The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-05-02

long continued swindling was developed
yesterday. For some time past letters
have been coming to the Chief Of Police
from different parts of the country rela-
tive to an individual named A. +. Parker,
who has been advertising himself all over
the Union as sole agent of the Universal
Family Knitting Machine. Some of the
letters received by the Chief were merely
letters of inquiry, from parties suspicious
of purchasing, asking who Parker was, and
if his advertisements were to be relied
upon. Others, however, we're of differ
ent character, being from parties who
had RENTED money In various sums to
Parker's address, box 26l6, and had never
received any answer or acknowledge
ment. The Chief of Police very properly
determined to investigate the matter, and
officert Summers was detailed at the post
office to watch for Parker and arrest him.
Yesterday he was arrested and taken be-
fore the Chief. On his person were found
number of letters from various cities,
towns, and country places, in various
States, all in reference to the great family
knitting machine, which had no existence.
1t was ascertained Parker had room on
Fifth street, which was searched and found
to contain two blankets and valise. In
the latter vast pile of letters were found,
all received in reference to the widely
scattered advertisements about the great
knitting machine. There were letters from
every character of person, and written in
every conceivable style of chirography,
from the delicate tracing of lady's fingers
to the; broad, scraggy scrawl of the awk-
ward rustic. Many Of the letters were &C.
companied by money.
Parker's circulars were models of sem
sational advertisements, and extraOrdina-
rily complete as to details, considering that
the wondrous machine had no existence
even in the imagination of any one. The
following are some extracts from the cir
cular he usually sent his correspondents
"To farmers who raise their own wool
the machine offers peculiar inducements.
By knitting his wool into socks, stockings,
mittens, gloves, ETC., he could realize
about four times what he would get for it
in the raw state, and it will give his girls
profitable employment. A smart girl may
easily knit forty pairs of stockings in a
day and, by knitting for other people at
the rate of fifteen cents pair, could earn
from thirty to thirty five dollars per week.
AS there is always ready market for knit
goods, the owner of one of these machines
cannot fail to accumulate money fast. In
word, the machine will pay for itself in a
single day, and will prove savings bank
in every family.
"The knitting machine is placed at the
extreme low price of five dollars. The
following articles 60 free with each ma
chine: Set of spools, setting-up plate, work
hook, pair pliers, buckle, twenty extra
needles, screw-driver, a neat case, and a
all kinds Of articles.
"Wholesale Terms to Agents Two
dozen machines, $50; one dozen machines,
$50; one-half dozen machines, $l5; four
machines, $40. Not less than four ma
chimes are sold at the wholesale price ;
therefore persons sending for only one
machine, or less than four, must send re-
tail price. All orders sent by mail
promptly attended to.
GA. Z. Parker, st. Louis, Mo-,
"P. o. box 26l6."
When searched at the police station
there was found on his person $lll.95 in
money and pocket book. This last is a
most interesting and instructive little book.
| The owner is really young man of genius,
and has passion for drawing all sorts OF
sketches and caricatures on the leaves.
He was evidently at one time in the army,
and Judging from his desultory memo
randa, was not little discontinued. In
terspersed throughout the writing we have
numerous sketches in ink. Parker in hos
pital; Parker at ease smoking his cigar
with his legs cooked up on table; Par.
ker charging the enemy; Parker in the
country, and so on. Some of the sketches
are drawn with considerable talent and
skill.
How long this singular young man has
been operating here as agent for an invisi
bic, inappreciable knitting machine, no one
knows. His pocket-book contains innu.
merable entries of letters received and
notes of remittances.
He does not deny his operations, but
says he was forced into the business fol-
want of something to do. The case will
probably be attended with some fresh de-
velopments to-day.