a Conning Christmas Crook

John Duval Gluck founded the Santa Claus Association in 1913 to help the New York Post Office deal with the numerous letters addressed to Santa. The Association sorted through the letters, passing them on to donors who would buy the gifts for the children. The service was popular and soon enough, Gluck began to ask for funds for a new company building. When the building never materialised but Gluck continued to ask for money, suspicions were raised. In 1927, it was discovered that he could not account for large amounts of the money — there was not enough to convict him, but Gluck was stripped of his role.