National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-06-09
How Farmers are Swindled.

We publish herewith u statement
which we find in the Henry Go. Iowa
Press. We do II in order that farmer,
who nre inclined to be crodulous con
cerning the statement OF patent right
vepders, tin peddlers, seed-order takers
and all Of that ilk, may take warming
This is only one instance among scores
that have come TO our knowledge, where
a deliberate swindle was perpetrated.
But the farmer does not always find il
out until il is too late to provide rem
edy Here is the article
Last week, two men with team called
at the residence Of Aaron s. Thomas, in
New London Township, in this county,
and exhibited a now serve frame, and
wire cloth for fanning-mills. They gave
their names as G. w. Stevens, and J. p.
Preston, Stevens cIrimins, 70 be the
patentee and manufacturer of the
new improvement, but from the unpopu.
larity Of patent right venders, did not
p' oppose to sell rights but the article itself
He desired Mr.. Thomas to act as his
agent to sell the selves for him, and
offering to pay him thirty-three and a
third per cent. commission on all sales.
He had with him two hundred and fifty
frames and selves in his wagon which
he proposed to leave with Mr.. Thomas,
and he could order from his manufac-
tory from time to time as sales seemed
to warrant. Mr.. Thomas agreeing to
the terms, Stevens produced contract
setting forth the agreement in duplicate,
which they both signed, Stevens signing
first and Mr.. Thomas last, well down to
the bottom of the paper, under the di-
rection of Stevens Another paper was
also signed by both parties and W .tnessed
by Preston, in substance that Stevens
was to take back all unsold frames and
selves at the end of one year then re-
naming on hand unsold by Mr.. Thomas,
the latter to pay for all sold less his com
mission. So the arrangement was COM
pleted.
After the gentlemen were gone, Mr..
Thomas examined his papers and found
no contract among them, but another
instead, folded and indorsed, giving the
amount of these notes which purported
he had signed. This induced HIM to re-
fleet that he had signed the duplicate
contract very low down on the sheet,
and that he had placed his signature on
different pieces of paper from that signed
by the other party, which proved to be
the case. Having thus had his suspi-
cions aroused, he Immediately came to
this city, where he learned that Stevens
and his partner had left for Fairfield.
He thereupon procured warrant for the
arrest of Stevens, and in company with
officer Bevans, took the train for Fair
field, and there found Stevens just about
to leave on the train on the Southwest
ern Road. On being arrested he first
denied having Mr.. Thomas's notes, but
when he found he could not bluff Mr..
Thomas nor the officer, but must come
back to Mt. Pleasant, he owned up and
produced three complete negotiable
notes, a copy of one of which we give
below
NEW LONDON, Henry County,
Iowa, March 81 1871.
Four months after date promise to
paw to G. W. Stevens or bearer, One
hund,ed and serenty.fUe dollars, with in
terest at the rate of 10 per cent. until
paid.
Value received.
(Signed) AARON S. THOMAS"
The other notes were in the same form,
one for $3.50 three months after date,
The other for $500 five months after date.
Upon his giving up these notes and de-
stroying the contracts, both copies of
which he had in his possession, he went
On his way to play the same game on
some other more easily gulled victims.
These numerous tricks and swindling
games ought to put farmers and other
,itizel.s on their guard, and to do no bust
ness of the kind with travelling mounte-
banks, without thoroughly examining
al papers presented to them for their
signatures. We are determined to ex-
oose the rascals every time we hear of
heir swindling acts.