The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-06-21
The Hay Fork Swindle Again.

We have heretofore noticed fraudulent op-
GRAFTON, known as the hay fork swindle," and
last week gave an account Of the proceedings Of
some of these sharpers in Cecil county, We
were under the impression then that our people
had escaped the clutches Of these oily -tongued
individuals, hut such seems rot to be the case We
aFe told that several of our most extensive up-the-
To tue patent" and
thereby became the sufferers to the amount of
several hundred dollars, in the way of promis-
sorry notes. Whether these notes will her eater
he collected remains TO he seen. or course thoy
are passed of to innocent parties as is the cus-
tom with these fellows. In this way they have
no difficulty, as the notes taken by them are the
promises of substantial men particularly is this
the case with the notes received in this county, if
our information is correct One of the agents
visited this place two or three weeks ago, having
the same fork for sale, who was we'll calculated
to deceive the most cautious. With all the pol
ish of the gentleman, and great familiarity with
men and things, and the machine in miniature
working like charm, it is not astonishing that
some OF our large hay growers were taken in.
we find, from the Democratic advocate, published
At Westminster, that Carroll, Washington,
Frederick and Montgomery counties have been
favored with the presence Of agents of the same
concern. The AdUocatp says:
ave have heard of notes to the amount of 81
600 taken in this county, end there may be
more" -
This was one of the best arranged and
most successful frauds that we have ever
known. Being aware that their scheme could
not last long, that few weeks at most would be
sufficient to burst the bubble, they started over
The country in every direction, and commenced
operations in each locality about the same time
Some RS vendors of hay forks, aud others as
dealers in hay rakes but evidently all belonging
to the same concern. About the time that these
pretended agents were in this and adjoining
counties aparty of the same gang appeared in
the western part OF the State of New York. Of
their operations the Poughkeepsie Eagle says:
The modus operandi of the parties were as fol-
lows: Arriving in the county they separate,
inking different Towns, and circulating among
The hard-fisted farmers, Offering the most tempt
ing Inducements and usually succeed in selling
Il right 10 sell &C.. George N. Palmer's hay rake
and tender combined for $780, They represent
the machinery as selling at retail for $S5, and
that it is so perfect that no farmer can afford TO
be without il that the purchaser of the right
can procure the rake for 1886 at the mandatory,
and sell Mt profit Of $50. To show that they
have unbounded confidence in the enormous
profits accruing to the purchaser, they offer to
take his note for one year, and in case the buyer
does not make 5000 profit in that time, without
counting one machine for his own use, they agree
10 take back the ri hit Of shares free of charge If
the farmer consents under the above regulations,
one of the swindlers draws out note in blank
form, which is flledup properly, and theI in
order TO make the buyer feel safe, the swindler,
in some cases, turns the note over and endorses
on the back mot to be used until the end of one
year, and then, in case Mr. (using the
name given on the note), has not made $500
from the sale Of the article this note to be return
ed and not to be used at ALL" or words to that
effect, which the swindler signs and the parties
separate. Once out of sight the swindling ope-
ration commences-frst by the swindler taking
from hia pocket pair of scissors or knife and
trimming off the edges Of the note, when the
back instantly separates from the 'front.' for the
piece Of paper on which was written the agree
ment to return the note in one year, if the farmer
has not made ything out of the sale of the ar
tcle was neatly fastened TO the note itself in a
scientific manner with muclage. Having thus
freed the note from any ncumbrance he pro-
ceeds tothe next farmer and gets it cashed or
gives it in payment for team of horses, car
Iinge or what not. By this means it is estimated
that the party thus obtained nearly $1,000
twenty-five or thirty wagons, and from sixteen
TO twenty horses from different farmers in the
western part OF the State.