Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-08
MatrImouiaI swindIes IN vick,burr.

MATRIMONIAL sWiadIes I'm YicksburE.
To the Editors of the Appeal:
NICKsBURG MISS, October 6.-With hone
mat the matter of this letter may prevent
any more OF your readers from being duped
Dy the matrimonial sWindles, | send line
following details. There were about fiftv
companies OF 'his disreputable and dishonest
A'ho STARTED and domiciled here during the
past xix or eight weeks. Every one of them
mas been virtually bankrupted for the kreafer
part OF that time, and Therefore have NOT
paid out anything, except to iaVorites or to
parties who are in the charmed circle of re-
lailenship or the Ting, with few exceptions.
nor one OF the associations will acknowledge
70 having any money 10 pay anybody, vet
they are taking in every application and
Capturing all the cash assessments they can
- s;sls sPscisi fssfire g.
-sctlod Wherein lies their oriminality Under
the present condition aud situation. Under
these circumsi ances of suspension, parties
who are operating tine business are simply
gully OF getting money under false pre-
ten'es. The grand jury is nov in session
here and if they would properly investigate
the bOOke CT these concerns, which are
known 70 be absolute frauds, and have them
indicted and tried for swindling, they would
do mare good than in any other particular.
The financial condition of this city ard
section Is IN noet lamentabte stale, alto
geiher on account of this game of the mat
rlmouial agencies. This is explained in
this way. Everybody seems TO have been
duped into investing their money in the
concerns, and now find themselves un.
able to pay bills that are due. The
money that they used disappeared from
circulation, having been placed elsewhere by
those who have operated the fake-shops,
and saved something out of their game.
Having investigated it thoroughly we dis
cover that II is more than any burko bust
ness that was ever played on innocent vic
Tins and stupidity green people. AS an ex-
ample of how the thing is done here, we
will cite the method. take out policy in
new company, on the 18th OF Septs mber,
paving therefor S4S. October 4th my people
marry, and armed with proofs of marriage
l go to the secretary OF the Legal Baby, and
the account Is rendered thus: Policy has
run fifteen days, which at $40 day, equals
5000. 1 have been assessed for three
marriages at $48 each, equal to Sl44.
The company then assesses me Tor
makes SAB more, making 1892 due
to the company. My account is 5000, theirs
il 1892, which, taken from 5000, leaves S408.
In their policy they have stipulated to pay
twenty. five per cent. of this, and give me
due-bill for the remainder; 80 / am prom
ised in the policy, and expect to receive
$l04 cash. But the irresponsible creature
who acts as secretary does not see it IN this
light, and informs me that / must pay in
cash the assessments that have been levied
before L can get anything from them. The
assessments amount to>$l92. Their twenty
five per cent. business amounts TO S104;
therefore l owe them $SS, which they re-
quire me TO pay them in cash, and then they
will give me due-bill to pay to me $40S,
the remainder in sixty days. if they have
the money to pay me. Now, let it be known
to the amusement of everybody that there
are persons that are such idiots as to believe
in fate and the honor of persons to
whose honesty they would not trust a
cent. who are still putting in money,
on the strength of such promises to pay.
They seem to be infatuated with the fellow
who has swiudled them, and, with the little
ray OF reason that is left, continue 10 prac-
tice their part for a place in lunalic asy-
lum. They should certainly know that the
whole business has been abandoned by those
who originated it, and who fed at the first
alarm, taking, however, with them, all the
gains that have been made in their dis
reputable species OF gaming. This is written
with the hope that no one will be induced to
go into this thing any farther, for the whole
business is simply q fraud of the worst
character. The man who puts his money
into such robbiug concern trusts company
of persons to whom they would not lend dol
lar under any circumstances, aud it seems
like infatuation that such give it into the
keeping of persons who are running these
worst kind of bunko deus.
As pleasant and surprising piece OF hon.
esty in this connection, We cite the conduct
of three companies here which are worthy of
record. The officers of the Boss, finding that
they could not work the thing honest
principles, stopped operations and paid off
every poicy-holder the original amount of
his purchase. The New Era did the same
thing. To-day the treasurer of The Golden
Egg announces the same course for that COM
pany. This conduct is in pleasing contrast
with that of the other affairs. The people
generally feel that the officers of the above
mentioned three associations were honest in
their intentions, and their course will only
confirm the coed opinion and esteem in which
they have always been held. o.