Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-16
THE INDIA SHAWL,
And the Confidence Game Prac-
ticed by Its Owner.


MANY persons were attracted yester'
day 10 the store OF ], 8. Rhodes q 20,
in window OF which handsome
camel's. hair shawl Vas placed on exel'
bition, A plaeard, hanging above u,
announced that Il cost 50 900 aud would
loo sold for 5000, aud while no one
seemed disposed to place that amount
OF money on the back OF his wife, sister
or sweetheart, many came and looked
nj the shawl. IL was about twelve ieel
by Eve, and was covered with the most
intricate designs. The centre was filed
with flowers and birds, richly col
ored and wonderfully wrought On
each end Of the centre was a hln-
doc temple. on the portico OF which
sat the Trimurti, or Brahman Trinity
Brahma, Vishnu and silva. Lying
PROSTATE before the divinity were
various figures in the act OF worship,
all being clad in tho gorgeous rainent
OF the last. Encircling these three
representations was an irregular belt ar
zone filled with procession OF men,
horses aud elephants. Panclcd plc.
lures If various llindoo deiiiCs, sur
rouned by bright flowers, brilliant
birds OF paradise and gay maeaws and
parrots made up the a,semSs OF the
really beautiful shawl. The workman
ship was exquisite, every figure being
finished to the minutest detail.
The reputed owner came into tbs
REGISTER office, in the afternoon, to tell
OF the shawl. He gave I. Ora.
ham AZ his name and San Francisco
ms hisabiling place. In appearance hc
is rather progressing, is extremely dark
complcxioned aud has the appearance
OF being very sun tanned. His CONVEX
sa,ion rs suave and bland 10 high de-
gree and his manners polished and easy.
lie said the shawl was made by order
of an eastern Rgjah for exhibition ut
Paris aud its manufacture required four
wears. Every thread was dyed before
weaving aud he invited careful eXamina-
ton by glass. The shawl went To the
Paris Exhibition, where Il received u
premium oi 5000 frames. lie had seen,
admired aud purchased IT, His vile
was weary oi it and now he was anxious
10 sell it. lie said the representation
Was the dedication of the Temple Of Sol
umon, hut he was slightly mistaken.
lie freely volunteered information
concerning himself, and said his father,
who was immensely wealthy, had lived
until recently on the Island Of Ccylou,
but was now Ell route To Philadelphia,
where hn would meet him. The firm
did large lruit Importing business III
san Francisco, but would now only
4 IN gl,..r., FINALLY aIi
having told everything he knew OF him
self and his surroundings, he took his
departures.
Rut later on he turned up in the role
OF IN advertising agent lie presented
himself at the house OF l.. :. Dclaplainv
Il SOUS. aud represented himself ~ con-
nrctcd with la per & Bros put fishing
house. New York. aud had fine
scheme on hand. Selecting Col. Della
! PLAIN as his possible victim. lac poured
into his oar Ihstalc: Harper Brothers, IN
their various publications, have paid
great attention aud gwen much space Ia
the nitcd States coast survey, thereby
greatly aiding 1t. In return, the gov
crnmcnt granted them the ranking
privilege Tor one year. To take adyant-
age of this grant. tie firm had decided
b. issue "a monthly volume, one halt OF
which would To- miscellaneous matter
aud the balance advertising. Graham
was one OF numerous agents sent out ia
secure zone solid firm IN each city" us
an advertiser,
This was Graham's little story aud he
wanted pclaplRiu 4 Sons 10 advertise.
lie had u memorandum book contain
ing the firm name and said that II they
would not consent lac must telegraph Ia
the liarprrs as he was not allowed Ia
select the advertiser. Col. Dclaplain
told him 10 return ut 3 o'cbCk aud get
his answer. As soon as ho left, the fol-
lowing dispatch was sent
WuRElING, March 10Th. 1880
Hurnr & Bros, Franklin Place, Ncu
York
Stranger here giving name ul Graham
represents himself your authorized agent
To canvass iur an advertising work aud
collect partially in advance. * it gcuu.
inc l.. =. pELArLAIN Son.
The reply was as follows:
INV YORK, March 18th.
l.. \, DCidpidm a. SON.
No such person has any connection
with us llARrEW x Bios
But Graham never returned. About
fifteen minutes before train time lac
rushed into Rhodes and got his shawl,
saying he was suddenly called away,
aud boarding the Panhandle train DIS.
appeared Ills bill at the Stamm House
was paid, AMI 80 iar as could be learned
he left square with the city. When the
famous shawl will next be- placed on cX-
l.l-.L.--.. l. .....LL..I- L.. .u..L..n