The Portland daily press., 1883-01-06
ROYAL GIFT so1REEs.
A Specious Lottery Scheme Just Across
the Border in New Brunswick.

calais Despatch to the Boston AdvertiserJ
Some years ago, under the name of Hugh
Mckay & Co., lottery enterprise was estab-
lished here, which proved short lived The
United States postal authorities forbade the
transmission through the mails of the yolum-
inous literature peculiar to this class of shady
schemes, and mail facilities being indispensa-
BILE to success in such venture, the projectors
were obliged to transfer their headquarters
elsewhere. The Dominion of Canada afforded
the most convenient and for time at least,
safe base OF operation and accordingly about
i've years ago "royal giftssoirees" began to be
announced as to be held in st. Stephens, N. B.,
town just across the St. Croix river from this
place.
The mails into the States began to be flood
cd with specious circulars offering remarkable
Inducements in the way of prizes to purchasers
of tickets to these soirees. Appeals!were made
to those whom it was hoped to secure as agents
to press the sale of tickets, and they were off
cred extraordinary privileges in the way of
commissions, free tickets for special "agents'
drawings in which each ticket would be sure
of prize, etc.
Alluring suggestions were thrown out that
agents, by taking the whole number of tickets
enclosed, would be sure Of hadsome prize,
besides the almost absolute certainty of draw
ing something on the regular tickets. These
circulars were at first signed ''F. W. Andrews
& Co.," and later "Hugh Mckay & Co.," and
IL was announced that the drawings would
take place regularly every thirty days. This
matter was sent broadcast all over the United
States, in sealed letter envelopes, to avoid the
interference of the United States Postoffice
Department, the addresses being furnished, as
alleged, from New York city, by man named
Pattee, who is said to be the real proprietor of
the affairs, and to have formerly conducted
similar operations in San Francisco, Omaha
aud other places. The local head of the enter
prise was apparently a man named Nate S.
Read, though "Hugh Mckay figured in the
announcements of drawings, etc., sometime as
reference; generally with some title as "high
sheriff, /" "chief of police" "ex-sheriff," ;" etc
manufactured for the occasion.
Calling to their aid "that Archimedean lev
Or, which, ETC., the operation secured valu-
able adjunct and accessory in the ST. Croix
Courier. weekly published at St. Stephen.
whose editor, Mr.. Main, not only printed the
tickets, circulars, and other job work OF the
concern, but also published in his paper full
some pnffs and eulogies of the "royal gift
soirees, and snowy advertisements announc-
ing coming drawings. He also issued, as al
legged, sundry special editions of his avowed
paper for distribution in the United States,
and number of bogus newspapers" called
the st. stephen journal, St. Stephen News,
st. Criox Courier-M Monthly, etc., which were
made up with some news, miscellany and gen.
eral advertising, but were chiefly devoted to
the interests OF the lottery To do the man
Justice, he showed much cleverness and skill
IN so arranging these publications as to make
them present the appearance Of bona fide
newspapers, the lottery matter being adroitly
worked In as an incidental feature.
None OF the lottery tickets or circulars were
distributed in the Dominion; neither were
the Especial editions referred to circulated
on her Malesty's side of the line. But they
were so abundantly distributed through the
| states that some copies were received by prom
lnent citizens OF st. Stephen, with letters ask
ing about the genuineness of the lottery and
the stanaing of its promoters. Some of these
letters were from poor young farmers, anxious
to make start in the world, to pay off a
mortgage on the old folks farm ETC. others
from Well-meaning, simple minded Pennsyl-
vanla or Missouri grangers, willing to make
few thousand dollars sfif the thing was
square, others, again, from shrewd men of
business, or fly" young men in the cities
whose curiosity was aroused 10 know what sort
of humbug this was. To these letters. in
almost every case, replies were returned that
the lnquirers had better keep their money in
their pockets, and in some instances the pros
pective investors returned their hearty thanks
for the good advice. In the first drawing
prizes to the amount of $258, 600, including
one capital prize of 100, 0,O0O were to be given
The total receipts of the affair up to that
time wersprobably not less than $500O0; and
expenses--printiDg, postage, salaries, etc.
probably $25, 600. 1t is stated for fact that
no money was ever paid tn any purchaser of
ticket, so that it would be useless to guess
what became of the surplus. 1t is alleged that
many drafts have been sent to the bank for
collection, BY purchasers of tickets, but that
they were not honored when presented to the
managers of the lottery by the bank officers.
One draft for the amount of $4,000 was sent
from Kentucky by responsible person, who
had been led to suppose that his ticket entitled
him to this amount When the drafs was pre-
sented to the manager he laughed and said the
man was entitled to one dollar, which he was
prepared to pay. or course the draft was
returned