Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-02-20
AN EXTENSIVE SwINDLE.

IN, III, tiahcroft q Uos,',s of CIJcpEo, Tor-.
merly ''HIn ynnri & CO.,'' OF MnGnolih;
Iowa, Come 10 Grief I'm ChIcaaO i'm the
Person of one Morris NIason---Thc
swindler's Mode OF Operations.
FoR months past the mails have been BUR-
dened with letters and circulars sent by May
nard & Co., of Magnolia, Iowa, TO prominent
gentlemen in the country, containing the cir
cuars and tickets which indicated swindle,
and which have led to the arrest of the
"frm" and the exposure of the swindlers
1t seems that the "frm," unlike most
swindlers, instead of selling the tickets, gen.
erously presented them, and in an accom-.
panying circular announced that when the
drawing took place they would be promptly
notified, being only expected TO contribute
five per cent. of the cash value of
their winnings 10 the managers, said
Maynard Il Co. Shortly after the dispatch
Of the first circular came another, announcing
that the ticket held by each gentleman land
each complimentary sent out was similarly
successfully had drawn prize valued at 5000,
and suggesting that the payment Of the five
per cent, $40, would secure its instant trans
mission to the lucky holders Of the fortunate
numbers. This was Immediately followed by
another, announcing the appointment of N.
H. Bancroft IL Co., of Chicago, as the finan-
cial agents, and the withdrawal of Maynard &
Co. from the further prosecution of the
scheme. Payment was to be made to N. II,
Bancroft & Co., and Maynard q Co. guaran-
teed that the former would faithfully carry
out their pledges, etc.
1t has now transpired that Maynard & Co.
g - nd tbn
same firm, and that the swindler who had
adopted these titles is a resident of Chicago,
named Morris Mason.
From some facts that came to his knowl
edge, the Special Agent of the Pc stoflce De-
partment, U. X. Hawley arrived at the con-
clusion that IN. II. Bancroft & Co." was
myth and fraud, and forthwith proceeded to
investigate. The result of his Investigations
was the arrest of Mason and the exposure
of the swindle. Mason was brought be-
fore United States Commissioner Hoyne
and held to bail in the sum of 5000
for trial. Mason became penitent and
gave the agent permission to examine the
letters and return the Enclosures to the
writer's Over one thousand letters were
opened which had accumulated during the
day of his arrest and examination, and of
these fifty-two contained ten-dollar remit
tances These were In bills, bank.drafts, and
Postofllce money.orders, while one or two
sharp customers sent along bogus bills, with
a request for change. Such letters as con-
tanned money were separated from those
which did not, in order that the money in
closed might be returned to the writers, with
a piece of salutary advice for the benefit of
.bn tha Of
Those letters which did not inclose a $40
bill or its equivalent in many cases directed
Maynard & Co. to act as the writer's legal
agent, sell the 500 worth of miscellaneous
goods, deduct handsome percentage as agent
and remit the proceeds of the sale to the
writer's Others represented that the lucky
ticket-hodcrs would be glad TO have the goods
sent c. o. D., when the $40 would willingly be
handed over, while not a few show that the
writer's look upon the scheme as a clear swim
die and would like to act as special agents for
1t in the territory in which they reside.
Some of the letters were very amusing A
young lady from Rose Stream, Yates Co., N
Y, addresses the firm as follows:
D1ABo1IcA1. AND DEAR Sms: Your favor of Jan
24, announcing our good fortune, was received
with deep and heartfelt joy . We tender you
our grateful and heartfelt tnanks Tor the cOmpn-
mentary ticket and prize, and for the prompt no.
tifcation Of our good fortune In regard TO the |
trifling form of your mention OF the hvc per cent
bonus, we would gladly oblige you, but owing to !
the late panic and the high price OF butter we are
unable to raise the money and are compelled TO |
task your kindness still further. You forget TO
mention which prize we have drawn. Now, as our
family have no need of horses, carriages parlor
sets, or pianos (being well supplied with musical
instruments, a tin horn and baby, we propose /
that you may deduct the five per cent. bonus and
five per cent. extra TO rccOmpense you Tor your
trouble and send on the balance in cash.
A sarcastic young man of Purgitsville simply
returns the circular with the following informa-
ton upon IT, which viii prove maxim inter-
esting equally to anglers and lottery swindlers;
Suckers don't bite when the water is so very
low. Thank you for your offer.
A butcher in New Castle, Del, with weak
ness for euchre, writes TO the swindlers as fol-
lows: frH
! received your letter. stating that had been
lucky man, and had drawn prize Of $500, and you
demand five per cent before sending the prize.
profess to be a moral man and abstain from
as you are rogue, and IL you want to euchre me,
come to New Castle. where can get deck and
have the pleasure OF seeing you do It.
Messrs. Allen 81 Baker, saloon-keepers of
Valley Falls, N. Y, write to request the 5000
gift won by ticket No. l5I,2SS, and inclose
$50 bill of the late,lamentcd Confederate
States of America! They close their letter as /
follows: "Change being scarce here, and
trusting you are honest and viii send change
back, we remain, etc"
N -