PRESTO
July 12, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells 9 f
TWO INDICTED
AS SONG SHARKS
George Graff, Jr., Widely Known as Lyric
Writer, Arrested with Owner of Music
Mill Following Grand Jury Action for
Using Mails to Defraud.
A COMMON SWINDLE
Some of the Schemes that Have Mulcted Many
Ambitious Amateurs Will Now Be Suppressed
for a Long Time.
The Famous
Studio Grand
(only 5 ft. long)
John Barrymore,
America's Foremost Actor,
Says in a Recent Letter:
"The best wishes for the success of
the CHRISTMAN PIANO. M r s .
Barrymore and I are delighted with it.
I want to express my thanks and ap-
preciation of the way in which my
ideas regarding the finish and design
were carried out."
The
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
is admittedly the most responsive and
satisfactory instrument in the repro-
duction of the performances of the
great pianists. In the words of a
prominent critic,
"IT IS PERFECT"
No ambitious Piano Merchant can
be sure that he has the best, most
profitable and satisfactory Line until
he has examined the Christman and
compared with whatever competitor
may be winning local trade.
INQUIRIES INVITED
"The First Touch Tells ft
Rat- U S. ?»t OS.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
Albion S. Keller and George Graff, Jr., have been
arrested under indictment by a federal grand jury
of the Southern District of New York, charged with
using the United States mails in a scheme to defraud,
in connection with the Broadway Composing Studios,
Inc., New York Melody Corporation and World
Music Publishing Corporation.
Graff is widely known as the author of the words
of such popular songs as "Till the Sands of the
Desert Grow Cold" and "When Irish Eyes Are
Smiling."
After Two Years Watching.
The arrests follow a two years' campaign by the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce to expose
the methods by which ambitious amateur song-
writers are induced to pay money for "music" set
to words which they write, in the hope of winning
fame and fortune. The copyright records at Wash-
ington show that thousands of amateurs pay for such
songs every year, but not one of them ever achieves
success. Graff's name is given as composer of the
music for many of these songs.
A thorough post office investigation which fol-
lowed the campaign showed that dozens of "song
sharks" are operating, not only in New York, but in
other cities throughout the country. Vigorous ac-
tion by the Chicago post office authorities resulted
in several convictions during the past year and a
virtual ending of "song shark" operations there. The
campaign on behalf of the legitimate music trade has
been conducted in co-operation with the Music Pub-
lishers' Association of the United States, Music Pub-
lishers' Protective Association, National Association
of Sheet Music Dealers, American Society of Com-
posers, Authors and Publishers, and other national
organizations of music teachers, music clubs,
women's clubs, and various publications and individ-
uals who have joined hands in the exposure.
Controlled Several Schemes.
The indictment of Keller and Graff is the first ac-
tion against the New York song sharks. Other
"studios" and fake music companies have been dis-
covered by the post office investigation. A number
of them have gone out of business, some of them to
reappear under other names and with other schemes.
Further indictments are expected.
The indictment charges that "the defendants oper-
ated, directed and controlled, and the defendant Al-
bion S. Keller owned or controlled a majority of the
capital stock" of the three corporations organized
under New York State laws. There are ten counts
in the indictment, under each of which penalties of
five years' imprisonment or $5,000 fine or both may
be imposed upon conviction. The defendants pleaded
not guilty and were released under bonds of $1,500
each, returnable July 21.
"It was part of the scheme," says the indictment,
"that the defendants should pretend and represent to
the victims that neither the Broadway Composing
Studies, Inc., nor the New York Melody Corporation
was connected or associated with the World Music
Publishing Corporation in ownership, management,
control or operation."
Had Many Victims.
By means of advertisement in newspapers, maga-
zines and other periodicals, and letters and circulars
sent through the mail, it is charged that Graff and
Keller induced the victims to write the words for
songs and submit manuscripts of verse, song poems
and lyrics and enter into contracts for payment of
$5 to $90.
After examination of the manuscripts the victim
was told that the subject or idea contained was suit-
able for a song, and "by making any revision its
lyric editor might consider advisable or necessary
and by supplying an appropriate musical setting such
poem could be made into a song meeting the approval
of the victims," and the defendants would undertake
the work and guarantee to secure the publication of
the song by a New York music publisher, meaning it
would be readily acceptable to one or more pub-
lishers.
