Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-24
New Game With CarsIs-Riz sTindIe il
Ari{Hus1E.

| From the Little Rock True Democrat, April 7
| Some six or eight weeks sgo handbiIls anf
circulars we're sent al over the State, notifying
| country dealers and merchants that the sub
/ scribsr thereto was prepared to furnish same
ffy thousand pairs Of cotton cerds, calieoes. and
other things on terms that would eusbls them
| TO supply families at low rates. lively cor
respondenee was soon opened with parties from
every section Of TIE State, and large mum
| Der Of dealers, speeulsto-s, and soma few who
were desiTous Of beneftiing their Reigbborhoods.
visited the city to purchase cards and other
! things They were referred 10 Geo W-Cursis.
a shTewd fellow, who was book keeper in = well
known commercial house IN the West for many
years, and known TO a great many persons in the
city The dealers were tsksn to a building on
the river bank and led TO a CELLAR where boxes
marked in the usual manner, with the numbers
of pairs and the number Of the size of the
cotton cards we're snUgly slowed Curtis, Il
appears msde no secret thst these cards were
smuggle5, and liable 10 eonfseation, but that
was the reason why be was enabled TO sell them
so eheaply, some heavy sales being effected at
twelve hundred aad fifty dollars for each one
hundred pairs An oeen box or two Of tho cards
were shown as samples. Secrecy was eni0ined
il was desirable nos to let the law ofieeas pet
on the scent, aud as the building was near the
river, it was very easy for purchasers to quietly
move their boxes en- boat aud carry them off
As the demand was so great, purchasers were
advised TO pay for their cards aud secure their
boxes, which were to be delivered early 10 Aprii
Oilers engaged to take large quantities. one
contract being to the tune OF S3OOO0 About
the frst Of April, Curtis told a number Of
his patrons that he expected every hour a
large lot of dry goods ard needed meney, and
the parties might take the cards, or take part
Ia cotton cards and part in dry-geods when
the latter cama. Curtis, it appears had part
nsr, whose naae we did not learn, and two or
three others wers in some way connected with
the concern. The whole party boarded at the
Haynes hotel, and It appears that the money
Teceived for the cards, OF q good part Of t. was
deposited with HAYNES for safe keeping A few
nights since the partner Of Curtis, accomDanied
BY another Of tSe parties, presented an order to
Mr Haynes, from Curtis. for the m0nev. The
paper money was IN box and some 81 0G0 in
specie, is q bag HAYNES took the money from
the safe and delivered it to them, but the late
ness of the hour excited his suspicious and |
be told them they had better leave the mouey
and call for it in tho morning They drew
their pistols aud prevented him from locking up /
the money again, took it up stairs to room, but
returned in few minutes, handed him the box, |
said they were joking and went of. As they /
bad not TetaFned the specie, Haynes, followed /
them, overlook the ore who had the gold, /
took his arm and walked with him down the
street, expostulating until thay came in sight
Of two or three soldiers on gusrd, when they
got scared, dropped the bag Of gold and ran
oT. Upon his return to the hotel, Mr. Haynes
Examined the box, and found the money had
ossn abstIsc'ed and old newspapers put in
Is place. The next morning, the buyers Of
cotton cards becsme uneasy and proceeded to
Examine their purchases, when to their dismay,
hey found that each box contained nothing bnt
! few sticks Of wood so arranged that they
sounded ike tho handles of the cards rafting
md weighing about the same as q box Of cards
would weigh. Curtis & Co. have vsmoosed
he rancho, and the buyers Of the cotton cards
nay be seen locking very blue, each with
mall stick Of wood under his srm.
Oar lawyers are all busy discussing the ques-
ion as TO whom the one thousand dollars in /
.old belongs One says to Hsvnss, for the fsl-
ow dropped If at bis feet, and Haynes is bound
o retain it until called for Oilers say that it
nust be returned to those who paid the specie
Or cortOn cards which they never Teeaived Z [,
till others contend that it should be divided. |
rorsts, among al the victims, those who paid
aper as well as those who paid gold No
ecision had been arrived at, up to the time of
VI going to press, but the Occurrences has given
Sc to any amount Of witticsms and nuns. Il | {
-ss a well planned scheme, boldly caTrisd out | /
nd the victims have learned the force of the old
dage ''never buy pig in poke" which they 8
tier to, never buy cotton cards in boxes"
/ {