The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-06-03

published some time since, regard
ing an apparent swindle through al
advertisement Of a sewing machine
by j. Thompson Hanna 4 Co., 1907
Broadway. A recent number OF
the San gives full expose Of the
concern. 1t says reporter went
to find the gentry who announce
that they will make home happy for
$40. The birds had flown, and the
room was barren of furniture.
Those who occupied adjoining Of
fees remembered having seen two
or three sewing machines and about
an equal number of flashily dressed
young men in the room. The ma
chimes and the swells had myster-
iously disappeared about month
previous. The rent had not been
paid. The newspapers publishing
the advertisement were directed to
change their address to "Wm. Bar
clay, Manager, p. o. Box 1872,
New York.
1t seems that Postmaster James,
of New York, made a thorough in
vestigation, and sent the result to
the Postmaster General. That of
fetal directed that the letters
between 700 and 800 in number
addressed to j. Thompson Hanna &
Co., should be sent to the Dead Let
ter office. The change of address
to VIM. Barclay brought a fresh
batch of letters. A man styling
himself VIM. Barclay called OH Mr..
James, stating he represented firm
in Philadelphia, but could not re-
member the street in which the firm
did business. He Indignantly de-
MED any knowledge of J. Thompson
Hanna Il Co., but after pretty
plain talk from Postmaster James,
wrote note authorizing that Off
cial to send all letters directed to
SWIM. Barclay, Manager, &C., to
the dead letter office.
The AMERICAN Newspaper Repor-
Ter comments as follows:
We publish this week an article
from the N. Y. daily SIN.
AS matter Of fact such fraudulent
concerns az that of j. Thompson
Hanna g. Co. are dependent entire
~ for their customers upon the
press. They send out their
Advertising to the publishers direct,
IN part because no respectable agen-
~ would touch it upon any terms,
nut chiefly for the reason that they
IAN secure publication in a suffi-
GENTLY large number of jonrnlls
ipOn their own order, and without
he slightest intention ofevcr liquid
lting the bill. In the case of this
firm our observation
cads us to believe that they must
ave obtained not less than $50, 900
worth of space. Every customer
n subscriber who, influenced by the
advertisement sends money in an
wer to its requirements, is just so
much the poorer therefor, ahd is
windlcd out of just that amount in I
ollars and cents. Hence the con- ,
fusion is logical, that if publishers q
enerally and in every instance
-Ould refuse admission to their col
INNS of all matter of this character,
he business would of necessity in v
short time die out, and their sub a
cribers no longer be dipped by the q
mooth promises of these arrant ,
windlers.
ave wonder if publishers ever y
link when writing those moral ed i
orials upon the prevalence of 7
rime in our large Cities how it is t
'stered and nourishcd through 4
lcir own assistance"
AS to whether any one in this To-
,lity have been dupcd through the :.
edium of the advertisement in the
lcet at Chase, or not, we cannot :
~; but the persistent manner in
hich the bait is held before its
'adcrs, right in face of knowledge
its being a swindlc, has a very Il
vi appearance, and leads us to sim S
rely pity SUCH of its readers as p
ay not have the chance of learn S,
g their danger until too late. p
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