George Graff, Jr., as lyric editor and chief com-
poser, and a song writer of national reputation and
writer of famous song hits, was to edit the poem and
compose the melody, "to induce and persuade the vic-
tims to believe that the acceptance of such song
poems and the willingness of the corporation* to have
the defendant Graff edit such composition and com-
pose the melody therefor, established the merit of
such poem and its fitness and suitability for a song
which would be a success."
How Fraud Worked.
In case of certain of the victims, the guarantee of
publication on a royalty basis of 3c a copy was
charged to mean that a number of publishers were
obligated to accept songs that Graff set to music,
and the defendants then pretended that the songs had
been accepted by the World Music Publishing Cor-
poration, concealing from the victims that the defend-
ants controlled this concern and persuading the vic-
tims to believe their songs had been accepted upon
merit.
In case of certain other victims, where publication
was not necessarily guaranteed, the defendants agreed
to print 600 copies of the song bearing the victim's
name as author of the words and Graff's name as
composer of the music, the victim to get 200 copies,
80 to different music publishers and manufacturers of
phonograph records and playerpiano music rolls, and
200 to singers or theaters outside of New York City,
intending by reason of the pretended exploitation to
"falsely and fraudulently lead such victims to believe
that their songs would receive and merit fair and rea-
sonable consideration," the defendants "knowing but
concealing from such victims the fact that it is not
usual or customary for music publishers to give any
consideration to songs brought to their attention in
such manner."
All Were False.
All of the representations, pretenses and promises
are charged to be false and fraudulent, and made to
induce the victims to part with their money in the
belief that the defendants tested the song poems in
an expert and professional manner and found them
suitable for songs—"in the belief and expectation that
their songs would be accepted for publication by a
music publisher and a large number of copies thereof
made, distributed, circulated, and offered for sale and
marketed among the public by such music publisher
whereby they, the victims, would earn and obtain and
become entitled to large sums of money."
A letter signed with Graff's name as judge of a
$500 "Empty Arms" song-writing contest is incor-
porated in the indictment as evidence of use of the
mail to defraud, and other letters sent to the various
victims named in the indictment show the method of
securing contracts under which the victims were to
pay money. Reduced prices from $90 to half-price
of $45 in $5 installments, and discounts for cash, are
offered in the letters.
FRED P. BASSETT PLANS
EASTERN MOTOR TRIP
Will Be Accompanied by Wife and Boys on Tour,
Which Starts August 15.
Frederick P. Bassett, secretary and treasurer of
the M. Schulz Co., Chicago, has made preparations
for a tour of the East with his family, starting Au-
gust 15 and concluding a month later.
This trip perhaps will be the most extensive ever
taken by Mr. Bassett in his annual motor tour. The
cities Mr. Bassett will visit are listed as follows:
Michigan City, Jackson, Detroit, Port Huron, Sar-
nica, Toronto, Hamiltan, St. Catharine's, Niagara,
Avon, Geneva, Auburn, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady,
Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, Lake George, Eliza-
bethtown, Plattsburg, Montreal, Quebec, Jackson,
Me., Waterville, Augusta, Lewiston, Portland, Ports-
mouth, N. H., Boston, Concord, Fitchburg, Green-
field, North Adams, Noosick, Albany, Oneonta, Bing-
hamton, Elmira, Hornell, Salamanca, Jamestown,
Westfield, Erie, Conneaut, Cleveland.
OPENS WITH CONN DISPLAY.
In its formal opening in Burlington, la., last week
the Music Store had a special celebration, featuring a
$2,500 display of gold-plated Conn band instruments.
Music was furnished by the "Frivolity F"ive," a band
of musicians needing no introduction in Burlington,
all the members being Burlington young men who
have made a wide reputation in vaudeville.
PHIL LEHMAN IN CHICAGO.
Phil Lehman, progressive St. Louis dealer, was a
most welcome visitor to the Chicago trade this week.
Mr. Lehman was accompanied by his wife and dur-
ing their stay in the city made it an appoint to call
on the offices of the M. Schulz Company, 711 Mil-
waukee avenue.
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