Veterans Office Checks Book Swindling Clues

Following several new leads turned up in the past 24 hours, the Veterans Office yesterday pressed its search for a slight, dark man, thought to be a student, who has defrauded Square bookstores of $150 worth of texts and equipment since September.

Counsellor for Veterans John U. Monro '34 declined to disclose the nature of these "tips," but said he was kept busy "chasing them down."

The Veterans Office staff, meanwhile, continued to comb its thousands of file cases in hopes of uncovering a conclusive lead. Although Monro holds several definite theories on the personality and background of the unknown crook who has used the name "Herbert R. Gross" hundreds of these files have been re-scrutinized thus far.

Present System Tightened

As the attempt to identify "Gross" went on, the Veterans Office began to consider methods of tightening the present book authorization system against any future illegal inroads.

At least two alternative systems, besides the present insistence on Bursar's card identifications, are under study by the Office. One would put Harvard in line with most other universities by requiring the veteran to pay cash for books and recover later from the College.

The second would have the veteran leave fingerprints each time he made a book purchase, providing, through FBI and other files, a positive identification should it be needed.