The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-02-08
Kitchen Lottery Swindles.

We are glad to learn that the author
tiles in this city haye commenced Grim
maj proceedings against the most insd-
ious 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 by which prizes or tickets are
given emitting purchasers to ga gift" if
they chance to get lucky number
with the package bought. 1t is some
what refreshing, however, to learn that
recently the manufacturer of a laundry
soap, and also spice dealer, who in
this way offered gifts to purchasers of
their packages, have been arrested
upon indictments of the United States
grand jury for lottery swindling, and
are now awaiting trial in this city. The
latest candidate for criminal prosecu-
ton III this direction is the manufacture
er OF baking powder, who is endeav-
oring, by similar lottery trick. to palm
OH upon servant girls I'd unsusprcling
housekeepers an article called baking
powder, but which really is all alum
compound of corrosive nature and
detrimental to health. 1t is, therefore,
really source of congratulation that
the authorities have taken the matter in
hand; for while all forms of lotteries
are inlquitous, they are infinitely more
so when made the aids to swindling,
which profits at the expense of the
health of the poor and unwary. We
are Informed that this form of lottery is
being not only peddled from house to
house, but that, under the promise of
larger percentages or profits than can
he realized from the standard goods,
the swindlers ara entrenching them
selves behind the counters of MANY
grocers, by getting them to offer the
Objectionable goods with the prize lick
cts inclosed, thereby shifting the liabil-
ity to prosecution, in large measure,
upon other and perhaps innocent par
ties. Every grocer or dealer, for in
stance. who sells or offers for sale any
of this gift baking powder is a criminal
in the eye of the law, and upon convic-
ton is liable to fine and i'm urisonment.
This is predicament in which we do
not believe our grocers will care to
place themselves when aware of the
fact, more especially now that the at
tention OF the criminal authorities has
been drawn to the matter.
Aside, however, from the criminal
liability thus incurred, the immoral
tendency of such business is SO great
that it should be most severely de-
nounced and discouraged by every one
having the hest welfare of the commun-
ity al heart. The purchase of an arti-
Gle of food with gift ticket inclosed i'm
this way is made to appear as a trifling
affair; but it is no less immoral and an
oflense against law than are the bic
lottery swindles which the government
is trying to suppress. Besides, as ev-
cry teacher of mortality knows, il is
the apparently trifling sins which are
winked at where large ones would daze
that form the entering wedge to under
mine the conscience and harden il for
greater ones. We cannot believe that
our business men will care to aid i'm
any su IN swindles, nor that the people
on their second thought will expect to
benefit by purchasing baking powders,
or what not, which may be offered un-
der such suspicious circumstances
Nep York independent.