The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-08-27
The Old Story.

The Old Story.
1t would appear that warnings are of 10
use. Scarcely day passes but some rascal
ity is recorded, wherein our rural
friends who don't read the papers are the
victims, and yet we continue to find new
cases and repetitions of the ''old game.
The last victim of the old dodge, the note
scheme, is one David Daley, of Yuma,
who mourns the loss of, or, at least is in a
fair way to pay $3.50 for experience sake.
This u.s. the way the sharper worked it:
He wandered to the farm house Of Mr..
Daley and had the usual patent right to
sell. In glowing terms he pictured the
immense profits to be made from his in
yention. He had, he said, plenty of offers
to sell it, but preferred to sell to some re-
liable man who could make it success,
as, by that means, the reputation of the
machine would be benefited. To prove
the truth of his assertions he proceeded to
practically illustrate the wonderful powers
OF his Patent Root Extractor" which
would produce a beverage from roots,
that would drive Bourbon" from the
market. lower the price of brandy, and
completely break up all the distiileries in
the country. BY the use of this machine,
liquor could be produced at one sixteenth
the cost Of the existing corn juice" and
its sale would quadruple that of the COM
bined liquors of the country. He took
some roots in an innocent sort OF way and
boiled them in his machine on Farmer
Daley cook stove, all the while picturing
in eloquent terms the magic properties of
the Patent Reservoir and Combine Root
and Herb Extractor" Farmer Daley
began to think. He had never seen any
thing to equal it, but he guessed he
would not invest. The patent-right man
was not discouraged. He became poetic,
dweton religion, talked politics, and finally
concluded he wanted some references.
Would Mr. Daley sign his name in a
| reference book? it would be such a help
in the way Of selling his right; he could
show the farmers the signature of a relia-
bic man, and-but why waste time
suffice to say that Farmer Daley signed &
reference book-at least he thought he did
and then the urbane Goddard thanked
hin and went his way; Farmer Daley
ruminated; he thought that felleW
was a good one; he was so tdj1
| 10 his manner aud so unlike most men IL
| his business This was on Aug. 2lst, and
on the next day imagine his surprise tc
receive an inquiry from DR.. Rogers, O
Port Byron bank, asking information rcla
tive to a note for $3.50, dated the day be
fore, ana which had been offered at a dis
count of 80 per cent. Was it all right
Should he discount it? Daily scratched
his head and tried to refresh bis memory
He had not given a note to any one in hi
life, at least not for years. Could it b
that internal root extracter?' No, Ii
had not given his note, he had only signet
book; but he would go to Port ByroI
aud see abont it. Imagine his feeling
when, on reaching Port Byron, he discovere,
his innocent guest Of the day before a
the holder of the note, Goddard, Ii
offender, was at once arrested and take
before Justice Mulholland, when two note
were produced, one signed by David Daley
at 8 months Tor $3.50, and another fo
$3.50, signed by William Jennings, Of Cot
The evidence did not prove fraud in tn
opinion of the justice. however,s so Goddar
was discharged, and his notes returned t
him. He is man about SIS years ole
, short and thick set, with sandy moustach
and halls from Indiana Mr.. Daley an
Mr., Jennings have notified the banks tha
= they will contest payment of the notes
should Goddard succeed in negotiating
D file evidently obtained their signatures b
q means of the old dodge, that of having
. piece cut in the book under which was tn
g note, and his victims probably signed til
notes in that way Will people ever lear
: to read and heed the papers?