The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-06-17
" Sundry Humbugs."


The American Agriculturist devotes a
chapter monthly, under the above caption,
to the showing up of swindlers that gener-
ally have their headquarters in New York.
In the juno number of the Agriculturist
we find the following expose of gift enter
prise, a considerable portion of whose pro-
fessed gifts are located in Maryland. The
above-named paper says of this concern:
"We have circulars offering SO, 900 tick
cts at s.. 90 each, in a Grand Gift Conc ert
and Distribution, for the benefit of the
Founding Asylum of the Sisters of Char
ity, in the City of New York, and the Sol
diers and Sailors Orphans Home, of
Washington, DC, to be held in Washing
ton City, June It'll, 1871 While all such
affairs even when genuine and as fairly
conducted as can be, are wrong in prin-
ciple, and bad in their influence upon all
concerned, this one has several special
objections. To make up the pretended
$500, 900 Of prizes offered, the large block
of Erie r. II. stock put in must be reck-
oned at par, while it is selling in open mar
ket at about one. fourth of this sum AS a
"vacant lot" is usually 25x1O0 feet, we
should not like to take shares in the $17,-
500 of pacant lots in Govanstown, Md, at
$500 each nor in the $50, 900 to 500, 900
of othor "real estate" of probably similar
valuation. We should like to know what
part of the proceeds go to the Washington
Home" and what part to the N. Y.
Asylum. Further, would aoe have any
chance, if the whole number of 81, 800 other
foolish people should not be found to take
tickets at SIS each. Five dollar bills must
somewhere be plenty-fools ditto-to afford
any chance for such an enterprise 1.
The N. Y. agent of the above advertises
himself also as Agent of the Cosmopol-
itan Benevolent Society of California,
which proclaims 100, 900 theatre tickets at
$3.50 each, each ticket having one chance
in fifty at some gold prizes. This differs
no whit from the old lotteries suppressed
by law, except in giving less chance for
success to the ticket buyers"
We have received one of the circulars
advertising this "Gift " enterprise, to the
bottom of which is appended the name of
P. G.. Devlin, General Agent. The circu-
lar sets forth that the concert is "to be
held in Washington, d. c., on Wednesday,
June It'll; 1871, under and by virtue of a
Permit from the Hon. Commissioner of
Internal Revenue;' y and the following
named gentlemen-all of this State but
two-are given as Commissioners and refer
ences. The circular reads:
"The names of the distinguished gentle
men who have consented to act as Commits
sioners and Trustee, are guarantee of the
character and management of this enter
prise, and pledge of all that is fair and
honorable.
Commissioners-Hon H. Mccullough,
lex member Congress] Elkton, Nd; Maj.
George 7. Castle, Baltimore.
Pittsburg, Pa.
For the standing and responsibility of
the gentlemen connected with and manag-
ing this enterprise, the following gentle
men are by permission referred to:
Maj. Gen. D. Hunter, U. S. A, Wash
ington, D. c.; Hon. J. S. Negley, Pitts
burg, Pa; First National Bank, Hagers-
town, Md; Appleman & Co., Bankers,
Hagerstown, Md; Updegratf & Sons, Mer-
chants, Hagerstown, Md; Hon. r. j.
Brent, late Attorney General, Baltimore
c. F. Abbott, Esq. Agent Standard Life
ms. Co., 90 Post Office Avenue, Baltimore +;
John II. Fowler, Baltimore w. H. Myers,
of w. II. Myers, & Bro, Exchange Place,
Baltimore"
The following license, or permit, granted
by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue,
is printed on the back of the circular, and
will show how laws, enacted for mistaken
charitable purposes, are used to promote
gambling enterprises
"TREAsuRY DEPARTMENT. !
TN-rr
WASHINGTON, April %, 1871.
Whereas, it is provided in Sec Ill of
the Act of June 80, 1864, as amended by
section TX. of the Act of July 10, 1866,
THAT the managers of any sanitary fair ,
or Of any charitable, benevolent or religious
association, may apply to the Collector of
the District, and present to him proof that
the proceeds of any contemplated lottery,
rattle, or gift enterprise, will be applied to
the relief of the sick and wounded soldiers,
or to some other charitable use, and there
upon the Commissioner shall grant per-
NIT to hold such lottery, rattle, or gift
enterprise, and the said sanitary fair or
charitable or benevolent association shall
be exempt from all charge whether from
tax or license, in respect of such lottery,
rattle, or gift enterprise.
And whereas, on this 29th instant, II.
Mccullough and Geo. T. Castle, Commits
sioners and Managers of the Grand Gift
Concert and distribution for the benefit of
the Founding Asylum of the Sisters of
Charity in the City of New York and
sThe Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home
of Washington, D. G., to be held in Wash
ington, ID. c., have made written applica-
ton to the Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue for permission to hold lottery, or
rattle, for the benefit of the Founding
Asylum and the Orphans of the Soldiers
and Sailors aforesaid free from all charge !:
and whereas, it appears from the evidence
submitted that the entire net proceeds of
said lottery or rattle, will be applied to the
charitable uses above mentioned and,
whereas, said application has been for
warded to this office by Thomas L. Tullack,
Collector of Internal Revenue for the Dis
trict of Columbia, with his approval.
Now, therefore, permission is hereby
given to the said II. Mccullough and Geo.
T. Castle, commissioners and managers
as aforesaid, acting for and in behalf
of said association as aforesaid, to hold
lottery or rattle for the purpose above
named, exempt from all charge whether
from tax or license Especial tax. but with
the express provision and understanding
that this permit may at any time be
IcNoheu ny Sdlu commissioner Tor SOOQ
cause shown, of the sufficiency of which he
is to be the sole judge. And with this
further provision that the said Mccullough
and Castle, commissioners and managers
as aforesaid, shall within ten days after the
first day of each and every month, make
and render to the Collector of said District
under oath, return of all the gross receipts
of such lottery Or gift enterprise, and of
each and every of it's agents from the bust
ness thereof, which returns shall also con-
tain a detailed statement of the exact dis
position made Of such receipts supported
by such vouchers as said Collector may
require. A. PLEAsANToN,
Commissioners"
We think if Commissioner Pleasanton
will make even slight effort, he can find
ample cause for revokins this permit.
A notice, signed by the Commissioners
and Trustee, dated June list, is published
in the papers of the 9Th, stating that the
Grand Gift Concert and Distribution I"
has been postponed till the 9th of July,
as it was impossible, in the time between
obtaining the permit from the Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue, (2Sth of April