Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-04-23
A New SwindIe.

A New SW1n0les
The Chicago Times of recent date
makes the following expose of new
swindle, the perpetrators OF which have
their headquarters in that city:
These supposititious gentlemen (How.
ard & Coz have embellished their place
with a network of innocent carelessness
which, while pretending to embrace le-
ultimate, straightforward business trans
action, suggests dishonest opportunity
that the countryman who improves it al
terward finds reason to repent.
The nOdus operdndt of Messrs. Howard
& Co. will be seen by the following letter
and bill
OFFICE OF HOWARD & Co., IMPORTERS AND
MANUFACTURERS OF WATCHES, JEwELRY AND ST.
vERwARE, 1856 South Clark street, CHICAGO, ILL.,,
April 8, 1s74.-A. PARTRIDGE. hq.-Dear Sir:
ready for delivery. You were correct when you
stated it could not be repaired outside OF our
house. We have had great difficulty with it, but
1t is now in thorough order. We warrant it to
keep correct time for i've years. You wrote the
watch was found and desired to know its worth.
1t is very valuable time-piece, and must have
cost at least $500 in gold. It Is now worth $i0o,
and for any one desiring reliable me-keeper is
really cheap at first cost Please remit amount OF
bill by express and the watch will be Immediately
forwarded Respectfully, ETC.,
CHICAGO, H., April 8, 1S74-H. p. PARTRIDGE,
M. d., Beaver Dam, Wis, to Howard d Co., i'm
porters and manufacturers OF watches, jewelry,
and silverware 1856 South Clark street for repairs
on hunting, stem winding, gold chronometer, made
by Ferguson:
One balance wheel and hair -spring. .....$75o
One handspring and cleaning ......... LIS
One fine lever and regulating ........... 800
-$ao.s5
Please remit by express.
But Mr.. Partridge did not remit the
$2025 to Messrs. Howard g. 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 ii is
altogether likely that the whole West is
flooded with letters and accompanying
bills like the above. Nor will il be
matter of surprise If hundreds are led by
cupidity 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
il is good enough for him, since he be.
comes, by intent, though perhaps not in
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
il is this element of safety that is thus in
geniously thrown around their swindle
that distinguishes it from other swindles.
A detective from the Times called yes
terday at the Office of Howard d 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, APP.
parently busy writing. The room was
cheaply carpeted, and besides the desks
mentioned contained several chairs,
table or two, but no Indication of jewelry
or watches at wholesale or retail. As
the detective entered, tall individual,
having black eyes, hair and mostache,
sallow complexion and very hard cast
of countenance, emerged from an inner,
or rather front, room.
"Is this Mr. Howard p asked the de-
tectIve
"No, sir. Mr.. Howard just stepped
out"
"But you're one of the firm, pre-
sumes" ..
al am bock.keeper for the firm. What
can | do for your"
"My name is Partridge, of Beaver
Dam. I called to pay for the repairs on
the watch left here, you know, couple
of weeks ago"
The book keeper moved not muscle
as he replied: THAT was mistake. 1t
| was another gentleman's watch we wrote
you about. Mr. Howard was speaking to
me about 1t only this morning"
"But I will take the watch of your
hands if the owner won't pay the repairs,
| replied The Times detective.
"Couldn't do 1t, sir-a mistake. The
watch of another gentleman"
And SO the Times fly-cop babe the firm
| of Howard s. Co. good-day and retired
without light Of the valuable watch,
&c indeed he had little hope OF having
| before he entered the place. But he
gained the information sought, to-wit:
That room 81, No 1876 South Clark street,
is not the wholesale or retail department
of any iewelry or watch establishment,
but is a den whence emsnate letters SINH
lar to the above, which deceive thousands
into throwing their money away; that the
parties occupying the same are q hard,
looking crowd, and that Messrs. Howard