Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-11-27


Az INTERESTING CONFIDENCE GAME
Some one remarked that confidence is a
pan Of slow growth" We cannot see it
exactly in that light, for we frequently see
contradictory evidence. A case in po.nt
has Just come TO our notice.
Within the past eigh. or ten days numer.
Gus letters and kilograms have been received
from tobacco dealers down the river,
by gentlemen in this city,-N. Kuhnen.
Toiaccons,, the Cashiers of both Banks.
Stewart L Armstrong, Dalzell L Bro, and
others, snxiou,ly inquring after the finsn-
cal responsibility Of J. W. Atwa.er L Co. /,
Of this city. Says one, "0e kind enough
to report to Us the standing Of j. w. At.
water L CO., Of your citys" another asks.
is Atwater 4 Co., Of your city good for
81. .ouof' ard another very conidentially
asks, Are atwater & Co., tobacconists OF
your city, perfectly responsible = These
inquiries ard many others come from Leg
sctt Il Daurnan, OF s.. Louis, Scott. Smith
4 70, Burlington, Turner, Knight 4 Co.,
Clark vile, also from houses IN Hannibal,
Quincy, and in fact from nearly ever town
along the river, from which it seems that
Atwa,er & Co, were doing. or trying to do
an exclusive business in their line. OF
course all the parties addressed replied that
Tier was not and never had been any such
concern III this city as }. w. Atwater &
Co, and warned them against the snare
that was evidently set for their goods.
Having obtained clue to what appeared
to be an Immense swindling game, steps
sere taken by those inside the ring to in
ves.ieite the subject. Accordingly ar>
rangenen's were made TO give Mr.. Arm
strong Office in case any goods for Atwa.
ter 4 ca should arrive at this port.
On Saturday morning Mr.. A. received in
formation that fifty caddies Of tobacco had
arrived at the Northern Line Packet Co. 8
Once, addressed to this bogus firm. Ac-
coriingly he called on Mr. Kuhnen, and
together went to inspect the boxes to see
where they were from. Mr. kuhnen deci-
,lcd the brand TO be that Of Turner, Knix xht
y Co., { arksville, one OF the parties that
had been seeking information. They re-
turned to their business, and shortly after
ward, a man drove up with = light two seat
cd open buggy. and span Of horses, jump.
pei out and piled in twenty five Of the cad
dies and drove aw,y. Mr.. Kubnen, on be-
ias dvls"'l of this mancuyer, proceeded at
once TO the Packet Office, and after a few
moment the same dashng team--not at ali
suited tar the drayng business and which
in fac. lad been hired for a drive in the
country, dashed up and the legal repre-
sentative of j. W. Atwater & Co, Daven.
port, jumped out as before, and piled in
The remaining twenty five caddies, and drove
oil nj handsome gait.
This time MessrS. Kuhnen and Arm
strong followed the team up-running on
good lime 20 keep the prize in sight,
which finally stopped in the yard
OF Mavor Davies Planning Mill,
corner of Harrison and Fourth streets. -
Taking refuge outside the shed these de-
tcet'ses had the pleasure of seeing the firm
ot atwater 4 Co.. jump cut aud pitch his
goods into the shed, where thev were boxed
up in two cases, and taken to the office Of
tac Merchants Express Co., and directed TO
"A. No. ., Wiswan,, Chicago" Upon ques.
toning Mayor Davies about this singular
transaction on his premises, that official ASK
\surel the gentlemen that he supposed the
tobacco man had obtained leave Of some Of
lis men to put the goods there for shc pur-
pose Of boxing, but upon further investiga-
ton it WAS ascertaincd that the tobacco.
mist had taken the liberty without con suit
ing the mayor or any other authority.
J. W. Stewart, Esq. U. S. Revenue Col
lector, in order to sc. hold upon the goods
that would keep them until the telegram
sent by Mr.. kuhnen to Turner. Knight L
Co, ClarksyIlle, could be answered attacked
the goods at The express office under the
pea that the proper Government tax had
not been paid thereon, and also tclegraphed
to Chicago to ascertain what "a. No. 2,
Wigwain' meant. The answer was that il
WAS the place Of business Of "Dimond 4
Spoonor, Agts. Union Line Works, No 9"
Mean inc, A.water, (so>caled, had employ ed
the law firm OF Parker & McNeal to
rtp'eva the goods. Upon investigation in
III 5 line, Atwater showed letter from Tur-
ner Knight X Co., concerning the purchase.
and also the bill Of that firm for about 500,
for the goods. The responsibility of the
firm bei"g recognized IL was not deemed
probable that they would ship goods on which
the tax had not been paid, hence the box
cs were released. Shortly thereafter dsay
appeared At the Express office. and the box.
cs were taken away, and their destination
probably changed, as. also. their medium oi
shipment - (,
1t appears that man Of iins appsssSsnes
and aflablc manners arrived in this city on
"Wednesday, the l4th inst. and stopped Il
the Putnam House. He registered bic
name, {. +. Atwater, Cincinnati. Though
having a fair show Of grconbacks he had no
baggage. lie represented himself a. TIE
proprietor of Wisconsin shingle Mill, and
made himself perfectly agreeable, and quite
at home. On Saturday he paid 10 bill and
procured \ team 10 take drive into the
country, but instead Of gsing>sor country
air, went for his plumber at the I4evcc. in
the manner above recited. lie returned
the team in good order, but instead Of re-
turning TO the Putnam House, he stopped
a, the Pennsylvania House, and on Sunday
passed over to Rock Island aud stopped .,
the Island City House, where he regi ste red
as Mr.. Bnrnham.
Yesterday evening, Mr.. n. T. Hall, a
special detective from New York, who vas
looking after the person Of one David Bur
dell, OF the firm Of G. b. Collins & Co., re-
Gently Of Cincinnati Of busiasss on
4,h st, near Race. the principal occupation
ther, Of beng swindling, which had been
successfully practiced for . while to the
loss Of several Eastern merchants and bro,
a.. AZ