Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-04-17
Sawdust SWindlers Come to Grief.

The sawdust swindlers are at last com
ing to grief. The other day, in New
Ork, two OF them were sentenced to i'm
prisonment for one year and to pay fine
OF $1,000. -Four barrels of confidential
circulars were captured with these men,
and an immense number of envelopes,
addressed, ready for mailing, were also
seized. These circulars state that coun-
terfeit money, which it is impossible to
detect, will be sent to any person for
warding certain specified amounts. For
instance, says the circular: The price of
my money is 800 for 81 900, one-half cash
and the other half as soon as received -
For large amounts liberal discount is
allowed. The circular continues:
When large amount is sent pack it in box
and mark il III such manner that no one would
suspect its being money. and send it by express.
Always state when You order how you wish the
money sent and give Us the name Of your nearest
express Office. | will send yOa a sample packag e.
passes; when you can order large lot. BY all
means come at once and see me if possible, and
you SO you will be prepared to buy large stock,
for this may be the last chance you will ever have
to make a fortune at single stroke"
1t is not very iattering commentary
on American honesty to be told that tens
Of thousands Of people in every part of
the country annually send for this new
money. 1t is amazing, too, that though
the swindie has been over and over again
exposed in almost every newspaper of the
country, a certain class Of people live in
sublime ignorance of the trick, and are as
ready to be gulled now as when the
shrcwd game was first invented dozen
years ago. Now and then man who
cares more for his money than his
reputation, and who finds, when the valrl-
able box sent c. 0. ID. is opened, that ii is
full of sawdust, and nothing else, replev-
les his cash from the express company be-
fore it is sent from the office; but, as a
general thing, the victim who has been
thus deservedly swindlcd chooses to sub
nit in silence. Hundreds Of people who
have received these circulars, and pom
dered over them, will recognize as famil-
lar the following paragraph, with which
they close:
Il hope that after I have placed confidence
enough in you to send circular Of this kind relat-
ing the nature of my business, that you would not
be so treachcrOus a. 10 even breathe the contents
Of this document TO living being: should you be-
tray me | will find means to be avenged in way,
perhaps, you would not dream of If you do not
wish TO enter into this confidential business with
me- all ask Is, that You burn this circular, and let
the secret die with the flame. On the other hand,
if you conclude to enter into this speculation. that
H.
| would also advise you to burn the circular and
preserve the secret, when this circular is de-
stroycd ali evidence against you and me is obliter
ated.'
The writer states, beside, that he is the
most expert engravcr in the United States,
having been employed ten years by the
Government, and that large sums of this
money have been lodged in six banks in
New York without detection He advises
dc to Y
little genuine money with it when de-
posting it in large quantities, to avoid
suspicion, and cautions them against the
use Of strong drink, as when intoxicated
| the secret may be revealed. 1t is perfect
| ~ evident, from the surprising success OF
| these swindles, that the circular is we'll
calculated to achieve the purpose of its
authors, though it would seem to need no
| exposure.
The victims never stop to ask why IN
| the world the manufacturer of this wonder
| full money, which absolutely defies detec-
ton in the banks, does not use it himself
and why he should sell 81 900 of such ex-
cellent currency for 800 Of something
precisely like it? But nothing of this
| kind occurs to them they only see an OPP
| portunity of obtaining sudden wealth
and withthe greed and disregard of ordi-
nary honesty so common in life, place
themselves voluntarily in the path OF
crime, and escape finally, not because OF
| their own scruples, but because the person
| dipping them is not so big a rascal as he
declares himself to be- 1t was for a long
time thought to be impossible to convict
these men; but way has finally been
found, it seems, and it is probable the
whole fraternity will soon be brought to
grief-Ch5cago Inter- Ocean.