Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-18
N THE Tolls.


Another Ex-Greenbacker Falls Into the
Shares Of the Tempter.
0wfnalfAg Operations - Herbert J. Dan.
ten 81 Bangor.
A rival to Swan of corn-sheller fame has
appeared in the east. and another disciple Of
soft money has fallen, whose swindling op-
erations upon an innocent public prove Of
surprising magnitude This il one Herbert
J. Banton whose schemes to humbug the
people require veniilating. Nj. Banton first
figured before the public during the green
back fever, he being most ardent adheren,
Of that political faith.
At the beginning of the greenback era
there was paper published in Bangor called
Messenger. 1t Was An exponent Of soft money
principles and was the organ Of that portion
Of the greenback party in Bangor and vicinity
not in sympathy With democratic doctrines.
It appears that during Gen. Plaisted's ad-
ministration - Governor the paper came out
for the straight greenback ticket with Scion
Chase for Governor and commenced to
its columns. This was too much for the
General to swallow and he turned around
and started another paper in Bangor, known
as the Freebooter, which was to be the
mouth-piece of the greenback element be-
fore alluded to. Gen. Plaisted went in a.
editor of this new paper and ostensibly was
proprietor,-while Herbert J. Banton, the
subject of this sketch, took the position of
business manager. With the downfall of
greenbackism the paper naturally collapsed.
This left Mr.. Banton without visible means
Of subsistence and he cast around after
employment He decided on q scheme
Accordingly in February, 1888, there ap.
peared in the Bangor Messenger and other
State papers including the LIE Messenger, q
journal Published in the French language in
Lewiston, flaming but plausible advertise
ments of grand mammoth fair and ball to be
held in Oldtown, May Goth, tickets to which
entitled the holders to certain prizes to be
drawn on that day. Among the prizes, it
was stated, were the printing press and all
the material of the defunct paper, house and
lot of the late proprietor, woodland, horses,
carriages, harnesses and many other valuable
articles to numerous to mention. Gong still
further, arrangements were said to have been
made with the railroads to carry passengers
to and from the fair from every portion of
the State at one-half rates. IT appears from An
Investigation of Post-ofice Inspector Bigelow
that many people, were lured into the snare
and duped. Large sums of money were sent
by persons acting as agents. Finding it
success the swindler announced with much
regret a postponment of the fair and
ball and necessarily the drawing
until October, giving as a reason that the
weather was to warm for the dance in May
and that longer evenings would prevail in
October, which would be much more favora-
BILE all round. Following this Banton re-
doubled his efforts to dispose of tickets, spec
ial inducements being held out to agents for
the tickets, by an implyed promise that
they should be the successful ones in
drawing a big prize. When October came
there was another postponement until No
i
cuse for putting off the drawing and the
day when all were to be made rich, this con-
sumnate swindler, began to send out what
purported to be list of prizes drawn. Out
of hundreds of cases Investigated the largest
prize drawn was . box of salve. Most of
them, however. were lead pencils of the
cheapest variety, such as sell at the stores at
or 4 cents dozen. To make the swindle
even more complete, the parties were coolly
notified that prize awaited them and by for
warding cents for postage and packing they
would receive it. When the cents was for
warded a. it was In most cases, the surprise
Of the fortunate individual can be imagined
when he received in return pencil worth q
fractional part of q cent. In very many in
stances nothing was received whatever. All
letters of inquiry concerning the great fair and
ball and what became of money sent were pass
ed over in contemptuous silence. Investigation
fails to show that there was ever any fair or
ball held in Oldtown advertisements of which
were spread broadcast by Banton, nor that any
drawing ever took place as advertised; also
that no arrangements were ever made with
the M. C. railroad for half fsre-tickets. The
whole affair from its inception was COM
plete humbue and its originator succeeded
in swindlng the public out of several thou
sand dollars. His success being so well as
sured he now undertook to establish anoth-
or scheme known as the maine State
Lottery" with headquarters at Bangor.
This time he advertised great num-
Der of cash prizes to be drawn.
But his operations were too extensive and
bold to remain long hidden and the authori'
ties securing undeniable evidence as to both Of
these swiudles, Mr.. Banton was arrested
under sections 1894 and $3.50, Revised Stat
utes of the United States. He was taken be-
fore U. s. Commissioner Rand at Portland
on the 18th. where he waived examination