The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-01-12
A SWINDEE DETECTED.

We have been informed. from trust
worthy source, that one Of our produce
buyers, was one day last week detect ed
in the following disgraceful and thievish
transaction, by a farmer from Maple
Grove: It seems that he (the farmer,
whose name is Gotfried B@tchcrl brought
to the city mixed load Of produce, part
of which consisted of two small dressed
hogs. The several buyers on the street
made their offers for the merchandise,
but William Stucke (familiarly known as
STUcKE) out-bid them all on the hogs,
and got the load. The farmer was told
to take the load down to VIM. Horn S
warehouse, where Stucke is now storing
his produce. In tnrn, the farmers hogs
were put upon the scales to be weighed,
and when the beam kicked the weight
was announced. The farmer, who, it
seems, was pretty sharp chap, knew
about the weight of his hogs, and per-
ceiving that there were two sets Of weights
attached to the scale, took off the 200h
weight, which had been used, and put on
like one from the other set, which had
not been used, and demanded that his
hogs be weighed again. They were
weighed, and difference Of about twenty
pounds to the farmers advantage, was
the result. The farmer insisted that
the rest of his load should be weighed
with the weight he selected, and put
the false weight into his pocket. The
ware house men made loud demand for
the weight, but Mr.. farmer sturdily told
them they should not have it unless they
were stronger than he, and took it from,
his person; that. for prudential reasons
they did not attempt, and the farmer
went off with the weight in his pocket.
In short time afterwards, Stuche him
self sought the farmer, and begged, threat
ened and prayed by turns, to have the
weight returned TO him, but the obstinate
farmer told him ''no you shall cheat no
more farmers with this weight" and
took it off home, in his pocket.
Now, if this is true, why are not the
penalties of law inflicted upon such a
dishonest, thieving scoundrel as he. We
surely have law to reach swindlers of all
degrees, and it seems to US that the pub
lie good and the commercial character Of
our city, imperativeiy demand that this
particular kind OF swinlling be put stop
to at once. Dir. E. 3. Treat, as Dstrics
Attorney Of this County, have you any
duty to perform when such transactions
are brought to your notice? If SO, we
would like to hear Of something being
done.
And now, while this subject is before
US, we would ask the Mayor and Com
mon Council of this City, if it is not their
duty to see to it. that honest weight and
true measures are dealt ort to the public
within their jurisdiction
We have,we believe. a sealer CT weights
and measures, and for long years have
had, but the office has always been merely
nominal, and there has never, to oul
knowledge, been any attempt to discharge
the duties. We think now, that it is Ger
tainly time that the public should be
protected from this meanest Of all kind:
of robbery, and we can think Of no better
way Of beginning, than to have the Dis
trict Attorney have the above mentioned
case investigated, and the City Counci
give US vigilant, honest inspector o
weights and measures, SO that We may
have honest dealing between buyer anC
seller, and an honest, fair competition
between men In business. -