South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-07-14
Ingenious SWindle.

-
The american Agr:caluriSs for July
gives the following expose Of a new
swindling dodge:
GAIUs W. HUBBARD, JR, AGAN-This
scoundrel who has his Headquarters at 2OS
Broadway, is full OF Ingenious swindlng
schemes. The pretended counterfeit mon
ey or sawdust game he has worked under
a great variety of names, and in this, as in
other cases, he usually manages to operate
upon other dishonest people in such a way
that they ann appear as witnesses
against him without eliminating them
selves. Here is one of his latest swindles.
The following is a copy of many similar
documents returned TO US by honest peo-
pie. Hubbard had a large lot OF them
written out and forwarded 10 different
parties all over the West. They are all
alike except IN the name of the person
addressed. THE bill-head is neatly print
ed in the usual form; the rest is wriJten.)
NEW YORK, Lay 18th, 1871.
Mr.. W. Z. GtHeRu1hgs, ROgersUdHe, Tam.
To DURvIN, ELLIOTT & Co.,
Importers and Manufacturer Of
Watches, Jewelry and Silyerware,
Wholesale Department up stairs.
For repairs on Hunting, Stem-Winding, Gold
Chronometer, made by Jugerson, No. 15.t p, viz:
I Balance Wheel and Hair Spring....$7.5
/ Main Spring, and Cleaning -....--.. 1-25
] FINE Lever. regulating, etc..-.--. 800
l Gold Cap, Eng'd. .... -......-..... 6.59-S2O.2 %
flease remit by Express.
D AR IR;-The above watch received from You
21st Feb'y, Is now ready FOR delivery. YOn were
correct when You Etated il could not be repaired
outside of this city.-We have had great difficult
ty with It, but is now in thorough order, and we
warrant it to keep correct time for Eve years.
You wrote that the watch was found and desired
to know its worth. 1t is a very valuable time
piece, and must have cost ct least $500 in gold. 1t
is now worth 800, and for any one desiring q cor
rect time-piece, j. really cheap ct its first cost
Please remit the amount OF above bill by express,
and the watch will be Immediately forwarded
0blige by responding at once, as every day il re-
mains with us entails additional trouble and ex-
pense. Respectfully, DURT1N, ELLIOTT d Co., 1893
Broadway, n. Y.
After mailing sundry thousands of the
above, Hubbard got out a regular power
of Attorney, signed by DurvIn, Elliott &
Co. (probably the real names of some of
his e~mployes), directing the Express
Companies to deliver their parcels to him
self. The result was that many dishonest
people said to themselves, "well, there is
no such person ~heresbOuts, and if there
was, the watch was found and did not
belong to him, and I'll privately forward
the $50 % and get the watch and keep it ="
OF course, Hubbard pocketed the funds
and let the dupes whistle for their money.
They dare not expose themselves by COM
planning, and if they did, they would find
no Durvin, Elliott & Co., at 1913 Broad
way, for the building is unoccupied-such
buildings are often selected as their Gdpsr-
tised headquarters by various s~windlers.
OF course no thoroughly honest person
would forward money for a watch not be
longing to him, but he would promptly do
as Mr.. Gillenwaltus and others have done,
forward the documents to this Office, or
elsewhere, for investigation.
We have given considerable space 10 the
description of this particular swindle t
illustrate how ingenious are the lodges
resorted to, and to show that great care
should be exercised il responding to cir
culars, etc, from unknown parties. We
confess, also, to a little satisfaction in
showing those who have had a hand in
sending the thousands of dollars in re-
Spouse to this operation, how completely
they have been done for" in their dis
honest attempts to get watches not be-
longing to them.