New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-18
TIE CIECTL1R SJPINDLERS.

TIE CIRCIL1R SJPINDLERS
The full and complete exposure o. The cOun-
tcrfeit circular frauds made several months
ago by the journals OF the city would certainly
seem sufficient to have placed even ,he most
ignorant rogucs in the rural districts on tboir
guard against the lures of their kindred Of the
city. The statements then made were fall and
circumsantial. The haunts and the methods
OF operation of these swindlcrs were fully de-
Scribed. IL was shown that their whole stool;
in trade consisted of their circulars, and
room where they received their express pack
ages with money. Ii they ever made any re-
ply to the letters of thcir dUpes, it was only to
induce thcm to send more cash. In no ease
did they deal in counterfeit notes. In no case
did they keep the rascally promises made in
their circulars. They prac;ced upon the
scoundrel cupidity of weak and dcpraved
rustics, and found ready harvest Some Of
them attained sudden wealth, but tho Gains of
most were restricted 10 the means for III" days
living or the nights dissipation.
II was thought, AID with some probability
also, that the food of publicity turned apon
this rude rascali'y would have the effect of
extinguishng it at once. Ii did not seem pos
sibc that It cOuld survive The universal dis
cussion and remark which followed the publ
cation 10 which we have referred. There was
scarcely Journal in The United States which
did not thoroughly expose the swindle. Bat
the result only brings more clearly than ever
into view the rarely-rccognizod fact that there
il vast pr0rOytion of tle population
who never read the papers Every day
our police courts are haunted by rural
10 ,rlFr l,
for twenty years have been regularly
set forth in the local columns Of daily jour
uals until they have ceased to be
regarded seriously, and have passed into
the category of lOaferS' jokes. But
they are 10 pleasantly to the unfortunate
rustic who finds himself penniess in the city,
through IA moment OF yielding confidence, or
collaborating avaricc. II is serious question
whether the fiutter of exposure last Winter
was productive OF more good than harm. While
it did not succeed III patting the ignorant and
vicious on their guard, it excited movement
of emulation among the idle adventurcrs of
the town, who prefer subsistence which costs
nothing to one that must be worked for The
business, after a temporary lull, caused by the
arrest Of the principal operators, has taken
clars are again covering the land.
Every mail brings to the Office of THE
TRIBUNE copies of these coarse and trans
parent attempts at swindling, which have
fallen into the hands Of honest men, who ask
us to denounce them. In many instances,
these persons regard them as genuine PROPOSE
tons for the uttering OF counterfeit money,
and a good deal of alarm is sometimes mani
tested as to the danger the currency runs OF
being swamped by the competition threatened
by these glib rascals. A large number of
these circulars, Autographed in style
which looks like a careful handwriting
TO the average rural eye, now lies before
us. One of them purpOrts to come from
Samuel Davis e. Co., No. "a Liberty-st., New
York. 1t uses the familiar formula that the
name of the receiver has been suggested as that
of "smart and reliable man :" that for a
given sum they will send an absurd amcunt of
"queer," at the rate of $4,000 counterfeit for
$50 in cash; it insists that he shall not write
by mail; all money must be sent by express
prepaid and concludes with the suggestive
initials I. l.. g. r., which place the transac-
ton on the endearng basis Of Friendship, Love,
and Truth Daniel II. Kappock of No. So lib
crty-st deals less in sentiment, and evidently
thinks more highly of the discriminating powers
of average human nature. He does not pro-
pose to frighen his correspondents by rum
ously cheap bargains, 80 he asks $3.50 for
$4,000 worth of the imitation. He extends to
his unknown friend, whom he understands to
be "square mar" n cordial invitation TO visit
him at No. II ADn-st., Room 8, "withont ask
"ing any questions Oh the street" more
inventive and entertaining rascal is James
Randall of No. GSS Broadway, who tells a
striking story of general meeting OF banks
10 decide whether one of his bills was genuine
or not, which, of course, resulted triumphantly
for him.
II would seem impossible for any one to iall
into n trap 80 awswardly set and 81 bung-
Enely ba,ted. But these ciIciIars are cum
ningly calculated TO suit the exact mental and
moral calihcr Of The persons to whom they are
sent. The trade in names aud addresses has