The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-01-10

Clean Swindle.-In our issue Of Decom-
bCr goth, 1879, an item appeared In tho local
columns 20 the effect that Mr.. Abraham J. bid
olson, wcll-known citizen of tho 18th district.
had been called upon by two men. who travelled
vita fancy team aud represented themselves as
agents Of "whito Washing Machine Company" Of
ST. Louis. Missouri, aud who persuaded him 20
eept the local agency for said machines. A. tho
same time NO copied an item from . Frederick
county paper In which u was stated that one
"Tyronc Spiers" had sold local agencies in that
county for the same machines and that in at least
two instances he had swinded farmers TO the cx-
tent Of $40 each by the old plan Of having them
sign contracts which were afterwards very adroity
turned into promissory notes which soon found
their way into the hands Of n Frederick city
broker. On reading the item Mr. Biddison com
mcnccd TO smell very large sired mouse. The
mon who visited him were evidently the same who
had operated in Frederick county, but he con.
graduated himself that he had signed no note
merely attaching his name b. the contract, n du-
plicate copy Of which he retained. and which gave
him tho right TO sell In certain prescribed limits
the "agen,s" telling him that they would not
tablish any more agencies in that district or per
haps in the county. Amer seeing tho publication
In tho USioS. and fearing that tho machines were
humbugs, Mr.. Biddison started out and gathered
up those he had left among his ncighbors trial.
nearly all Of whom pronounced them worthless
lie then decided 10 await developments, and IL
mouse that he had only "smciled' before. One
day last week the mail brought him postal card
ON which was written the following message:
"PEIDNoNT, W. Va. Jan. LIST, 1850.
Dear Sir Your note from II. X. White 4 Co.,
sold to me for SlsO.OO. six months after date,
dated Dec. 10th, 1879. payable ut the First
National Bank Of Baltimore. Nd. due June 10TH
1850, will be placed in said bank in due time for
payment N. c. TorrEs.
Broker and Banker
Mr.. Bidiison knew that he had signed no paper
except the contract, but when We explained the
trick TO him on Wednesday and showed him how
he might have signed n note without knowing IL,
he was somewhat surprised and considerably agi
tated. lie went at once TO employ counsel and is
determined TO fight the swindle in the courts.
Leaving Mr.. Biddison's residence. the "agcnts."
~ he has since learned, after promising not 20
dispose Of any more agencies In that district. went
oil n mile or two and inveiglcd Mr.. Daniel Dicgic
into the same trap. II Is likely he has also been
notified Of the existence Of . note which he ''did
not sign"
Since this swindle has been brought 10 light
through the USioS We have heard of . number Of
others which have been practced very successfully
in the 18th district by cloth agents, tree agents
machine agents, &c. One man bought SlOO worth
Of cloths, giving hi. note for the amount. when the
goods were not worth $50--n fact were next To-
worthless others were taken in ON this swindlc
while more Of farmers and gardeners
were "sold by tree agents. who represented their
trees in glowing terms and sold them for large
figures. when their actual value was nothing. II
these people would read the newspapers. aud re-
Hsmbsr rhdi thy read they might save them
sclNe, many dollars and numerous hnnoyances.
Let them take warning from the fact. given above
and when they wan; anything. buy IL from n
sponsible dealer. instead Of from gib-tongucd
sWindlers. with whom the country seems 10 be
Oye-run.