Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-07-28
Patent Right Swiadling Again.

Patent Right Swiadling Again.
The Nashua Post of last week return!
to the discussion of the above subject
making the comments of the BULLETIN
of the It'll, on the Hunt Waite matter thu
basis of lengthy article. To what thu
Post has to offer in the way of opinion
regarding the general character of these
patent right transactions, we are moi
disposed to enter an objection. We be-
lieve that great number, perhaps ma
jority OF them. are either direct or con
structivc swindles, and we desire az
ardently as the Post possibly can, to see
the perpetrators of them brought to jus.
tice. Neither do we object to it's on
slaughts upon Hunt if they will do it any
good. We are not Hunts defender or
apologist, although we think his COM
munication in the BULLETIN last week
shows that there may be two sides to the
story Of his swindling. But what we do
object to is that, claiming to have such
undubitable proofs of swindling against
Hunt and other parties, the Post and its
friends in Nashua do not take steps to
bring the rascals to justice. If, as the
Post says, "there is no doubt that the fcl-
low Hunt, who was here with the Sheriff,
is party to a put up job to swindle Mr.
Waite out of Il large sum of money" the
inference is that such fact can be proven,
and if such is the case why do not the
authorities in that locality put the ma
chincry Of the law in motion and punish
the rascalss Before the Post pretends to
cast stones at Independence for har-
boring the swindlers let its own commu-
nifty do what Independence has done to
punish them. We have indicted them
repeatedly, we have one of them now un-
der two indictments, and will try him at
the next term Of our court, if he does not
take change of venue to Chickasaw
county, or some other moral community
Has Chickasaw county ever done as
much? Again the Post says:
''The day Hunt was here, when Waite
was arrested, we were conversing with a
prominent lawyer from Hardin county,
who said he had been made familiar with
the patent right swindle, that many fam
lilies in Hardin county had been victim
lied by parties hailing from Indepen-
dcnce, and he gave the names Of one or
two parties there, and one of the names
we remember distinctly, because it was
that of a well known citizen Of Buchanan
county, who ought either to be in better
business at home, or be provided with
work in the penitentiary. He is pretty
sure of a lake of fire hereafter"
Now we submit that the above para
graph is calculated to do no good without
the name of the "wcll known citizen of
Buchanan county," who has been swim
ding the citizens of Hardin. If the Post
is satisfied that the fact is as stated it
should not hesitate to give the name.
Now we will confess that this is the one
point which has deferred us from saying
more and pointedly, too, in regard to this
patent right business We are not al
ways able to arrive at facts. We have
learned not to jump at conclusions so
readily rs the Post seems inclined to do.
We are aware that some Of these patent
right transactions denominated "swin-
dies" were not such in fact They are
not often wise bargains for those who
buy, but no other influences or strategy
is employed in the cases to which we
now refer than are brought to bear by
the dry goods clerk, who, by his soft
tongue and insinuating manner, induces
country girl to pay five dollars for
two dollar shawl. Notes are given i'll
good faith, with full knowledge Of the
consideration and realization of the obi
CATION involved. This may be construc-
tive swindling but it is not the kind against
which the guns Of the Post are leveled.
When a dishonest man gives his note I'M
der these circumstances and finds that
his venture has not proved profitable, he
is very likely to set mp the only possible
defense of forgery against his note We
have heard of repeated instances OF this
being done where men have attcrward
paid their notes in full with interest. We
believe that this is the character of ma
jority Of the transactions by men who
have gone out from this city. We don't
defend them; at best they are of question
able morality, but we are not always able
to distinguish them from transactions OF
a gravcr character. That there have
been swindles Ivy men living or claiming
to live in this city which should send
their authors to Fort Madison, we will
not pretend to deny, but we do deny that
public sentiment in our city is in sympa
thy with the scoundrels, or that our
community has been lax in efforts to
bring them to justice.