Connecticut western news., 1877-05-11
Giving PromissOry Notes.
sWINDLING THE UNwARY FARMERS. From the New England Farmer.l

mdsS., WTlteS us an account or tr8saCtlOn between himself and an agent for the sale of county atlas, by whom he was induced 10 give his note payable at bank, but with verbal promise from the agent that the sub. scrlber should have all the time he might desire in which to pay the note. The note, however, was put into the hands of third party who now claims payment, and our friend wishes us to caution the readers of this, and all the other newspapers against buying his note, as he refuses to pay 1t. We would be very glad to assist our in : formant, were It in our power to do SO, es- pecially if, as he believes, he has been un. justly treated by his prosecutors, but we dc not see how the publishing of the case can help him in the least. If he gave his note tor value received, and has property with which 10 pay the demand, and has learned that promissory note is more binding than verbal promise, perhaps he cou'd never obtain the information at 8 cheaper rate.
 If promissory note means anything, It means that the one who gives it is bound to pay 1t according to the terms upon it's face, and any verbal promise or understanding between the giver and receiver is of no ac = count whatever. If 8 verbal promise se- cured the creditor. written note would be superf1uous, but, as it does not, the written words Cf the note are all there is or can be in evidence of the bargain agreedss upon by the parties.
 Farmers are constantly being imposed upon by travelling agents who understand the ''ropes'' better than their customers. Not untrequently the latter are taken in by what seem to be extra favorable terms given to them in return for some pretende6 or real favor granted. A few years since, we were visited at the farm by two very stylish looking young men, drawn by two still more stylish looking horses, and were strongly urged to take, as gift. few shares in stock company, to be formed of all the principal farmers in our town. Our name they said, was all that was want ed with that, they could go on and form the company, and then the money would flow. But our name was just what we did
 not feel like sparing just then. and as to the money, we had some doubts as to
 which way it might flow, for new enter prises. we all do not always succeed.
 And so the patent manure-shoveler and
 hay-loader has never appeared upon our
 farm, nor was the factory located in our town.
 | A year later another two-horse team haul
 ed up at our gate with no more load than
 could be carried in hand-satchel. This
 man of business was seeking farmers who
 would be willing to act as agents in their
 towns for agricultural implements, to be
 sent on from the factory and stored at the
 farm for the accommodation of the buyers
 in the neighborhood. A liberal commis-
 sion was offered as an inducement, and a
 promise given that no loss should accrue to
 the custodian of the stores, and that, at the
 end of the season. the unsold goods would
 be withdrawn. Kind, wasn't he? Blu,
 let us see how the business was to be done.
 First we were to give him an order for SC
 many moving machines, horse rakes etc.,
 as we could find room to store and thought
 it might be possible to sell. The order
 was to be given to him and he would for
 ward it to the headquarters of the compa
 ny, and they would then know what and
 how many to manufacture. As he would } want something to show the company, to
 prove that the order was genuine one, he
 would have us sign an agreement, which was an agreement to pay, at the end of one
 year, certain sum for the goods ordered,
 to be offset on his part by an agreement tO the effect that if the goods were not sold
 the note should not be pad. The note, be said, would be put in the bank for collater al security upon money borrowed byi the manufacturers of the machines. This ar engagement, he said, would give them the carry on their business. We have DO doubt of it. But we suggested that possibly he, g stranger, with an order for goods snd oul
 note payable at bank in his pocket, might have little advantage over us, with only ' an agreement that he would not collect the 7 note unless we sold the goods and we } further suggested that he should explain
 how the risk could be made a little more equal for both parties. He said he sup ; posed the conditions and agreement could
 be written on the back of the note, but he tidu't like to do business in that way anC so he jumped into his little buggy. whipped up his horses, and drove off, apparently very much dlsgusted with the farmers oi our town for their lack of enterprise.
 Two years ago, another agent came along in newly-varnished green and rec open buggy, with a patented recipe fol making whitewash for painting houses SC : cheap that one could do his own painting and not feel the expense, and so durable and handsome that everybody would wan it but, as he had gots the whole United States and Canada to canvass, he should never be able to call upon us again, and SC , if we wanted to secure the recipe, thi. 5 would be the last opportunity that wou ( eyer be offered. The recipes were sold by ! deed, and each buyer was bound by hi. ; agreement, printed on the deed, that ht would neither sell nor give away his know ledge of the secret to friend or foe. Anc } all thls for $5 And if we doubted the statement, we could just look at his buggy which was painted with this wonderful wash more than a year ago, and, without 7 varnishlng, looked as good now as the day it left the shop. But we had recently ' spread barrel of Averill paint upon ou1 ' buildings, and, not being sure they would