The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-01-15
rom kalamazoo Telegraph.
SIIAHPERS SHORN.
Wire Clothes Line SwindIers-fHow
"A Farmer was Taken I'm, and the
sequel.


sequel.
Yesterday Peter Z. Deal, farmer OF
Oshtemo, while coming 90 Kalamazoo
with load Of woed met two strangers
in a carriage who hailed him and want
ed TO known the name some good sub
stantial farmer who would take the
agency 10 sell white wire clothes line IN
the town of Oshtemo. Mr.. Deal refer
red them 10 MIR. Dewater as IA respon-
sible man. Some further conversation
was had on the merits Of their line,
how well il paid, etc, etc. FINALLY
they asked Mr.. Deal 30 take the agency
himself on these conditions: To sell
the wire at ~ cents per foot and when
he had sold $50 worth to give them
S25, that is 10 give him One-half for
selling. They said they would throw
in % steel clothes pins with each 100
feet sold, aud give him 100 feet free to
put up in his own yard to show people
Mr.. Deal said there were 50 many
swindling agents through the country
taking in farmers he was afraid. But
they reassured him, restated their pro-
position which seemed so fair and clear
that Deal consented. They gave him
his agency certificate, all in q proper
shape, then handed him as they said, "a
simple contract to sign, reading il just
as they stated. He signed il. They
gave him the 1900 feet of wire. OF
course they had no further business in
Oshtemo and headed their team for
Kalamazoo. Mr.. Deals vision bright
ened as he saw one OF them elbow the
other, while n broad grin overspread
both countenances. Mr.. Deal said to
himself, al did not read that paper !
signed. / will keep pretty close to
them till get to Kalamazoo; the roads
are bad, L can do it--then will investi-
gate" But bad roads did not seem to
bother the young men; they went ms
though they were driving on new
Nicholson pavement, and were soon
out of sight. Still that load Of wood
made remarkable time. Mr.. Deal ar
rived and went straight 10 Messrs.
Balch & Howard and stated his case
Mr.. Howard told him he was "sold"
and the best thing he could do was TO
call on the sheriff at once. He also
talked with Mr.. Peck who gave him
the same advice. He stated the case
to the sheriff who told him he would
assist him, aud thought he could get
his paper back by returning the 1000
feet of wire. Constable Boekeloo soon
found one OF the men at the Interna-
tional Hotel, where the sheriff called
him into the reading room, told him
briefly TO give up Mr.. Deals note and
take his wire. To which Mr, Stranger
replied he did mot care for no damn
eel sheriff He was told he would be
taken to Jail unless he complied, and
he went; then he was ready 10 make
terms. We could not learn all the con.
versation, but the settlement was about
this: He produced the paper which,
instead of being what Mr.. Deal sup
posed, proved 10 be q promise TO pay
ten cents a foot for 1000 feet of wire at
Jackson, Mich, with interest at ten
per cent from date; that all further or
ders should be y cents per foot; also,
his 100 feet Of wire free came in in this
further order. This order, sifted down,
was an agreement to pay $500 for a
bundle OF wire and the privilege Of
selling il in Oshtemo.
After time the seductive young
men, finding themselves eifectually
clllared, "came down" consenting
to return Deals note aud take back
their wire, which they had not so sue
cessfully laid after all. The Sheriff al
40 compelled them 90 give up all the
notes they had takin in this county and
pledge themselves 90 cease all further
operations in this section OF couptry.
We have seen in the SheriG's hands
other similar "notes" Of responsible
farmers given 20 these men, for Mr..
Deal was not the only one swindled in
this way.
The farmers may thank Sheriff Gates
for this interference in their behalf,
for the cause OF honest dealing. The
prosecutor, Mr.. Irish, Thought it
doubtful il n conviction could be had.
But Mr. Gates took his own way 20 in
duce n settlement and was Successful.
The effect Of this will be 10 drive this
class OF swindlers out OF the county, as
Le sheriff intends to close on their
track. Farmers who have signed any
papers with strangers for clothes lines
or patent trap" would do we'll 10 re-
port az the sheriff's Office.
Since the above was in type another
note, which had been turned over 20 a
second party and put into the hands of
an attorney for collection before the
arrest, for S220 against Cooper man,
was given up yesterday. This was a
narrow escape for the farmers Of this
county paying these swindlers thous-
ands Of dollars and the interference of
Sheriff Gates and his decided action
has utterly defeated the schemes Of the
precious scOundrels and relieved par
ties large payments for worthless
ihinRs.