The New York herald., 1869-12-13
SWINDLES.
question.

New Way OF ssRaisiug" the Wind-An Ex-
tensive Business In Bridgeport, Conn.,, ON
Bogus ec0mmendations-Ten Thousand
Dollars, Worth of Goods Awaiting the
Owners.
About six weeks ago some parties arrived in
Bridgeport, Conn.,. and hired the store No. 13 State
street. and commenced business as commission mer-
chants and produce dealers. putting up sign which
read "W. H. II. Stewart & Sons Country Produce
They hired the store Ior i've years and paid o por
ton Of the rent IN advance. They seemed to do con-
siderable business, and received heavy consignments
OF produce from various parts Of the country. The
best references were given TO parties whosecustom
was solicited and letters and kilograms were re-
ceived after while by the banks and by well known
business men OF Brdgeport asking about the stand
ing of the firm OF W. II. H. Stewart b Sons, who
solicited consignments, and to whom goods
frequently shipped before the shipper troubled
himself to make the necessary inquiries.
Several merchants doing business at Montrose
Pa had received circulars and had been referred to
the National Empire Bank, No. 234 Broadway, New
York. Letters addressed to this bank were promptly
answered % the reply N each case being written on
"The National Empire Bank, No. 234 Broadway. New
York. Capital 81 0o0, ,00o''-wlth the names OF the
president directors &c. These letters assured the
parties inquring that 1.-THE firm Of W. Il. H. Stewart
hau transacted business at this bank for number OF
years. ana was considered perlecLy SOunQ." On the
strength of this large cOnsgnments were made
from Montrose to the bridgeport firm. Not feeling
perfectly satisfied, one Of the Montrose merchants
wrote to o friend doing business In Bridgeport to
ascertain the facts and inform him immediately.
Being satisfied on examination tnat there an
attempt to swtndle, the Bridgeport merchant tele-
graphed to his friend in MOnrOse that he would do
well to come on and see to the matter for himself
This advice was acted upon, the MOntrose merchant
stopping In New York long enough to discover that
no such concern as the "Natlonal Empire Bank, No.
234 broadway" was in existence. On arriving in
Bridgeport the MontrOse merchant found mis- goods
untouched, the store having been attached In the
interest OF the creditors by Bridgeport parties.
About $4,000 worth OF produce was found in
charge Of an old man and a boy, who claim to have
no knowledge OF the principals and whose duty IL
to receive and ship goods. Large quantities. Of
goods have been sent or from the store, and many
mora are constantly arriving, showing that the
transactions Of the concern were very extensive
Some eighty barrels Of flour and forty fifty tubs OF
butter sent TO this concern are ut the steamboat
freight office In Bridgeport. Nothing has been seen
OF any member Of the concern, and no one knows
anything about them. They had In cases given
the names OF the best business men OF Bridgeport as
references, and also some OF the BANKS at when
they did no business aud to whom they were not
known at all. They evidently relied upon their ref
erences not being questioned and were successful In
many instances. Merchants and shippers OF produce
from New YORK city and the West have been at
Bridgeport looking for their goods which have in
some cases disappeared II IS thought that they
have been reshpped BY the parties lett In charge Of
the store TO the members Of the firm, and by them
sold at some point safely distant from their base OF
operations The matter Is being worked up, and
may develop some Interesting facts IL looks as II
very extensive swlndng operation had been
nipped In the bud most opportunely.