Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-05-31
The Hay-Rake Swindle.

We published few weeks since an ac-
count of a set of swindlers, who had been
operating among some farmers in New
Hampshire, with IIay-Rake and eau
toned Vermont farmers if they should
make an attempt in this State. Their
headquarters appear TO be in New York
where they have carried on the most
gigantic swindie ever known, judging from
the following dispatch, which we copy from
the Tribune of last Saturday;
FIsHKILL, May 24-The great hay
rake swindle was without any doubt the
most extensive affair in the swinding line
ever praetised. 1t is positively stated that
over 200 men were embarked in the en-
terprise. About ten or twelve days ago a
party of twelve or fifteen men, with wo-
men and children, fine bugles and splendid
teams of horses entered the village of Md
dletown, Orange County, in princely style,
having one man only to pay the bills. and
ano' her to superintend the horses. They
soon commenced hunting in couples in the
adjoining towns, making no efforts at Mid
dletown. After victimizing eight or ten
honest farmers in Crawford, the same num-
Der in Mount Hope, one in Minisuk and
one in Warvayander, they left, escaping
with their plumber before suspicion was
aroused.
The Crawford farmers as soon as they
discovered the fraud, called upon the Hon.
Charles Van Wyck, and although the
General had abandoned entirely the prac-
tice of law when he found so huge swim
die, calculated to deceive-that it was
determined 10 lay the whole country under
tribute, and many lawyers had given their
opinion that the swindle had been so care
fully prepared as TO defy the punishment
due to crime, he was induced to take hold
of the matter, principally for the purpose
Of exposing the swindle and the swindlers.
Geo. M. Palmer, is the patentee of the
hay-rake, living at Greene, Chenango
County. While it is pretended he will fur
nish the whole Union with iakes, il APP.
pears from the testimony Of some Of the
band that be has little shop at Greene,
Chenango County, 20 or 80 feet wide,
with two men at work part of the time,
| and \ bIaol.sp,.,b .bo,> annaxaI ,,;,b 49,,
forge. One witness at an examination at
Middleton, swore that the hay-rake crowd
had been perambula.ing the State for
months in Saratoga County, Cayuga, and
Syracuse. Last Winter they visited Hor-
nellsville, Warsaw and Penn Yam. The
| present system of yillainies commenced
last Fall. This is the commencement OF
the Spring campaign. Ga Monday, John
f. Reynolds and William Layman were
arrested and taken before a Justice al
Crawford, Orange County, who after CIV
ing them careful examination, sent them
TO a Jail in default of $1,000 bail each.
While constable was conveying another
Of the gang TO Justice Kimbal in Minisink,
the scoundrel made his escape, and has not
been heard from since. AT Crawford on
Tuesday another took leg bail. Two of
the agents are named Albert Boyce and
Leroy Hitchcock. Francis Cluff pays the
bills, William Shaw superintends the hor-
ses, and E. d. Simpson, w. j. Nc Cullum,
Hiram Van Dewater, 0. A. Simpson, j !.
B. Cutler, Harrison Simpson, j. C. Rey-
nolds, and ]. w. Sanford, are of the party.