New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-19
PIE GUlAo FRAUDS-FURrHER FACTS.

4 little moro than six months ago readers of The
TRmtNE were informed that tho Peruvian Govern
ment had instituted legal proceedings against per
sons and firms in this city for making and selling
fraudulent mixtures under tho name OF Peruvian
guanO. The movement which resulted IN this ac-
ton was begun, "a 1t will be remembered. by
analyses under auspices of the State Agrcnl-
tural Society of sample bags Of so-called guano
obtained from 10 prominent dealers, and which
showed that abominab!e swindlc5 were syste-
matically practiced upon the farmers, six of the
10 having furnished an article largely adulteTated
with sand brick dust, or similar Substances Here
the matter rested far as the general public knew,
but those who have kept run of affairs quietly ad-
yancing i'm tho Halls of Justice have seen the eyl
dence gradually unfolded Notwithstanding the laws
delays and that the deposition OF the chief de.
PENDANT is recorded signed. and filed IN the Office Of
the Clerk of the New Ork Superior Court, some of
It's curious statements and frank admissions may
properly be presented TO the world. few of the
questions and answers are transcribed from this
interesting document:
In the Superior Court of the City of New-York -
The Republic of Peru plaintiff agt. George Ricardo
George Ricardo, the defendant, being first
dnly sworn te5tiics rs follows Nov. q,
1879 ,
Question 14th.l Have you to some extent carried
on the business of mixing genuine Peruv ian euano
with other substances for sale Answer.
have.
o. How long have you carried on that business :
A. About the same time have been in business
that is for 1--we or six years previous to July Last
y. To whom did you sell this mixture A. sold
~ various dealers in fertilizers throughout the
United States.
Q. t2ith.) Do you swear that you have not mixed
with the genuine Peruvian guano any other sub.
stances than those guaEOs YOU have mentioned
a. did some other guanOs, but cannot re-
member Their names.
o. Did you not use other substances than the
guauos TO mix with the PeruyIanf A. No, Sir.
q. Did you not mix with the Perry ian guano some
substances which were not IN themselves fertilizers
A. No, Sir.
o, ,S7thJ In what packages did you sell this mix
ture A. 1 sold it in bdgs, in barrels, and in hogs
heads.
q. What marks did you procure to be put
upon the bags A. The same as on the bags that
bought the genuine Peruvian guano IN;
@ lj3dl How the imitation mark Exhibit O.
made A. With stencil plate.
O. (GSth.l For what price did YOU sell this mixture
4. When the genuine Peruvian guano was selling
for SO about that per ton. we would sell the mix
ture for SO We would sell two or three bags 1T the
ton rate
@. At what price did yon sell single bag' A.
We sold the genuine at cents pound and the mix
ture at 81 TO 81.
The concluding inquiry on this day elected the
statements that the defendant kept books but did
not know where they then were; that he had sold
them to his brother for price which he did not re-
member because he had no further use for them.
The next examination was on the 18th of December.
At this time the books were produced and he was
questioned concerning them. The examination was
continued the 18th of January last, and the fol.
lowing statements were made: The amount of
mixed" guano sold during the year from June l.
1871, to June 1, 1872, was about 81 tons The de-
icndant testified that he in tue habit of selling
to dealers in fertilizers in the South. and that he
mixed guanos to order for other parties. He never
used plaster TO mix with guanO
Look at Item on page 2 Of Journal under d6 DAT, date
No ~ and say what was the article then designated
as mo. ~ A. 1t was molders sand, the same as
founders use.
O. For what purpose did you buy this' A.
bought it 80 make some stuff to order; some Of 1T
was mixed with the genuine Peruvian guan0 and
some Of ii was not mean 1t was mixed with Jarvis
Island and then with the Peruvian.
Several other similar purchases OF sand were
acknowledged as having been made . to mix with
Jarvis Island and then with Peruvian He did not
know where the sand obtained, but got 1t from
cartmen. The examination was again continued on
the 10th of January The points Of particular in
terest brought ont at this time that nnetenths
of the purchasers of his (Ricardo's guano deal
ers and that they all knew that the guano he sold
them was adulterated, and that most or all of the
NewYork dealers who bought of him sent to his
factory for the mixed guano.