The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-24
Cow a Kansas Farmer was Bled by
Sharpers.

morning, says the st. Louis Globe DEM
ocrat, countryman with a broad hat
and jeans clothes stepped up to the rail-
ing in a dubious sort of way and said,
Good morning"
sGood morning." replied the Cap
tain, wondering whether or not the new
conner was not one of the James bows
who came to deliver himself up to the
minions of the law. He was soon aware
of the incorrectness of his supposition.
The man said that he had valise down
at the express Office, and that the peo-
pie down there refused to give it to him
until he could be identified, and as his
home was nine hundred miles away, in
the wilds of Kansas, he knew no one
who could perform that service. He
had no money. All the cash he had
was contained in that valise; not a
nickel to buy any thing to eat-and he
was hungry. I
SHOW much money have you got an
the valisep" asked the officer.
eOne thousand dollars" was Sne
rather proud and hasty response.
"Where does it come from?"
"New York." the traveller replied,
producing the express receipt and hand
ing it to the Captain.
s'And you say you live up in Kan
Il sasP" said the Captain, cycling the man
closely; s'where bouts in KansasP' '
Burdonville, Cowley County, SIR"
Harrison Straight; is that your
name?" asked Capt. Lee, looking at the
receipt which he held in his hand.
Eyes, sir.'
"You've been to New York, have
your"
eyes, sir.''
"Where did you get this money!"
was the next question.
Then followed long story, which was
subsequently related to the reporter by
the Captain. Harrison Straight is a
farmer, residing upon leased land. He
had some little personal property, but
was compelled to work hard for his liv-
ing, and for the support of his wife and
his two children. A year ago he re-
ceived peculiar sort of circular through
the mails, marked confidential. The
circular told of New York firm who
were ready and willing to lend money
on easy conditions to honest farmers.
For very small sum of money, they
would lend to each honest farmer one
thousand dollars. The firm dealt en-
tirely in ''Surplus United States Treas
ury notes." that is, as the circular ex-
planned it, notes printed by the Treasury
above the limit prescribed by law. It
was claimed that the money was per-
fectly good, would pass any where, and
was even good at the U. S. Treasury.
However, the s.rictest secresy was en-
joined, not to avoid the officers of the
law, but to prevent the firm from being
swindied by dishonest and lawless men.
That this end might be accomplished he
was told to destroy the circular when he
had finished it. The farmer had often
thought of being rich, but he knew there
was little hope of his reaching that de-
lghtful state when he had no capital to
commence with, and good-sized fam.
lily to support. He scorned any thing
dishonest, but the scheme explained in
the circular was plausible. He thought
it best not to act rashly, and finally con-
c|fded to wait and think the matter
over He did SO. Almost year
elapsed before any thing was done.
Then came another circular more ex-
plicit than the first. 1t explained that
the sum of one thousand dollars could
be had for cash deposit of $3.50.
Straight determined to look further in
to the matter. He wrote letter &C.
cordingly and addressed it to John A.
Norris, 100 West Street, New York City,
telling him to send him on 81, 900 by ex-
press and he would turn over $3.50 for
it on its arrival at the nearest railroad
station.
A few weeks ago the reply came in
the shape of letter explaining that was
not the way the firm transacted bust
ness. 1t was their custom to settle
things in personal way. If he wanted
favor of them he could probably get
what he wanted by coming to New York.
He would find j. A. Norris waiting for
him at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
Straight had no money, but he mort
gagged all his personal property for $500
in cash and went to New York. He
parted with his wife and children last
Monday and arrived in New York
Thursday. Norris was at the hotel on
time. He took the farmer around to his
office. The farmer did not know what
street it was on. He handed over the
$3.50 and saw the 81 900 in bright, crisp
Treasury notes counted out before him.
1t was more money than he had ever
seen before, and he felt rich. Norris
said he would wrap the money in brown
paper and put it in Straight's valise.
So saying, he took up the money and
valise with happy smile and walked
into the next room. Straight remained
where he was. When Norris came back
he said that it would be safer to send
the valise by express; and, if Straight
wanted it to 60 that way, he would 60
with him down to the express Office and
get it checked to st. Louis. This was
agreed upon. The valise was checked,
and that selfsame evening the farmer
started on his way home.
Having heard this much of the story
} Capt. Lee sent Officer Wall to the ex-
press Office with the receipt and an order
for the valise. After few minutes alb
sence Officer Wall came back and
handed Capt. Lee the valise. 1t was
opened in the presence of Straight, and
to the surprise of Capt. Lee a neat
package done up in brown paper was
found among the contents just large
enough to contain $1,000. The paper
was strong and the cord well tied. Capt.