, 1875-02-14
/ CLASS OF LAND-SHARKg

r1ard times always bring forth \ mass Of
Vlllalnies, great and small Among the re-
puted rich or we1l-to-do people, the effect is
manifest in fraudulent failures, breaches OF
trust, and defalcationa The poorer classes
turn out an unusual proportion Of
thieves and petty swindlers. Among all the
ezcrescences Of general financial collapse
| and commercial distress, the small and un-
scrupnlous advanturers who prey upon the
poorer classes create greater havoc, cause
more actunl suffering, and do more damage
to the morals Of the community, than any
other. Their depredatons are made On tha
people who can 1east afford to lose, and whose
necessities render the contamination the more
dangerous to them. The poor man who has
been swind}ed out Of the little he had. and
finds no redress, loses q large part Of the
respect he previously entertained for law,
honesty, and fair-dealing. The successful
sharper is proselyter in sharp practices.
The victim thenceforward becomes distrustful
always and sometimes raider on society.
Large cities furnish the most fertile field
for the operations of tho sharper. Hard
times and the rule Of the Peoples party have
given Chicago double inHicton. The latter
protects tho gamblers and con6dence-men;
the former has added the eteuaUers findus-
tT1e in number and with personal effrontery
heretofore unknown. L numerous species Of
this general class may be fitly called the land
ahark- he figures in the advertising columns
Of the newspaper as the would be purchaser
OF all kinds Of retail businesses and every
variety Of stock OF hand The necessities Of |
d long stretch Of bad business, the pressing
OF landlords, and the clamor Of creditors |
bring him great number Of customers in
all branches Of trade. The land-shark is ready
to negotlatefor anything in the market, from
toy-store to machine-shop. He is Jack OF
al trades, and thoroughly practical in every
calling that presents itself. But he does not
want to buy with money. He has land to
trade. He is the owner Of some very r:aluable
lots IN the ROBINSON d JESnSsoN subdivision
Of the thriving Town Of Podunk, the latest
suburb to Chicago, and destined to BECOME
the ideal home Of the Chicago business nnn,
His lots are incumbe1ed by few hundred
dollars, having long time to run, the pay-
ment OF which the purchaser must assume
and he is willing to part with them at rery
small advance over the mortgage in order to
get into business which has been the study
of his lifetime. To these lots he will add
about $76, and trade with the veuder of
shoe-store, or tinners shop, or a fancy
business. at the vendors own terms |
The offer is too tempting to be resisted, The
'hop-keeper feels the lines pressing closer.
ais custom has fallen OF. He emit
,ollect his bills. His stock is running
lown- He is behind in his rent. He wou1d
prefer to sell for cash, but here is some prop- I
'rty which he can get cheap, and which he 6
an sell long before the deferred payments
become due, and at an advance On what he {
llowed for it. Tho trade Is made, and the 7
runs off with the stock and G1. =
urea, gets what he can for them at auctiou. U
w1ndles bis landlord, aud is the richer bv {
be full amount which he receives for the Il
took and fixtures 1ess the e1ponsas Of edvor- a
lsing and moving.
The practices Of thess land-sharks yarv n
18th circumstances. In all cases, however
ley begin by mortgaeing their comparatively
ortllless lands for at least double what no- et
nj Talue they have. The mortgage. Of =.
'urse, is bogus, and made ont to q rarty a
interest Very frequently the lind il
ortgsged to woman. counting uron the nn- tu
h prosecute 4 woman for svIn. u