New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-26
swrSDEENS, TEE SOLDIERS.
g he Watch and Ieweiry Certificate H"s'-
n.ss-A Complete Exposure.

| uess-A Complete Exposure.
! Following close upon the suppression OF the
sin enterprises there has sprung mp in this city and
elsoBhere another business which il more impudent
sWindle, and more dangerous fraud upon the pobhc
than tho former II seems to he carried chiefly at
the expense Of Tie soldiers and It is fer their benefit
especially that we undertake TO expose it. The man
ogera Of It appeal TO- the oreduous public by sensation
advertisements in substance something like this
100000
WORTH or w.rcHKs JrvEIpr,
to be sold for one dollar each without e1 to vsue sud not
to be paid for m you know what you ore 10 get
schedule Of ARTICLES and pes follows. embracing gold
watches Aloo silver watches 3 Is to go each, gold
bracelets chains. cameo mo1sic cord, aud emerald
brooches diamond pms gold pens, and numerous other
articles, vassd IT nom o. 30 to $40 Tho adSer'isements
say that the srces enumerated In Ire schedule viii be sold
for ei escb that certificates Of ell the Articles ere placed
IN envelopes sealed mixed md sent b. mall a. ordered H.
ont regsrd choice" that receipt Of TIE errd's YOU
IA are wut you have and then II ~ Il yor ocn't 70
y suJ sEe the article not Cchcstes p cents
each hvs for D. &c. Agent. allowed ten cents every
ccEt6cats.
We have not copied any nd, nth, men hut eomp'
the above from FIVE which before which profess
TO be issued by different firms. and oil which, though
varying slightly the same 10 substance ard or
Ten in words. Any number u such advertisements can
be found in the illustrated weeklies aud nobody win
have any difficulty in identifying them What We have
to ssy eppes to all OF them alike. They all advertise
watches and swelry and of them add 70 that The
prize package" stationery business the Tollc Of which
will appear hereafter
rhe method OF doing this business hes been invGsti
gated with care and at considerable expense, by al
public spirited citizen, and the cN have been put In
our possession. Some Of the statements we shall make
We know Of knowledge 10 be true some Of them
We take on the authority of informant for whose
veracity we vouch aud Of them-the most remerk
able ad conclasiye--wn appear by Official certih
cate. The investigation conducted as follows:
letter was sent TO each one OF five separate firms,
who advertise In the above SET forth. Each let
ter contained nm order or certificates goods accord
ing to the OF the advertisement ard each incosod
900. copy Of The letter. and the VI the firms
to which II addressed and the answers which were
received nom each OF the lye, are before us. We
take one answer as specimen, and then state tho
aggregate OF all
Ihis answer nclosed $50 certificates, Of which We
copy one, emitting names:
On the and this ceFtl6cste with IS cents in
easb po.oce stamp, Pay for packing ard Po'sse, we
will s,nd youa
Com LoCRRr NlREsD AT sSn
There were IA certificates like the above promising
the delivery Of various articles at "a each; 81 cerh.
caes at s5 50 at So l6 at a. at g. at $40 and at
s-in ALL 100 certificates the face Of them good for
articles valued at s75a. From another firm re-
ce,el watch premium, and 100 certificates Of sim
liar form TO the above representing articles valued at
$685. A third firm sent a watch and l33 certificates
calling Tor articles marked at s5M. From fourth
came package Of jewery invoiced at $40 at wholesale
prices. From the ifth. 80 packages OF Stationery
and 10 eeiihstes representing articles OF which the
cash value IL marked at sJIl.
In al. there received 45s certificates for the
slOO originally invested. by ue terms of the adyer-
tsemen and OF the letters aud Of certificates them.
selves It appesred.that return OF these certificates
and on the further payment Of one dollar on each the
applicant would be entitled to receive goods valued
g. 49, In other words for total investment OF klks
adding IS per cent these firms promised TO return
nearly four times that amount That the face Of it
Is swinde.
In the FIST place. nothing is yet returned for the
money spent. The customer has received certificates
which are worthless unless he chooses TO invest more
money. Undoubtedly this is OF the profits
mar who has received only lot OF certificates for he
money he first sent, becoming reluctant 10 throw
away any more. In the seoondpaee, here is no lottery
no distribution Of chances between blanks and prizes
but an absolute undertaking by these firms 10 pay TO
those who deal with them, return Of the certificates
four times the value OF The money received That il
what amounts to- stripped Of all the deusiye yerbage
| Of the advertisement
or course such business cannot be honestly con
Quoted There Is fraud somewhere. II would be quite
sufficient In order to warn the public against H. If The
Investigation rad stopped here. But he who had IL in
charge having satisfied himself oil its rascay, eonclud
ed 10 mako clean work Oft and TO satisfy the public,
also beyond cayil SO the demonstration proceeds.
Having spent 800 for certificates worthless In them.
selves and not protesting TO be worth anything except
by further aymsnt he now invested another sl00 test
their representative value hundred certificates we're
sent for redempionthcse of the highest nominal value
being selected. They presented at the places of
business Of these firms the money paid, sHd large
number of articles received. Each certificate IL
viii be remembered, called for certain article and the
dealer was bound TO deliver that article for dollar.
Tie articles called for gold band bracelet ri
$40; silver hunting watch at SJ; gold vest cluins
nj 81; gold studs at So; gold pens aud silver extension
casrs at "a; gold pom pencil and holder, at S. and
many other similar articles all gold aud silver Those
were whet the applicant was entitled to get lie did.
Ia feet receive 2l pieces sets OF ewelry and FIVE
watches the ggTegate nominal aue which $500.
| We inspected these articles. II evident enough
they were not worth what they represented TO be
worth. Some Of the gold pens had not particle OF
gold in them aud could not be written with at All. Some
were so weak that pressing the pen the paper the
holder was immediately split All the pens and pencils
were Of tho cheapest workmanship so poor that they
have scarcely market value. The watches, on being
wound ny lost from to twenty Minutes each in
| ~ 81, los