The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-05-27
The washlnR Machine Case.

In November, 1879, q man calling himself
Perry, and representing himself a. the agent Of
the White Washing Machine Company, Of 81.
Louis, Missouri, called on MT. Abraham J. Bid
dson al his residence, In the 18th district Of this
county, and prevailed upon him 10 accept the
agency for the machines. M. Biddison, as he
claims, signed three papers, contract In dupii-
cate and statement q his financial condition.
The agent len half dozen Of the machines and
departed. Mr. Diddison, thinking the washer q
good thing, started out among bis neighbors 10
cell them, and In q few days came 20 Tousontoun
and exhibited the machine here, calling among
other places at the USioS ONCE. The following
week No noticed In Pennsy lvania exchange that
this same agent had been operating In that State
and that fraud had been practiced upon an unsus-
peeting farmer IN the way Of obtaining q note
from him, 4e. We copied this item and gave the
particulars OF Mr.. Biddson's Transaction with the
agent Of the White Washing Machine Company.
BY some means this newspaper article came 10 the
notice Of one N. c. Totten, who professed 10 be
banker and broker nj Piedmont, W Va, and he.
In company with another man who said bis name
was Tyrone Spiers, and represented himself 70 be
banker and broker Of New York, came 20 Tow
sontown 20 SEQ % 10 know from what source We
obtained our information and 10 ret us 10 make
reiraetion ~ 10 the "crookedness" Of the trans.
action. Here these men exhibited Mr.. Biddison's
note for $50, payable at Baltimore bank, and
also q contract and a property statement. The
representing themselves 10 be the innocent holders
Of note which had passed into their hands In the
regular course Of business, We did not hesitate 10
90 state.
All this time Mr.. Biddison was ignorant Of
what vas going on and not until February, lsse,
were his eyes opened to the true state Of affair.
In that month (februaryl be received = postal
card from NJ. c. Totten, Piedmont, W. Va, noti-
flying him that his note for 50 had been deposited
In Baltimore bank for collection. Mr.. Biddison,
confident that he had not put his name 10 n note.
came 10 Towsontown and consulted Major John !.
iellott. Matters were allowed 10 Teat for time,
no attention being paid 90 tho postal card.
Finally Totten aud spiers came 20 Maryland and
went 90 see Mr.. Biddison. lie told them that he
had signed no note, denounced them a. swindiers
and ordered them away from his place. Tottcn
then placed the note In the hands Of n. Charles
Burke, Eco, Of this place, for collection and suit
was entered upon u.
Mr.. Burke sent a commission 10 Chicago 10 take
the Testimony Of n. X. White, proprietor Of the
White Washing Machine Company. White tcsti.
fed before the Chicago commissioner that In
iS1g.S0 he carried on business In st. Louis, his
headquarters being nj n certain number on Oliver
street, &c. Maj. Yeliott sent commission TO 81.
Louis and the testimony of number Of reputable
witnesses vas obtained to the effect that no such
man a. u. u. White ever carried on business At
the number given on Oliver street. and no such
concern rs the White Washing Machine Company
was known In 81. Louis.
The ease came on for trial las; Monday In the
Circuit Court here. Both commissions were pro.
duced and read 60 the jury and three witnesses
were ex aminel To- the gcnuincss Of Mr.. Biddi.
sons signatures to the several papers. Mr.. Bid.
olson sworc that he had never signed the note
that he had signed the contr ,ct in duplicate and
the property statement, and gave n full history of
the whole Transaction 80 far he coud remein Der
IT, Mcssrs. Burke and Ycllott addressed the jury
At some length and the case was not concluded
until Tuesday. when the jury brough, in a verdict
for the defendant-Mr. Biddison.
II was. we think. clearly, shown at the trial
that the man calling himself Perry. who first
called upon Mr.. Biddison, was In fact White him.
self the proprietor Of the called White Washing
Machine Company. Neither Totien nor spiers
were present at the trial.
This same concern operated in several other
counties In Maryland aud so far n we have been
able 20 learn \ Law suit has grown out Of every
transaction. AZ TnE USiox was the first paper
In Maryland 10 veniilate this washing machine
business We give considerable space 20 q history
Oneomple,c though Il may bel of this case in the
hope that Il may place others on their guard and
save them the trouble aud expen,c Of similar
suits.