Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-03

by all sorts of frauds. it is not to be ex-
pected that eastern farmers should always
be exempt from danger; and the warn
ipgs in the following letter by N. 7.
Tribune correspondent from Ohio should
be needed by all farmers:
There seems to be an ever-increasing
number of sharps who live by preying up
on The trustful farmer. | could I'LL the
| Tribune with accounts of swindles prac-
ticed bv lightning-rod men. patent clothes
line -venders, Bohemian oats contractors,
men with hay gaherers. the benevolent
man who takes dinner with YOU and in
sists on paying for it as his expenses are
paid, but who must have receipt as
voucher; the philanthropist who is circu-
lating a petition in the interest OF farm
ers. and scores of others, the object of
each being to get the signatures OF we'll
| to- do farmers and these signatures are at.
terward found attached to notes. Good
business men and men of character have
been caught by the hundred. and all these
cases teach emphatically that, one should
never sign his name to any paper in the
hands of stranger. have come into
possession of the facts in so many cases
where even good business men have been
beat by these travelling sharpers that am
convinced there is no other way to be sure
that you are safe. During the past ten
years have personally known of score
of pure cases in nv own county, and as
some of them make interesting reading
and may be the means of putting readers
on their guard will give them:
Swindler No. l: Farmer A. was called
upon by very pleasant man who made
favorable impression bv his intelligence
and gentlemanly conduct. He stated that
he had been introducing a patent wagon
brake which was valuable; that he had
disposed of all the State except Butler
county, and as he was going to Michigan
he would take 800 tor the county
right. although he had sold all the others
for $500 each. On Mr.. A. assuring
him that he never dealt in patents and did
not want it, he did not urge him to buy
but said: II am sure if you knew what a
good thing you could make of it you
would take it, and as you may possibly
change your mind. here, (handing slip
of paper) is my address for the next two
weeks" A week later another gentle
man (Sharper No p called on Farmer A..
and after some preliminary talk told him
he had canvassed several counties for the
patent wagon brake, and found it quite
profitable. and that he heard he had
bought Suffer county and had come to see
what he would take for it. Now Farmer
A. saw chance to make money, and
when Sharper No. 2 bid $500 for the
county he told him he would let him
know in week. and as this was satisfac.
tory No. rode off, and Farmer A. posted
a letter by first mail to the address of No
and closed the bargain for the county at
800. giving his note at ninety days. l
scarcely need to say that No. 2 did not
appear again. but the note did.
Swindle No. 2: Farmer B., near
neighbor, accepted new corn shelter as
a present from very gentlemanly man
who called. Hc was giving away one
shelter in each township. 'just to intro
duce them, knowing that they were so SUI
perior to any others, that it would create
demand for them" Farmer B. was to
have the agency for the township, and to
have S. tor each one sold at Sis. and after
he had sold twenty his commission was to
be 81 so on each. So Farmer B. signed
an order for one shelter. and the agent
kindly inserted the statement that he
could buy all he wanted for $40 each
Some weeks later Far ner B. gets notice
that there are twenty one corn shelters at
the railroad station for him. and the next
! day lawyer calls on him for settlement,
and produces an order fortwentv- one corn
shelters with his signature, and DULLES
him into giving his note for the amount
saw the order and a 2 had been written
/ l. Al. Al.
Swindle No. 8: The above swindles
were on a small scale when con-
trasted with one in my immedi
ate neighborhocd and which can vouch
for the truth of in every particular. My
neighbor (whom will call Farmer D.
was solicited by lightning-rod peddler
to allow him to rod his buildings No,
says Farmer D.. for l want to sell my
farm and it won't bring dollar more if
the building has rods. have son-in-
law who wants to buy farm; what do
you ask for it? said Lightningrod. Fifty
dollars an acre. Do not sell it till see
you again. said Lightningrod as he left
The next day he returned and said, Nv
son-in-law has bought farm. but have
found man to whom believe | can sell
your farm and if you will sign written
agreement to give me all above $50 an
acre that it will bring l will bring
you the customer. So Farmer d.
wrote: Il hereby agree to give to Mr..
Lightningrod all he can get above $50
per acre for my farm, his commission to
be paid in the notes first falling due, ~
and gave it to L., want you to ask for
this farm 81. 800 more than am to paw
you and then you can fall $500 on the
price and leave me $1,000. The man
who is coming to buy is the son of a
wealthy banker, and if the farm suits
him he will not mind the price. All right.
said farmer D.. if l get $50 per acre do
not care how much you make.
The next day L. came with the land
buyer. He was pleased with the farm
but thought the price little high. but
when the $500 deduction was made closed
the bargain. The notes were drawn up
and the first one for $4,000, due in 80
days. was Endorsed over to L. as his COM
mission. A mortgage was drawn up to
secure the notes, and everything seemed
TO be legitimate. 1t happens in our town.
ship that all deeds must be recorded at
the university as we'll as at the
county seat, and one of the pro-
fessors-a shrewd Scotchman-is Sec
rotary of the university and has charge
IL o