The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-02
More about Burling.


ter of Nor'wester to the Boston Post
referring to Burl ing, the New York cOllec-
tor, which went the rounds of the papers a
few weeks ago. The following account of
his modus operandi seems to corroberate
Nor wester's statement
Ten years ago 1 was seated in my Office
at No. II, Wall street, busily driving the
quill, when heard quiet step behind, and
then mild voice enquiring if had the
transcript of certain judgment against one
j G. O.-the protector of the great Peg
ghe-wah-wah Company for selling Indian
medicines. looked up, and saw man
whose twisted foot and palsied arms were
quite familiar to me, but of whose name or
calling knew nothing.
EYES," l replied, a have the trans.
cript."
"Well, want it," he said ;" I'm going to
collect it for the creditor"
"Gong to collect it !' | exclaimed, "why,
the judgment is perfectly worthless. Execu-
tions, and proceedings after judgment, and
all ordinary means of grace, have long ago
been exhausted upon O. He is helplessly
insolvent, and is besides the most adroit
scamp of swindler ever encountered"
Whats that to me?" broke out the WIS.,
itor, in gruff, strong voice, quite different
from his first tones. "Perhaps you don't
know who 1 am. I'm Burling, the man
about town. You lawyer, and not know
me Sheriffs are good for nothing; con-
stables are good for nothing executions and
creditors bills are good for nothing. Give
me the transcript-here's the order for it
I'll make the money out of him."
| swiveled around in my chair and stared
at the man. And will you be so good,
Mr.. Burling," l asked, as to tell me what
is your patent plan for superseding officers
and writs, and for squeezing blood out of
turnips, and cash out Of the President of the
Peg ghewah-wha Company"
"How l do it, you mean. Why l dun
em at their houses, dun 'em in the street,
/ dun 'em at the theatre, l dun 'em in church
| catch 'em early in the morning and stick
to 'em all day follow 'em up wherever they
go 60 to meals and eat with 'em /; 60 to
bed and sleep with 'em; give 'em no peace
night or day, Sunday nor week day stick
to 'em like death to dead niger. A man
owes debt. He won't pay it. [ follow
him all the week so he can't do any business,
nor 60 to see his sweetheart, nor walk in
Broadway,uor eat with any appetite,nor sleep
without dreaming. I'm after him, with the
devil to help run him down. All this won't
do? Very well. When he goes to chnrch
Sunday he finds me in his pew. Your Sher-
ifs can't work on Sundays do my best
business then. The congregation rise and
he rises, takes out his book, opens at the
place, and there he finds the bill I've stuck
there, and gets so mad he can't say amen
"Sheriffs and constable !" continued he,
getting loud and fierce, will sheriff go
OF Sunday morning to parsons house
and follow him to church, and walk up the
broad isle with him before all the congrega-
tion, and go up the pulpit stairs close to his
hells, and slip into the pulpit after him be.
fore he could shut the door, and take seat
by his side, and get up when he gets up, and
when he opens the Bible opens John Jones
bill full length, and lay it down over the
chapter and verse and tell him: There's
that bill Of horse hire-pay it before you
preach! But that's what l did-and l got
my money, too"
"And what commission did you CHARGE"
Fifty per cent"
" Rather strong" suggested but still
your mode of procedure was strong. Do
you often get as much fifty per cent?"
"When l earn it get it. DR.. G. of
Broadway, sent me to dun fellow who lived
back in a yard, and kept two bull dogs that
he let loose when anybody came to collect
honest debts. l went to him with horse
pistol in each hand and DR.. C.'s bill in my
teeth, and made him pay up. What did
Or. G. offer offer me for getting his sixty
Iollars? He offered me one dollar. 1
won't take it says 1. I'll pay no more says
be. Pay me thirty dollars, says l. Get
but of my office, or I'll kick you out says he,