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

A Clean Swindle.-ln our issue Of Dccem-
Der 2oth, 1873, an item appeared In the local
columns To the effect that Mr.. Abraham j. Bid
olson, weli-known citizen of tho l:th district.
had been called upon by two men, who travelled
with y fancy team aud represented themselves as
agents OF white Washing Machine Company" %
-. Louis. Missouri, and who persuaded him 20
ecpt the local agency for said machines. A. the
same time We copied item from . Frederick
county paper In which Il was stated that one
Tyrone Sphere" had sold local agencies in that
county for the Same machines and that in at least
two instances he had swindled farmers 20 the ex-
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
menccd TO smell very large sized mouse. The
mon who visited him were evidently tho same who
had operated In Frederick county, but he con
graduated himself that no had signed no note
merely attaching his name "a the contract, n du-
plieatc copy Of which he retained, and which gave
him tho right to sell In certain prescribed limits
| the "agcnis" telling him that they would not
tablish any 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.. Hiddison started out and gathered
NJ those he hsl lei, amcng HI. neishhsfs 90 trial.
nearly all Of whom pronounced them worthless
| lie then decided 10 await developments. aud II
| was not long before he commenced TO see the
mouse that he had only "smclied" before. One
day last week the mail brought him postal card
ON which was written the following message:
"PEiDNOSr, ". Va. Jan. Ist, ISs0.
Dear Sir Your note from II. X. White Co..
sold TO me for $4,000. six months after date.
dated Dec. 10th. 1879. payable ut the First
National Bank Of baltimore. Nd. due June 10Th
lSSO. will be placed in said bank in due time for
payment. NJ. e. TorrEs.
Broker and BANKER.
Mr.. Biddison knew that he had signed no paper
except the contract. hut when We explained the
| trick 20 him on Wednesday aud showed him how
he might have signed note without knowing IL,
| he was somewhat surprised and considerably Agi
| tatcd. lie went at once to employ counsel aud is
determined Go fight the swndie in the courts.
| Leaving Mr.. Biddison's residence, the agents"
ne he has since learned. after promising not 60
dispose Of any more agencies in that district. went
oil o mile or two aud inveiglci Mr.. Daniel Diegle
into the same trap. II Is likely he has also been
notified Of the existence OF = note which he did
not sign"
since this swinde has been brought TO light
| through the tSioS We have heard of number Of
others which have been practiccd very successfuiy
in the 18th district by cloth agents. tree agents.
machine agents, dc. Onc man bought SiO0 worth
of cloths giving hs note for the amount. when the
| goods were not worth $5O---in fact were next o.
WORTHLESS Others were taken in this swindlc
while fcorc or more Of farmers and gardeners
we're 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. nHd
HsatL'r ',L"i h.y read. thcy might save them
selves many dollars and numerous Annoyance.
lie, them take warning from the fact. given above
aud when they want anything. buy IL from n
! sponsiblc dealer. instead of from glib.iongucd
swindcrs, with whom the country seem. 10 be
oyo-rGn.