The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-04-23
A New Swindle.

! AucSc SuppOSItLtlOuS XcDllemcn (dOW-
ard s. co., have embellished their place
with network of innocent carelessness
which, while pretending to embrace le-
action, suggests q dishonest opportunity
terward finds reason to repent
The m0dus operandi of Messrs. Howard
& Co. will be seen by the following letter
and bill:
OFFICE OF Howard q Co., IMPORTERS AND
| MANUFACTURES OF WATCHES, JEwELRY AND SILL
vERwARE, 1855 South Clark street, CHICAGO, ILL.,,
April :, lS7i.-A. PARrRrDaE, Esq.--Dear Sir:
ready for delivery. You were correct when you
| stated it could not be repaired outside of our
| house. We have had great difhcuhy with It, but
keep correct time for live years. You wrote the
watch was found and desired to know its worth.
1t IL q very valuable time. piece, and must have
and for any one desiring reliable time keeper il
really cheap at first cost Please remit amount OF
bill BY express and the watch will be Immediately
forwarded Respectfully, ETC., ~
CHICAGO, ILL.,. April 8, 1s74-H. P. PARTRIDGE,
NJ. D., Beaver Dam. Wis, to Howard & Co., i'm
aud silverware, 1856 South Clark street, for repairs
on hunting, stem winding, gold chronometer, made
by Ferguson:
" -
One main spring and cleaning ......... LIS
One fne lever and regulating. .......... 500
One gold cap engraved. .............. $50
--$2O.25
Please remit by express.
But MIR. Partridge did not remit the
| $2O25 to Messrs. Howard & Co. He
| wisely inclosed the letter and bill to the
Times. And the Times takes pleasure in
exposing the thieves. This scheme has
but recently gone into operation, but it is
altogether likely that the whole West is
flooded with letters and accompanying
bills like the above. Nor will it be
matter of surprise if hundreds are led by
cupidlty to comply with the terms and
forward the amount desired in the hope
that by so doing they will get watch
belonging to some one else, and which is
worth $500 "to any one desiring valu-
able time keeper" The reader will say
that if any one is swindled by this device
it is good enough for him, since he be.
comes, by intent, though perhaps not in
fact, as great rogue as Howard s. Co.,
for he expects to get watch belonging
to some one else, one to which he has no
right or claim, through blunder of the
matchmaker, by paying about one
thirtieth part of its reputed value.
But herein lies the ingenuity of the de-
vice and the security of the rascals. Very
few who have been duped into paving a
stranger for the privilege Of trying to
swindle third person will complain.
Such person would get little ifany more
sympathy from the public than the chief
swindlers. Howard & Co. know this, and
it is this element of safety that is thus in
that distinguishes it from other swindles.
A detective from the Times called yes
terday at the Office of Howard s. Co., No.
1876 South Clark street. Room 81, rear
office on the fourth floor of the building
at the number mentioned, bore the sign
of the firm, and the detective turned the
knob and entered. Two young men, in
their shirt.sleeves, were seated at desks, ap.
parently busy writing. The room was
cheaply carpeted, and besides the desks
mentioned contained several chairs, q
table or two, but no indication of jewelry
or watches at Wholesale or retail. As
the detective entered, q tall individual,
having black eyes, hair and mostache,
sallow complexion and very hard cast
Of countenance, emerged from an inner,
or rather 'front.' room.
us this Mr.. Howard?" asked the de-
tectlve.
mo, sir. Mr.. Howard just stepped
out"
"But you're one of the firm, pre-
sume?"
II am bock.keeper for the firm. What
can I d. for your"
MY name is Partridge, Of Beaver
Dam. called to pay for the repairs on
the watch I left here, you know, q couple
of weeks ago."
The book-keeper" moved not q muscle
as he replied: "That was . mistake. 1t
was another gentleman's watch we wrote
you about. Mr. Howard was speaking to
me about it only this morning"
"But will take the watch of your
hands if the owner won't pay the repairs"
replied The Times detective.
"Couldnt do 1t, SRA mistake. The
watch of another gentleman"
And SO the Times fy-cop babe the firm
Of Howard & Co. good.day and retired
without sight of the valuable Z" WATCH"
as indeed he had little hope Of having
before he entered the place. But he
gained the information sought, t0-wit:
That room 81, No 1856 South CLARK street.
is not the Wholesale or retail department
of any jewelry or watch establishment,
but is den whence emanate letters SINH.
lar to the above, which deceive Thousands
into throwing their money away; that the
parties occupying the same are hard
looking crowd, and that Messrs. Howard
& Co., whoever they are, are precious ras-
calls whom the police cannot jerk up shy
too soon.