The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-12-21
A Chapter about New York smindlers.

Many novel and ingenious methods of earn
ina subsistence without labor have lately been
brought to light. The most notorious of them
ia what has been called the "sawdust swindle,"
the exposure of which has developed some very
interesting and curious facts. The originators
of this scheme have for the past few years Hood
ed the country with circulars offering counter
felt bills at very low price. After forwarding
the purchase money as requested, all that the
applicants receive are small, neat wooden boxes
which contain small pieces of cast iron wrapped
in shavings or imbedded in sawdust. When
the dupes write and ask for an explanation,
they receive c,ysteriously- circular,
headed caution" informing them that the po-
lice have obtained clue and are on the track
and that the box containing the iron and saw
dust is merely "blind," and the dupe is ear
nestly requested to keep clark" for time to
save himself, and when the thing has blown
over, the real countcrfeits will be duly forward
ed. This is trick, of course, and Is only re-
sorted to by the swindlers to keep their victims
quiet while they ensnare others in the same
fold.
James Fisher and Charles Hinckley, who
carried on very extensive trade at No. ~
Nassau street. cleared thousands OF dollars
from country dupes by this sawdust swindle
They traded under the name of Fisher & Co.,
King & Son, Owen Brothers, &C. They occu-
pied five rooms on the top floor of the premises
They started in September, 1870, and, when
ready they advertised for good penmen to write
addresses at $2 per thousand. They engaged
ten young men, chiefly new arrivals from Eu-
rope. These young men were Locked up In one Q,
room, and supplied with envelopes and bundles
of letters. Each man wrote, on an average,
900 addresses per day, and was kept at work
for fve months During these five months
l95 600 circulars were mailed all over the coun-
try offering to supply counterfeit money. In
one room we're nine young girls folding circu-
lars. inclosng them, and stamping the envei-
ones. These girls earned about IS per week
each. They were also locked in room where
no one but the principals ever entered. In a
small room was secreted the packer. He en-
closed the iron chips and sawdust, and sent the
boxes off by express. He received $40 per
week for his labor.
Next came the shop-walker, who was kept
constantly posted outside in the passage, ready
to pump any person who came to inquire for
the, firm. Outside the sanctuary of the two
principals was a small Office, into which were
usLcrcd all the knaves who wanted to purchase
this counterfeit money. A clerk would receive
all the money he could obtain from his visitors,
and, under the pretcnce that the demand was
greater than the mandatory could supply
Would state that he could not then give the
countcrfelts, but would send them by express: es .
He would vary this excuse by saying that the
nolice were watching every person who left the
premises, and that it would not be safe for him
to carry any of these notes away. Many APP
plicants was thus frightened, and never had the
courage to venture near the place again, and
lost their deposits. This clerk would some
times show few new genuine bills drawn from
a safe, and swear they were counterelts, al, ano
such as would be sent to the purchasers. The
] daily receipts averaged 81 200, mostly BY ex