The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-02-07
An Attempted swindle.

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A few days since we received letter from
Darlington, S. c., from Union officer, of
which the following is copy:
Dear Sir:-Can you inform me what kind of
a concern the enclosed is ? / have received
communications several times like this, and a
great many throughout this country have re-
ceived the same. We think it is humbuq.
Can you inform us and oblige,
A. HI. EDWARDS, So
va - Darlington, CHI, s. C.
In this note of inquiry was enclosed letter
from person signing his name Washington
B. Johnson" also the business card of the
same parsonage, and printed sheet purport-
ing to be a scheme of something in the nature
of a lottery. This scheme purports to be from
the Mutual Protective Union, organized July
1, 1885," signed by board of trustees and coun-
tersigned as follows: approved, Chester M.
Wakeman, Secretary, Wilmington, Maine." If
such place as Wilmington exists in this State,
our geographical knowledge is not adequate to
tell where it is located. gsb
The business card referred to reads as fo.-
lows, arranged in tasty shape: a5sf
ance. Special Agents wanted for the Mutual Protec-
tive Union, Nea1ieLd, Name. Refers by permission
to Thos. w. Carter, President first National Rank,
Columbus, Me. Butler, Crane & Co. New Haven,
Conn.," a IL cE
The First National Bank of Columbus, will
be as difficult to find in this State, as the town
or city of Wilmington aforesaid. The citizens
of Newield are competent to tell whether any
person answering to the name of w. u. John
son resides there, engaged in the business in
Dictated in his card.
But the best part of the thing is the letter
of Mr.. johnson to Mr.. Edwards, which reads
as follows, being written on sheet with the
part in brackets neatly printed: ii-sH -
[Secretary's Office of the Mutual Protective
Union. All communications strictly conf
dential.] J a1 aiz aa5u e.sil
WILMINGTON, Wed. p. M,
1J DH oath January, 1866,
Dear Sir: You will see by the Catalogue
that the ticket you hold has drawn prize of
5000.
If you will tell no one, and follow my in
structions you can obtain part or the whole
of the prize.
This money does not come out of my pock-
ct, nor even pass through my hands, but
SoAilCo w yOu uhCCt uOm I1C Cl . OAuCCs
but I shall expect you to show your Screen
backs" 10 your friends and sell the tickets you
can for me on future distributions, as all the
benefit derive is a commission upon all tick
cts sold through my Office. 51oi
To obtain this Prize Money you must have
a receipt from the Trustees to show that your
ticket has been paid for, to get one write me
letter dated TO-DAY and enclose $40, for one
half or $50 for the whole, being sure to state
ia 1atko
note or bank bill you send, also to write your
name yourself upon one corner of the back of
each to dU0id suspicion and prevent the return
Of your money and order dishonored by the
Trustees. tisa ga.8sTf
Be very careful what you write as have to
open all letters I receive before the Board of
Trustees, and they finding the date of your
letter and money correct will send you re-
ceipt that will secure to yo1 the money your
ticket has drawn.
As soon as you receive the Trustees re-
ceipt you will forward it to the Treasurer and
tell him to what express Office to send your
ey you will deliver the Trustees receipt to the
Express, who will return it to the Treasurer
to show that the prize has been paid.
Hoping that you will not betrdy my conf
dence in you and that you will sell many tick
for me, am, Your friend,
WASHINGTON B. JOHNSON.
See the scoundrelism of the above. A
stranger, who knows he has never ordered or
bought ticket, is informed that he has drawn
a prize, and then told how, by forwarding $40
or $40 he can be sure to have 5000 sent to him |!
Some men would have been verdant enough
to walk into the nicely baited trap, but the
gentleman to whom this tempting bait was
sent did not see fit to swallow the hook so art
fully yet clumsily concealed in this tissue of
nonsense and swindle.
Mr.. johnson was particular, in order that
no mistake in direction should lose him the
ten or twenty dollars, to enclose directed
envelope to cover the return remittance, which
reads upon the back as follows:
-gaa "Wdshiagton B. johnson,
Neayfeld,