The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-02-07

l w
10 this city have commenced criminal pro.
ssedisgs against the most insiduous and
dangerous form Of The lottery business
yet devised for the purpose Of swindling
honest country people. We refer to the
scheme adopted by several manufacturers
Of cheap and inferior goods which prizes
or tickets are gwen emitting purchasers
to gift" II they chance to have lucky
number with the package bought. II is
somewhat refreshing, however, TO learn
that recently . manufacturer Of . laundry
soap, and also spice dealer, who in this
way offered gifts to purchasers Of their
packages. have been arrested upon indict.
msnts Of tho United States Grand Jury
for lottery swindling. and now awaiting
trial in this city. The latest candidate for
criminal prosecution in this dire elton is .
Manufacturer Of baking powder, who 10
sndsavoring. BY asimilar trick, to palm
of upon servant girls and unsuspscting
housskespen an article called baking
powder, but which really 10 an alum COM
pound Of corrosive nature and dstrimsn.
tel TO health. 1t Is. therefore. really .
source Of congratulasion that the authori-
ties have taken the matter in hand; for
while all FERNS Of lotteries are iniqui-
tons, they are infinitely more SO when
made the aids TO swindliug. which profits
at the expense OF tho health Of the peor
and unwary. We are informed that this
form Of swindliag is being not only ped
died from house TO house. but that, undsr
the promise Of larger percentages or
profits than can be realized from standard
goods, the swindlsrs are intrsnching them.
selves behind the counters u many gro.
GERS. by getting them TO offer the object
ionable goods with the prize ticket en-.
closed. thereby shifting the liability to
prosecution, in . large measure. upon
other and perhaps innocent parties.
Every grocer or dealer, for instance, who
sells Or Offers for sale any Of this gift
baking powder is criminal 10 The eye Of
the Law. and upon conviction is liable to
ins aud imprisonment. this is . prsdica.
mont 10 which " do not believe our gro
GERS care to place themselves whom aware
Of the fact. more especially now that the
attention OF The criminal authorities has
been drawn TO Tho matter.
Aside, however, from the crimiaal lis-
bility thos incurred, the immoral tendency
OF such . business is 80 great that II should
be most severely denounced and discour-
agsd BY every one having the best welfare
Of the community 1t heart. The purchase
OF an article Of food With gift Ii ckst
inclosed 10 this way is made to appear .
trifiug affair; but il il no less immoral and
IN ofTsnse than are the big lottery
swindlss which the Government 10 trying
70 suppress. Besides, ~ every teacher Of
morality knows, il is the apparently
triiiug sins which ara wiLkea st where
larger ones would dazs. that form the
entering wedge 10 undermine the Coz
sciences and harden |, for greater ones.
We csnuot believe that our business men
viii care to aid 10 any such swiadles. nor
that The people on their second thought
viii expect to benefit by purchasing
bakisg powers. or what not. which may |
h. offered under such suspicious cireun-
stances. - Nr York Independent