Chapman Helps Catch Imposter - The Rattle, 1951
As appeared in The Rattle - 1951
Passing as Fraternity Man Easy
A headline on the front page of the Buffalo Evening News for October 3 read: "Phony Fraternity Man Seized; Ex-Con Treated Like a Brother." It was over a story which brought out the fact that while Theta Chi undergraduates are sometimes gullible, they are also smart enough to capture a crook with the help of Executive Director George W. Chapman. The climax of the story took place in Omega Chapter's house on a Saturday evening when Director Chapman was attending a meeting of his alumni association. He was called out of the meeting and informed that the much-sought-after "Joe Hubbard" was upstairs in the guest room, but the latter after exchanging greetings excused himself to go down to get something to cat. He was permitted to leave, for he left his baggage in the room.
When he returned a plainclothes policeman was part of the reception committee waiting in the guest room, and soon "Joe" was on his way to jail, much to the satisfaction of Director Chapman, whose notice sent out from the Executive Office had all the chapters in the East alert for the man who was posing as Joe Hubbard, president of Colgate chapter, and spending Gamma Iota's board money.
The story started in the Colgate gym locker when Joseph Hubbard, ’51, returned from football practice to discover that someone had opened his locker and stolen his wallet, watch, ring, and other personal belongings; later he learned that someone had forged a check with his name and cashed it at the florist shop in Hamilton.
October 21 was Alumni Day at the University of New Hampshire. A young man arrived at the chapter house and introduced himself as Joe Hubbard of Colgate. He was accepted without question and soon mastered the grip as he was introduced to alumni and undergraduate members. His popularity was assured when he presented his hosts with a case of champagne and a case of cognac. In appreciation the Zeta brothers arranged a date for him with the daughter of the former governor of New Hampshire.
He left Sunday. presumably for Colgate. but instead appeared Tuesday at the University of Connecticut chapter, where he was made welcome and assigned to the only empty bed, which happened to be in the treasurer's room. The treasurer had a busy night collecting board money. When he left for an early class the next morning, "Joe" was still asleep, but when he returned to take the money to the bank, he found "Joe," the cash box, and its contents of over $360 missing. Officers of the Connecticut chapter called Iota at Colgate to complain of this unfraternal conduct, and they talked with the real Joe Hubbard. Then the story came out. Connecticut police and the Executive Office were notified. A flyer warning from the latter was sent to all chapters in the eastern area to be on the look-out for the false "Joe Hubbard.
Police discovered that the phony fraternity "brother" was Edward J. Stack, 30, of Detroit, Mich., who had served time in Michigan and on a Florida chain gang, and that he had found other victims among students and townspeople at Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth, Amherst, Williams, and other places. He is now in a Connecticut jail for two years, after which other states will deal with him.
Campus Theta Chis
Penn State had only 20 men back this fall, but pledged 24, filling the house so completely that some of the members have to live outside. This was despite the opening of the new college dormitories.
College President Helps Fraternities
When student contracts were set up in connection with the opening of dormitories at Penn State, the program worked a hardship on the fraternities. They re quested the release of 133 men in order to till the chapter houses satisfactorily. Through the good graces of the new president, Milton Eisenhower, their request was granted. Omega Chapter at Penn State, contrary to the experience of a good many of the other fraternity chapters had very real success in pledging, as 22 men signed up. Its house was more than filled.