The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1871-12-30
New York swindles .


Many novel and ingenious methods of earn
| ing q subsistence without labor have lately
| been brought to light. The most notorious
of them is what has been called the saw
dust swindle,' the exposure of which has
developed some very interesting and curious
| facts. The originators OF this scheme have
| for the past two years flooded the country
with circulars Offering counterfeit bills at a
very low price. After forwarding the par-
chase money as requested. all the applicants
receive are small, neat wooden boxes which
contain small pieces of cast iron wrapped IN
/ shavings or imbedGed IN sawdust. When
the dupes write aud ask for an explanation,
they receive mvsteriously-worded circular,
headed caution informing them that the
police have obtained Is clue and are on the
track, and that the box containing the iron
and sawdust is merely ''blind, and the
duue is earnestly requested to keep dark
for a time to save himself, and when the
thing has blown over. the real counterfeits
viii be duly forwarded. This is a trick, of
course, and is only resorted to by the swim
dlers to keep their victims quiet while they
ensnare others in the same fold
James Fisher and Charles Hinokley, who
carried on very extensive trade at No. 80
Nassau street. cleared thousands of dollars
from country dupes by this sawdust swindle,
They traded under the name of Fisher 4 Co..
King 4 Son, Owen Brothers, Sc. They oe-
cupied Ave rooms on the top floor of the prem
ises. The started in September, 1870, and
when ready, they advertised for good pen
men to write addresses at 81 per thousand
They engaged ten young men, chiefly new
arrivals from Europe. These young men
were locked up in one room, and supplied
with envelopes and bundleS of letters. Each
man wrote, on an average, 500 addresses per
day, and was kept at work tor five months.
During these five months l95. 900 circulars
were mailed all over the country, Offering to
supply counterfeit money. In one room
were nine young girls folding circulars, in
closing them, and stamping the enYelops.
These girls earned about IS per week EACH
They were also locked in room where no
one but the principals ever entered. In a
small room was secreted the packer. He in
closed the iron chips and sawdust, and sent
the boxes off by express. He received SO
per week for his labor.
Next came the shop-walksr, who was kept
constantly posted outside, in the passage,
ready to pump any person who came to in
quire for the firm. Outside the sanctuary of
the two principals was small Office, into
which was ushered all the knaves who want
ed to purchase this counterfeit money. A
clerk would receive all the money he could
obtain from his visitors. and under the pre-
tence that the demand was greater than the
mandatory could supply, would state that
he could not then give the counterfeits, but
would send them by express. He would va
ry the excuse by saying that the police were
watching every person who left the premises,
and that it would not be safe for him to car
~ any of these notes away. Many appli-
cants was thus frightened, and never had the
courage to venture near the place again, and
lost their deposits. This clerk would some
times show few new genuine bills drawn
from safe. and swear they were counter
feits, and such as would be sent to the pur-
chaser. The daily receipts averaged 81 200,
mostly by express. The total daily expendi-
ture, including printing, stationary, and Ia
Dor of the whole gang, did not exceed $500,
leaving profit to divide between the two
men-Fisher and Hinckley-of 5000 daily,
and this immense swindle had been carried
on for five months, when Captain Petty made
a raid upon the establishment. Fisher and
Hinckley, however, got clear, and started
again in Cedar street. After making many
thousands of dollars they stopped the trade,
and one of them under an assumed name, is
often seen among the bears in Wall street.