The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-24
LETTER FROM NEW YOKK.
sci.l Correspondents. Of III. New orlean. cr.sosn.I

Special Cousspondenos Of the New Orleans crescent1
NEW YORK, Jan. Is, 1868.
At the instigatlon Of Postmaster Kelly pro-
ceedings have been instituted looking to the
breaking up of the gift enterprise business here.
The whole practice is q complete and most out
rapeous swndle from commencement to end.
The postmaster has been OBTAINING letters, ad-
dressed TO one Of the most prominent Of these
concerns fer some time, and few days since re-
ferred the matter TO Washington, from whence
instructions came to abide the decision Of the
district attorney.
In the meantime, three parties, composing firm,
have sued the postmaster for the recovery Of
these letters. alleging that they contain about
$4,000, and their detention is q serious detrment
10 their business. This brings the matter before
the courts and we shall soon have decision.
The practice OF some of these concerns, is to
issue circulars inviting small Investment in
lottery In which there are no blanks, soon after
which the subscriber receives notice that he has
drawn prize, and upon the remittance Of twenty
FER cent. Of the amount he will receive IL, where
upon the money ia RENTED and the dupe receives
certificate for onel hundred shares in bogus
mining company.
Another and a very successful plan, at which
prominent member Of this profession" has
made two hundred thousand dollars, is advertising
Ga $1,000 watch for sl0;" 1. e., bundle OF ticket
on the receipt of twenty-five cents, is seat to the
applicant, and on the return Of any one Of these
with the amount named it, the article named
therein Is sen, to the party. For instance, a
fI0. The $40 is sent and one receives a watch
not worth 81 Being Disguised with this mode OF
proceed ding, the applicant writes an indignant let
ter returning the watch and demanding his money,
at which the gift swinder laughs and destroys It,
keeping the watch, money and all. The poor
cOuntryman who allows himself to be swin1led
thus, thinks he had better not prosecute the mat.
ter as it will cost him too much money, and, as q
he n N
A few days since, however, farmer from Pat
terson, N. j., got caught in this to the tune OF
Sll so, and he came over here and jagged the
whole concern, proprietor, clerks, stock and
everything pertaining 10 II.
Let your readers beware Of all these oily advsr-
tisements a present for everybody" etc.
An exception to this statement of swindng gift
concerns is the Gettysburg Asylum gift concerts
now under way here. The object Is an asylum
for invalid soldiers, and the enterprise is highly
Endorsed. The diamonds, which are certified to
be as fine q collection as ever seen here, are on
exhibition in the window of Genin's store on
Broadway. This scheme will stand close scrutiny.
proof Of which Is that II Is making progress In
the face Of so many similar undertakings, which
have turned out to be swindes of the first
water.
The whisky men are in great state Of agitation
over the I" warehouse bill just passed, requiring
tax TO be paid before the liquor is removed from
warehouse.
When the telegram arrived at headqusr.ers Of
the signing Of the bill by the president. crowds of
dealers were waiting for their bonds to be signed
but were disappointed, as none were signed after
the telegram was teceived.
To-day orders were issued that no whisky be
delivered unless tax is paid, Notwithstanding a
bond may have been executed before the bill was
signed.
Very many dealers have been caught mapping
on this last order, and considerable CONSERVATION
has ensued in consequence. All who had bonds
supposed they were all right. and could remove
the spirits at any time but they were most sorely
disappointed to-day by the appearance OF tn {
last order.
Loud talk ia heard of the severe Injustice Of
this as It smells Of ex-post fscto action, some
people say. EYES AND EARS.