Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-07-12
Swindling the Farmers.

dealers, or rather dealers in waste
paper and sawdust. For old men
who have caught at the bait, 1 have
not one word Of sympathy, for they
are not one whit better than the
swindlers themselves; the only differ
ence is that they have not had the
opportunity to pass off this promised
bogus currency. But there arc Il
great many thoughtless young men
whose fathers have not taught them
the ways of the world, and they
have heard so much about people
getting rich by speculation, which
is simply getting something for
nothing, that they, without reflec-
ton, are caught in the meshes of
these scoundrels. 1t is for this class
that I would interpose the law, and
yet it is hardship for many poor
families to strip them of the funds
that are so much needed. / do not
know that the law can reach these
so-called dupcs or would be dealers
in counterfeit money, but it ought
to do so, for they are equally guilty.
l have several letters, all of them
without signature, asking me to
expose these humbugs; and | only
regret that the parties did not give
names, that the swindler and his
dupe might alike be known to the
country. Just give us your names,
gentlmen, and the amount that you
have lost, with the names of the
dealers, and you shall have your
wish, and the public shall have the
benefit of an exposure that is an cx-
posture.
In connection with this, l will
give . little history: Away back in
the early settlement Of the country
about Chicago, when the late Cyrus
Bradley was Deputy Sheriff, he
intimatcd to a farmer that certain
parties who had rented farm near
him were suspected of dealing in
bogus currency, and he wished to
keep an eye on them. Meeting one
of his new neighbors a few days
after, he casually dropped the re-
mark in conversation that half the
silver coin in circulation was bogus.
No reply was made to this remark;
but, the next day, when the farmer
was hauling wood Oh his sleigh.
one of the trio of renters met him
i'll the wood, he happening along
in quest of game, with q shot gun
on his shoulder. After some casual
remarks, the man came to business
"Don't you want to go into specu-
lation?" eyes," was the reply
"Well, I'll show you the stuff and
suiting the action to the word, threw
a silver half dollar on the bottom
board of the sleigh. Its ring was
all right. eyes, that is good
money" "Wcll, that is just where
you are mistaken, for there is nc
silver in it; but it will deceive the
bankers themselves, and, if you
have any doubts, just try them with
it, for acid will have no effect on it
l can sell it to you for twenty-five
cents on the dollar. Mortgage
your farm for tho money, and youl
fortune is made" eyes, you are
right, and l will take all such money
at your price that you will bring me
and pay you the gold" ''That's a
bargain, and we will arrange the
thing at once. l will place the
coin in a box, and put it under the
straw in the old stable Of Mr.. b.
You know the old stable is not used
this winter, and no one goes there
''That won't do. Just bring the
money to my house any day you
may choose to name, and | will pay
you the gold for it. These are my
terms, and no Others" Cant do
it, for Bradley, or some one Of his
gang, may see us bring out the
money; in fact, he already suspects
us. Can't do it, for we must have
our own way to manage the thing.
The money is made in Chicago, and
the maker is closely watched, and
we have to manage sharp to get it
out. If you won't give in, We can't
trade, and you will regret it, for you
throw away chance to make yonr
fortune. Good day." l need not
say that the half-dollar was genuine
and the rascal knew it. The gang
had showed considerable of the
bogus, but, in less than three days,
the trio of families abandoned their
lease, and it was supposed they left
for Galena, at least. 'thp officers
failed to get them; but the house in
Chicago was broken up, and the
tools were, for long time, in the
hands of Mayor G., who then ruled
over the young city.
These fellows show good money
for sample, and deliver sawdust
and old rusty nails. You can safely
buy the sample, but don't allow of Il
private or old-stablc delivery.
Thousands of men in the city live by
fleeing the rural populations; that
is, getting something for nothing.
| say to those boys who have been
writing me of their grievances, to
ask themselves if their intentions
are any better than those who have
swindled them-only this; they pro-
pose to be the agents in small way
for the big knaves.
A farmer at my elbow says: "Lct
me tell you a little story. Once on
a time, just AT the close Of the late
war, or soon after the coiored troops
came home, y colorcd man was in
want of n horse. Deacon A. had
fine horse that he would sell the
soldier. The sale was made and
money paid, but"a few days revealed
that the horse had the sweeney in
the shoulder, and was Of no use to
the soldier. The deacon refused
to take him. back, and the court was
resorted to, when it appeared that
the deacon had been doctoring the
horse for months, and knew that he
was of no value. What with coun-
sci, costs and damages, the deacon
came out badly. Suppose you sug-
gest to the boys that there arc other
knavcs besides those dealing in bad
money, and tell them tor me that