The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-11-19

NESSCOM.
MUNITY.
Advices from New York report the
arrival of DateotiFe George w. Cole,
Of Kansas City. with a requieision
from the Governor of Colorado for
John NJ Martin, who is charged with
collecting $3.50 from the Bank OF
Pueblo under false pretenses. Martin
will be remembered by q numoer Of
merchants of thia city, whom he VIC
timiZed In the name OF the Ph9aix
Mercantile Agency, which be orgsn-
lied and operated in conjunction with
81. B. Strickland, who for a time
controlled the Cincinnati Office OF the
concern. Both were excellent can
yassers, pushing business men and
gifted with a persuasive eloquence
that would have earned higa honorg
for either In any legitimate pursuit.
The charge on which Martin is
wanted dates back to June Is, 1882,
when one OF the partners cashed a
sight draft on Kansas City for $3.50.
The draft went to protest and fubse-
oueutly returned to Pueblo, COL,
where soon after a dispatch was re-
csived ordering the draft and protest
charges to be forwarded to the St.
Louis headquarters, where they would
be paid. In accordance with these
| instructions the bill was RENTED and
the correspondent here being unable 10
discover the Office, had the paper
protested and returned. About that
time the St, Louis creditors Of the
Phoenix Mercantile Agency obtained
Judgments for their claims and at
taohed tne effects OF the Office, which
we're afterward sold at auction by tbs
sheriff,
DISCLOSURES IN THE LETTER BOOK.
| A Globe Democrat reporter who
attended the sale became the legal
possessor of the letter book of the
agency, and, in porting over It's pages,
was rewarded with some very raoy
developments, which illustrate the
difficulties of running a mercantile
agency without credit, Yecources or
any visible means of support. Sub
cribers' inquiries were answered at
random by young man who drew
his conclusions from the report book
| of E. G. Dun & Co.. which was kept
concealed from the public in back
room. In the event of any attem pit
being made to recover the book by
| legal process tbs head clerk wac in-
strueted to place the volume in a
canvas. bag and escape by way OF the
back stairs. Martin ia now in the
hands OF the law, and q. B. Strick-
land is detained in New Haven on q
charge OF swindling.
a sample reply to correspondents
| is the following assuring statement
mailed to an attorney at Lovelsdy,
Tex: Dear Sir: Your favor has just
reached US. We do not fee any one.
Our system is simply this: Our sub
scribeTs and patrons compose the
wholesale houses in this and other
cities. We are expected to furnish
them with reliable information re-
specting the financial standing. hab-
ite, etc., Of their customers. To dc
this it is nsceszasy to have q repre-
sentative in every town and villa &c
in the United ststes. Those who act
| for US in that capacity are expected
to promptly furnish US the desired in.
formation. In return for their trouble,
whenever We receive claim against
parties IN their vicinity, We forward
the same to them for collection. Fol-
q time you may receive nothing il
Ishape OF collections, and then again
| in the language of the enthusiastic
lOol. Sellers, time may prove tha
"there is Millions in it,"
| The first letter that touches upoE
the poverty OF the company is direc-
! ted to "Dear Martini" who by travel
| ing in the country, eVades his credit.
ors, and directs: the head Office by
Il letter. The writer says: / paid tht
rent according to instructions. I III
tended to pay W to-day, also, bu
| did not. as money did not arrive il
time. Unless I pay the hands to
morrow evening al or most OF tbs
wages due them. I will be without
| nelp Monday morning. 1t ia better
| to let W wait than to lose oul
present employees. who understand
the Office work and can DO it.
would hardly like TO take the re-
sponsibility of running this
Office With a force OF greer
hands. will hold on to what cash
I have for that reason. [ can manage
the Watkins affair very easily. will
write him a very nice letter, telling
him you gave me verbal instructions
to pay him $25, but failing to max:
note OF it, it was neglected until
actually forgot VINO vas to pay the
money to until I was reminded of i
by letter from you asking if [ haC
ATTENDED to it. I will then indulge
lin prefuse apologies, express M
regrets and fix it all right, Il tbil
right2"
TIE MENDACIoUs WRITER
| Was muster of 1jnloroaov a,,d 81