The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1870-05-21
An INGENIOUS swINDLE.


many sWindliDg concerns now being openly
conducted by little and big thieves in Goth
am. No wonder they have reduced the
business to science. What should be the
honest law-making power in the country
has been setting examples for them for the
last Eve er six years:
For some time past an advertisement has
appeared in the Weekly Sun and other
journals of large circulation calling for
country agents for Wholesale grocery fra
in New York, and signed J. Packer L Co,
Continental Mills, 3S4 Bowery. We have
received of late many letters from Platte
City, No; Lawrence, Kansas; Nebrasks
City, Iowa and other Western points, from
subscribers who have answered the Rdver-
tisement, and have received replies which
seemed to them rather ishy, as the replies
called for an advance of $3.50 for the sam
Piles which were to be supplied.
The firm of J. Packer & Co. write to say
that the favor of the letter has been receiv-
ed, and that the firm is satisfied with the
qualifications and respectablity of the ap-
plicant; that they will give 5000 year as
salary, with a commission Of five per cent
On gross sales. and handsome travelling al
lowances, and that as protection to them
selves, since so many strangers have pro-
cured supply Of their goods free under
the guise of application for agencies, they
must receive the $3.50 in advance, but this
sum viii be returned after the first month
The applicant is expected to deduet his
salary, his expenses, and his FIVE per cent.
from the amount which se collects and he
will remit the remainder with any sugges-
tiOns he may like to offer in the interest of
the wholesale grocery business The card
of the firm is enclosed.
A Sun reporter found 384 Bowery to be
small three-stOry house, between Fourth
street and AstOr place. The firm occupies
a back room on the ground floor. The re-
porter entered the Office of the Continental
Mills, and found the clerk and two apph-
cants waiting to see one of the principals
who were all absent On a table in the
center of the chamber, spread on white
paper, were samples of cofees and teas
were to be sent to applicants on receipt of
$3.50. These were made of cardboard and
contained nine little cardboard boxes about
the size of those generally used for matches.
There were also piles of the papers which
accompanied the answers to applications,
and price lists unmarked, on coarse yellow
paper. One or two Ficketty tables were
around the dingy walls, but the clerk sat at
the only servieable one, which gave the
notion that when the firm returned from
Change it probably did not use pen and
ink, as there was none on the other desks.
The Sun reporter entered into conversation
with the clerk, who was desirous of learn
ing whether he had answered the applica.
tion, and if he could supply him with any
information. But his desiring 60 see the
principals he said that they were always at
the mills or on Change seldom in the Office.
The reporter, he thought, might catch them
at 10 o'clock in the Office but he would be
sure to find them in the mills In the early
morning. These were situated at the cor
ner of Washington and Chambers streets,
and the clerk was 50 good as to point out
the exact locality on the map of New York
which hung over one of the ricketty desks.
On going down there the reporter found
no "Contiental Mills" but the Metropolitan
Mills of Trusdell & Phelps, gentlemen RhO
listened to the inquiries after Mr.. Packer
with courtesy, but with an evident desire to
langh outright One of these gentlemen
said, 81 have no knowledge of the person,
but if he OF any of his employees give their
address as that of the Continental Mills, he
does SO for purposes of deception, and is in
all probability fraud. We have been here
fifteen years, and we never heard of this
firm, and know nothing of them as grocers,
save that during the last few weeks as many
as twenty inquiries have been made about
them in this Office
Wherenpon the reporter informed the
gentlemen that he belonged the Sun, and
that his object was to fathom the swindle if
possible.
Mr.. Trusdell said he was glad oft, though
he did not think that this scheme, novel as
it was, would make much money for the
spectators, as no man could possibly accept
an agency, except a downright idiot, with
out knowing much more of the firm that
employed him than such as he could obtain
through on advertisement and letter But
as the reporter, during his brief stay at 3S4
Bowery, saw the express man deliver seven
paekngesto to the clerk, he thinks that Mr..
Trusdell may be mistaken.
LoNe AND SHoRF.-Giles Jenkins says
'The profusion and color of her hair would
lead one TO look upon it as though it was
spun By the nimble fingers oftbe easy hours
as they giided through bright june days
zhose sunny ravs of light had been cauphE