Employment Agency Scam Exposed
A local employment agency manager is arrested after allegedly taking fees for non-existent jobs, highlighting the vulnerability of workers seeking employment.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
John Burnett, who with Adam Wiley, captain of police, has been conducting an employment agency under the name of the Western Employment company, was arrested late yesterday afternoon on complaint of Charles Schnabel, cook. He is being tried before Judge Griffin this afternoon on the charge of running an employment business without a license. The trouble started several days ago when Schnabel demanded the return of $1.50 from the employment company, which he had deposited on the representation that a position was open for him to serve as a cook at Chehalis. On reaching that place, Schnabel claims no position was awaiting him, so he returned at once to Tacoma and demanded his money back. This Burnett refused to refund, and the case was brought to the attention of Assistant City Attorney Anderson. Mr. Anderson, on investigation, determined that the company was carrying on its business without a license, and a warrant was issued for the arrest of Burnett.
“On reaching that place, Schnabel claims, no position was awaiting him, so he returned at once to Tacoma and demanded the return of his $1.50.”
Labor exploitation and fraudulent employment schemes remain a recurring issue in urban economies, especially for low-wage workers. The involvement of a police captain in a private agency suggests the blurry lines between public service and private gain that often plagued local city halls in this era.
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