The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-07-11

to sign a memorandum for $685., and
subsequently a note for over $50.
Wherever they go, they rope in their
victim in like manner, and they got lots
of them.
The following is q copy of the So
called memorandum-that portion down
to the word Mr. -" being in very
small type:
II Ia expressly understood by the signer of
this oruer that ne signs the same upon his
own Judgment. after due delibeI alton by him.
without any undue Influence having been
used, or relying on any representation made
by the agent, other than written or printed in
this order. In this order 500 may DC added
as nqutdated damages for failure to comply
with the conditions of this order. and notice
Of suit may be issued by publication.
NAME OF C0MPANY.l
This order can not be countermanded with
out the signer paying the profits on the job.
ORDER FOR THE EREcrIoS OF LIGHTNING
ut : agreed by the signer of this order TO re-
ceive said work within 80 days from date
of order)
Mr.. as agent or said Company:
You will please erect, or deliver at your
earliest convenience, or cause the same TO
be done, on my (house, barn or building) a
system of circuit conductors of the --
Company in accordance with the rules and
regulations set forth on the back OF this or
der, OF five-eighth rod, with which am well
satisfied. will upon the execution OF this
order settle or pay for the same in cash, pay
able at -, or by note due in months,
at the rate OF - cents per foot for the rod,
and --d dollars and - cents for each point,
and - dollars for each ball, and - dol
lars fer each vane, and the price of four feet
I Of rod for each brace. No extra charge for
Inspection or repairs for ten years.
Dated at -, 1s7
But few persons would trouble them
selves to read the small type, and yet it
is a very adroitly drawn contract, waiv-
ing all damages for fraud or misrepre-
sensations of agents. The agreement
following, it will be seen, gives the
right to put up the rods without any linn
ration 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
distractions, which, the victims are told,
are simply to guide the workmen liz
properly putting up the rods, when, as
! a matter of fact, they are a perpetuation
4 of the fraud:
Erect rods in circuit form, with view to
ornamentatiOn as wel as protection race
points and negative spheres on each gable
and Intermediate spaces on roof, not exceed
ing twenty feet apart; connecting them d.
rectly and uninterruptedly with rods 10 the
ground. Arrange the circuit points so as 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 r0dded h, TINS Sii g aIDrd
rods must penetrate the earth to constant
moisture.
When once building is rodded un-
der this contract, it strikes the average
man that the IS 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, penalty of
5 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 for pay
ment until two years from date. That
satisfied the maker and he signed 1t;
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 tina note was torn off,
of course there was no stipulation.
Another gang are going about the
State selling a patent hay-fork. They
propose to some prominent farmer to
t4ke the agency for the township, and,
as an inducement, if he takes four he
may keep .one and sell three. For all
sold afterward he will receive a 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
a 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 1t is
part of the game of these swindlers to
sell these notes to banks as soon as pos
sible after they get them.
HAwKEYE.