The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-22
How Farmers are swtndIed.

We publish herewith a statement
which we find IN the Henry Co. (1owa)
Press. We do it in order that farmers
who are inclined to be eredulous con-
corning the statements of patent right
vendors, tin peddlers, seed-order takers
and all of that ilk, may take warning.
This is only one instance among scores
that have come to our knowledge,
where a deliberate swindle has been
practiced. But the farmer does not
always find it out until it is too late to
provide remedy. Here is the article
Last week two menrwith a team
called at the residence OF Aaron s.
Thomas in New London township, in
in this county, and exhibited a new
sieve frame, and wire cloth for tanning
mills. They gave their names as c. w.
Stevens and j. P. Preston, Stevens
claiming to be patentee and manufac-
turer of the new improvement, but from
unpopularity Of patent right vendors,
did not propose to sell rights, but the
article itself. He desired Mr.. Thomas
to act as his agent to sell his sleeves, and
offering to pay him thirty.three and a
third per cent commission on all sales.
He had with him one hundred and fifty
frames and sleeves in his wagon, which
he proposed to leave with Mr.. Thomas,
and he could order from his mandatory
from time to time as the sales war
ranted. Mr.. Thomas agreeing to the
terms, Stevens produced a 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 direction of Stevens. Another
paper was also signed by both parties
and witnessed by Preston, in substance
that Stevens was to take back all I'M
sold frames and sleeves at the end of one
wear then remaining on hand unsold
by Mr.. Thomas, the latter to pay tor
all sold, less his commission. SO the
arrangement was complete. e
After the gentlemen were gone, Mr.:
Thomas examined his papers and found
no contract among them but another
instead, folded and endorsed, giving the
amount OF these notes which purported
he had signed. This induced him to
reflect that he mad signed the duplicate
contract very low down on the sheet,
and that he 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
suspicious aroused he Immediately
came to this city, where he learned
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 Fairfield, and there found
Stevens, just about to leave on the
train on the Southwestern road. On
being arrested he first denied having
Mr. Thomas notes, but when he found
he could not bluff Mr.. Thomas nor the
officer but mnst come back to Mt:
Pleasant, he owned up and produced
three complete neSOtlaUle uotee, NoP!
OF one of which we give below:
"NEw LONDON, Henry County,
Iowa, March q, 1871.
Four months after date l promise to
nav TO c. w. Stevens or bearer, One
Hundred and SeventyJfve Dollars, with
interest at the rate Of 10 per cent until
paid.
Value received.
(Sisned) AARON S. THOMAS.
The other notes were in the same
form, one for $3.50 three months after
date, the other for 5000 five months
after date. Upon his giving up these
notes and destroying the contracts, both
copies of which be 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 swindiing
Games ought to put farmers and other
Citizens on their guard, and to do no
business of the kind with travelling
mountebanks, without thoroughly ex-
aiming all papers presented them ior
signatures. "a We are determined to ex:
pose the rascals every time we hear Of
their swindlins acts.