking for some one just like you. Yes, sir, you are the very embodiment of all that she requires. Would you object to meeting her?"

"I should be delighted, professor," replied the reporter.

"Then, sir, call on me tomorrow and I will effect a meeting which I am sure will terminate happily."

Saw Tomlinson.

Then the reporter departed and a few moments later was in the presence of Mr. Isaac J. Tomlinson, president of the Grindall Mining & Smelting company, 523 Alaska building.

Mr. Tomlinson told the reporter of this wonderful mine on Prince of Wales Island and endeavored to induce him to purchase stock therein. The reporter listened intently and promised to return today.

This morning at 11 o'clock the reporter was again at the office of Prof. De Forest. But the professor had failed to arrange a meeting with his friend of matrimonial inclination. He explained to the reporter that she could not be present this morning, but that he would later arrange that he should meet her. He was busy this morning and hadn't time to discuss the situation at great length. He advised the reporter, however, to lose no time in making the investment with Mr. Tomlinson. The reporter left, promising to call again.

Visit This Morning.

Upon the occasion of the visit this morning De Forest, or Lampman, which is his correct name, had lying upon a table in his office the sum of about $300 in gold, and waiting in the ante-room to see him were about 20 people with more gold for the stock inside.

Just to what extent the relations between Lampman and Tomlinson exist, The Star has not yet been able to learn. It is more than likely, however, that much mining stock has been sold through Lampman's advice to gullible people. The Star has asked the police to see that Lampman is put out of business on the ground that he is a man of bad reputation and that the business he is now carrying on is not legitimate in that it is of a swindling character.

Lampman's advertisement appears in The Star this afternoon. It is carried today purely for the benefit of the readers of the result of The Star's investigation.