Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-09-15
The MysteFI1us Walden.

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A short time nee the appearance of
column advertisements in several of the pa
pers of the city, and the general distribu-
ton of elaborately- y-prepared circulars, drew
public attention to scheme which prom
ised to make beautiful and penniless
damsel happy in the possession Of a compe-
tence, to give fortune to some other lucky
individual, and to insure to all participants
an ample return for money invested in
picture of the aforesaid fair one, in music
by the Germania Band, and in the happy
consciousness of having assisted in doing
good deed.
Such were the outlines Of the plan. In de-
tail it was as follows: A hundred thousand
cabinet portraits of an unknown beauty
were to be disposed of at one dollar each.
With each picture was to be given card
showing the height, waist measure and size
of boot worn by the lady, and the purchas-
er was to guess at her weight. The party
coming nearest to the actual fact was to be
given $50, 600. The lady was to take $780,,
600, the manager s., 900, and it was estima-
ted that the balance of the 500, 900 would
be required for sundry expenses. To give
peculiar charm to the business 1t was de-
clared that the lady had been reared in the
lap of luxury, that she was highly accom-
plished and but eighteen years old. 1t was
also arranged that ne one should see her
unveiled until the grand consumation OF
the project on the 4th OF September, when
those who had part IN the matter would
be admitted to gaze upon the sweet face of
their dream lady, A grand central Office
was taken on Washington street, nearly op-
posite the Old South, and six branches
were established in various parts Of the
city.
Things went on swimmingly to all ap-
pearance Except that on two occasions
when the ''veiled beauty was to have been
exhibited to her admirers something turn
ed up to prevent it, until yesterday, when
State Detective David B. Keith, having
previously secured search warrants, pounc-
ed down upon the concern and carried of
the stock in trade of the establishment.
He had become convinced that the affair
was Q swindle as well as lottery, and he
had a rather clear recollection OF similar
scheme in New York, where, when the day
OF reckoning with the credulous came, the
money and managers came not. The man
ager Of the Boston venture is Samuel San
born middle-aged, rather dumpy, red
faced man, with pug nose and quiet ways,
and the advent of the officer seemed to hus-
ter him considerably. He evidently was
not used to visits of that kind. Mr.. Keith
found but little in the main office except
about 1,300 photographs, cabinet size,
showing the yelled unknown in two full
length views. There were considerable
number Of letters and carefully-kept ac-
count of expenses, but the receipts were
not discoverable, nor were there any books
to indicate what the income might have
been. The photographs represent rather
comely lass of medium size, with trim lit /
tie hat, surmounted with luxurious os-
trieh plume, clinging to the back of her
shapely head, while veil of gauzy thinness
covers the face as low as the mouth. Inc
chin is shapely and plump, and the ge5nne3r-
al appearance of the figure is pleasing, Inc |
card height is five feet four inches, the |
waist measure twenty-one inches, and TIP |
OF q No. 2 boot peeps cuIpingly from be- |
meath the folds of black silk walking |
dress. Who the 'veiled beauty Is Mr., |
Sanborn didn't tell, but his list of expenses |
includes car-fare from - 10 Boston, Sll! |
Then the unknown seems to lead no her |
mit's life here, tor her expenses are marked |
at $42, and in another place she is charged |
with 500, and tAee were 1881 spent Tor |