National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-10
DISHONEST CoUNTRYHEN.
How They Cheat in selling Grain and Re,

How They Cheat in Selling Grain and Feed
case Of premeditsted fraud, on the part oil
certain eountrymen bringing grain and other
horse feed to this market, has Just been discoy.
cred, which, If traced out, might lead to showing
collusion between q majority Of these dealers to
cheat their purchasers out Of Just and honest
measure and thereby receive pay for more grain
or feed than was really delivered. This practice
has been in operation principally against the lV.
ery-stable Proprietors, and how many may be
victims is unknown, but one is certain, and he
probably to q considerable amount, for there "a
no telling what length Of time such Q condition
Of affairs have existed and how much feed he has
paid for and never received. To work success.
fully 1t was necessary for the dealer to buy the
secrecy and assistance Of person in the livery.
stable mans employ, and the one having charge
Of receiving and dealing out the feed was, Of
course, the most desirable Individual. These two
combining could continue. their false measure
ments for an unlimited period, dividing the profits
aecruiDR from the reported surplus, and the pur-
chaser could continue to pay the bills, honest in
their demand, as he supposed, until an accident
should reveal the fraudulent transaction.
One Of this nature has Just beenexposed, and 1t
may be the precursor OF others that will yet be
found In similar estanlishments. The manner In
which this one was revealed II, somewhat siHgu-
lar, and shows to what extent Smisdeed will prey
on some mems eonsciences and permit them no
rest Hntil proper amends are made for dishonest
act One day during the past week Mr. Allison
Nailor, jr, proprietor OF the livery stable No.
1880 E street northwest, was walking on the
IL
from whom few days previous he had bought a
load Of corn. Amer an awkward hesitation, he
told the gentleman that since the sale there had
been matter worrying him considerably, and he
had determined TO try and make restitution for q
wrong committed. He then informed Mr. NaIlor
that In their recent business transaction he had
been cheated out of one barrel Of corn, and that
he paid for one more than ne received. He said
the cheating had troubled him ever since IL was
knoWledgment Of the act and make good the one
barrel Of corn Of which Mr.. NGilor had been
robbed.
He then informed him that nearly every eoun-
trymaR Of whom he purchased 1t the market was
doing the same thing, and only recently he knew
Of q man who had made false mOaSurament to the
extent Of $3.50, and dOfrauded Mr.. NRilof out Of
that much money. They sold grain and feed to
him at slight reduction on the regular price BE-
cause they knew IL would b gotten back In the
man in bis employ named Henry Boyd, AliAs Gap
tain Jack, was party 70 the fraud, assisted In
i, and was we'll paid for the share or work per-
dumb-founded the gentleman, but he could net
doubt the truth Of the statement, as the party
telling # had confessed bis own guilty deed.
and was regarded as honest; still the evidence
was positive against him. He resolved TO keep
watch on the next occasion sHd satisfy himself
before proceeding further in the matter. The
day was not long in coming, and the proof most
convincing. HiIcorn-cribiI located in the smaller
here is where the thieving Was done Last Satur-
day, requiring more feed for his horses, he went
10 the market and purchased from two men.
The corn was bought in the ear at IS per bar
rel. 1t came to the stable in the two mems
teams. Henry Boyd, with other men, was sent
TO Assist in. putting It in the ErGnsry. He LEFT
the other hoStlers on the wagon to I'LL and pass
up the baskets, while he went above with the
dealer into the crib TO measure It IN the barrel
and put It away. Mr. Nailor, In the meantime,
had placed himself 1t large crack in the boards
Of the crib, near the two men, and where he
could command full view Of SIl that transpired.
The barrels were nlled within half Q foot Of the
top, and then turned out To keep tally an ear
Of corn was thrown into one corner. On the hrst
send on for one barrel they tossed over upS Of
ears, which he considered remarkably sharp
counting for that sort OF measuring. After the
work was oVerthe dealer passed some money to
Boyd, who demurred at the amount, bat was
more then, but would DO better the next time.
When they came to the once, where Mr.. NAiIor
had preceded them, the countryman, whose name
was Hayes said that there was nine and Q half
barrels four and halt In one wagon and Ave in
the other. Mr.. Nailor then made known to then
the discovery Of their cheating, and declined to
pay for any such amount. The corn WAS re-
measured, and found TO be only eight barrels.
Thus It will be seen how the proprietor OF the
stable was to be cheated, on that small purchase,
out Of 80. The man Boyd was Immediately
discharged, and Mr.. Nailor 10 undecided whether
to prosecute the robbing countrymGn or not. How
many other stable-men are being served In this
way In buying grain it 10 difdcult to tell. But
this exposure should serve ~ warning to them
all not to place too much reliance in their men,
and, possible, SuperViss such transactions In
person . ETH. -a.... ... r.