San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-17

ing all damages for fraud or misrepre'
sensations of agents. The agreement
following, II will be seen, gives the
right to put up the rods without any lin
itation whatever--the victim simply
agreeing to pay for all put up.
On the back of this agreement is
printed in small type the following in
structions, which, the victims are told,
are simply to guide the workmen in
properly putting up the rods, when, as
u matter OF fact, they are perpetuation
of the fraud: ..
Erect rods In circuit form, with view to
Ornamentation as well rs protection. race
points and negative spheres on each gable
and intermediate spaces ON roof. not exceed.
| Ing twenty feet apart; connecting them 81
rectly and uninterrnptedly with RODS TO inc
ground. Arrange the circuit points SO ~ 20
promote the constant discharge OF negative
electricity, which generating from the earth,
is held In Induction on the ridge OF the build;
ings not properly rodded This will aforq
full protection from lightning; Al GROUND
rods must penetrate the earth to constant
moisture. t
When once building is rodded I'M
der this contract, it strikes the average
man that the " ornamentation" is more
conspicuous than the protection"
In some cases, agreements are made
that payment of the note will not be
demanded for two years. A case of that
kind appeared in this county. The note
was not to be due for two years, and
the second year to draw interest at 10
per cent. with the further proviso
that, If not paid when due, a penalty OF
8 per cent. was to be added. The note
was written due in one year, to which
the maker objected, when the lightning
rod man consented to make it all right
by indorsing on the back of the note
that it was not to be presented tor pay
ment until two years from date. That
satisfied the maker and he signed it;
but, becoming uneasy about it, he con-
suited friend, who investigated the
matter, and found the stipulation was
written on the back of the stub of the
note, and when the note was torn of,
of course there was no stipulation.
Another gang are going about the
State selling patent hay-fork. They
propose to some prominent farmer to
take the agency for the township, and,
us I'LL lHuuCcIucut, IL uc udhCo Aoui no
may keep one and sell three. For all
sold afterward he will receive com
mission. The thing appears plausible.
Nearly every farmer thinks he can dis
pose of three forks in his town, which
will give himself one free. The bargain
is made, when he is requested to sign
receipt for the forks, that it may be
forwarded to the Company. Two Ce.
dar County farmers recently signed
these receipts, and they soon after turn
ed up in the possession of banks, where
they had been sold, regular iron-clad
promissory notes for $40 and 5000, re-
spectively. 1t will not be long before
at other places similar notes will turn
up as they become due; and they will
have to be paid, as the courts decide
that such notes in the hands of third
persons, innocent purchasers before ma
turity, are good against the makers,
and the makers must pay. Hence it is
a part of the game of these swindlers to
sell these notes to banks as soon as pos
sible after they get them.
HAwREYE