Ellis H. Elias

Ellis H. Elias
Born	c. 1840-5 Gallia, Ohio
Died	22 June 1881 (35-40)  New York City, NY
Nationality	American
Known for	Mail-order swindles
Spouse(s)	Maggie Martin (m. 1860)
Relative(s)	William M. Elias Henry P. Elias Richard H. Elias

Ellis H. Elias (c. 1840-5 - June 22, 1881) was an American con-artist, notorious in his time for running mail-order "sawdust" swindles, engaging in the sale of fraudulent goods and nostrums, and other scam operations out of Cincinnati and New York City.

Background

Born in Ohio to Welsh immigrants John W. Elias and Elizabeth Parry, the young Elias spent his formative years in Gallia County, before relocating in his late teens to the city of Cincinnati, where he established himself as a printer and lithographer.

[XXX] & Co. (and Other Swindles)

• The Great "Geneva Watch Company" of 763 Broadway, NYC
  • "A DARING SWINDLER. Failure of the "Great Geneva Watch Company" - How a Pack of Rascals Overreached Themselves.". Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Ill.): p. 6. 9 Mar. 1872. http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1872/03/09/page/6/article/a-daring-swindler. 
  • "A warrant was issued this afternoon for the arrest of H. P. Elias and Ellis H. Elias, on a charge of swindling in the Geneva Watch Company business". Ohio Statesman (Columbus, Ohio) 41 (64). 21 Mar. 1872. http://www.ohiomemory.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16007coll26/id/4584. "Several experienced watchmakers made affidavits that the watches sold were almost worthless, and a cable dispatch has been received from the United States Consul at Geneva stating that no such as the Geneva Watch Company ever existed." 
  • "The Geneva Watch Concern - The Case for the Prosecution". New York Times (New York City, NY). 27 Mar. 1872. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9805EEDA1739EF34BC4F51DFB5668389669FDE. 
• Mason, Morgan, & Co. of No. 18 Bond St., NYC, and the Emigrant Protectory Association
  • "THE ELIAS BROTHERS. DOINGS OF THE CINCINNATI SWINDLERS IN NEW YORK - THE 'EMIGRANT PROTECTING ASSOCIATION'". Indianapolis Evening Journal (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1 (145): p. 1. 8 Mar. 1872. https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=IJ18720308.1.1. 
  • "A Bogus Emigrant Association - The Saw-Dust Game Revived". Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Ill.): p. 6. 9 Mar. 1872. http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1872/03/09/page/6/article/a-bogus-emigrant-association-the-saw-dust-game-revived. 
• Russell & Co. and the Silver Mountain Mining Company
  • "THE SILVER MINING SWINDLE. EVIDENCE THAT THE PROJECT WAS CONCEIVED IN FRAUD LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT WALLING.". New York Times (New York City, NY). 2 Jul. 1877. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B0CE7DE133FE63BBC4A53DFB166838C669FDE. 
  • "The Silver Mountain Mining Company Swindle". The Engineering and Mining Journal 24 (3): p. 62-63. 28 Jul. 1877. https://books.google.com/books?id=eJcgAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63. 
  • "AN OLD MINING SWINDLE REVIVED. COMPLAINTS AGAINST 'THE SILVER MOUNTAIN MINING COMPANY' - THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY POWERLESS IN THE MATTER - A WARNING TO THE PUBLIC.". New York Times (New York City, NY). 4 Jun. 1878. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D06EFDB1E3FE63BBC4C53DFB0668383669FDE. 
• Elias & Co., discount watches

The Great Original Dollar Store

Located under the Grand Central Hotel at 667 Broadway, opposite Bond Street, was what might be considered the centrepiece of the Elias' empire: the Great Original Dollar Store, a concept shop offering "fancy goods" and "Milton Gold Jewelry," all at the discount price of one dollar. Founded in 1867 under the proprietorship of "Wm. M. Elias & Bro.," it continued operations up until 1879, when it was shuttered due to bankruptcy.

The Nostrum Trade

In addition to his sundry mail-order enterprises, Elias was also behind firms selling medical medallions, including Sagendorph's Battery and Boyd's Battery; and his brother, William M. Elias, even patented one of his own. Further, Elias was reported to have once speculated in the patent medicine trade, producing "The Great Parisian Blood Producer" of the "French Academy of Medicine," which he sold through his Dollar Store.