Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-19
A BIG SWINDLE.


"wented. for Jolnt.Stock Company, ~
ss.rs'sry; ssS'' sp"",sase Of business
salary sso0 4 year Must deposit as secu,
riiy Goo. for which q liberal interest WI
he given. Apply by ietter. stating age. pre-
vious occupation nno oiner particulars "
For some time past l had been
striving 70 obtain employment Of q
permanent Kind which would be fairly
paid, when the above advertisement
IN the Times caught my eye. II seemed
to me the very thing ] wanted. The
salary Of $500 would give me, single
man without any exravagant habits,
enough to live on IN comfort. As to
the deposit Of $500. that could be had
Ct few days notice. vas far from
we'll off, but | was the possessor oil
Gl.000, which had been left me by my
father, and for which ] vas only re-
ceiving az per ceat. in railway de.
bentures. II could put halt oil
this money out q. better interest, pro-
vided always that the security we're
good. and could at the same time Oh
tain good berth with salary OF E5VO
q year. the speculation would DO an
undoubtedly good one. | determined
In nv own mind to be exceedingly eau
tious, but in sny case there could be
no harm IN seeing into the affair, and SO
at once posted a letter 20 -. NJ" az
the address given, stating all particu-
lars respecting myself, and, Of course,
including the fact that | was ready to
deposit the e500, provided ] vas salts
fed with the security offered.
BY the first post on the following
day ! received an answer from John
Nixop," in which The writer asked me
to call upon him at his office, No. l2j
Great North street, and said that DC
had no doubt that matters would be
settled to our mutual satisfaction. The
hour fixed was between 2 and on the
same day that got the letter.
Punctually at p. NJ. arrived at
No. 1913 Great North street, which
proved to be one Of the large houses so
common in the city that are let ont in
numerous offices. BY the board at tho
entrance | saw that Mr.. Nixon's office
was on the third floor. went up there
and found a young lad seated, reading
a COPY Of some cheap pictorial paper |
asked for Mr.. Nixon, and, on giving my
name, was at once asked to "step this
way"
In the inner room was seated mid
dle-sged, sharp-looking man, who rose
and said be was glad to see me. |
could not help looking round in won
der, thinking to myself that for a first
class company the Offices seemed very
humble and unpretendins. Mr.. Nixon
seemed almost TO divine my thoughts,
for before had uttered word
"You must not think" he said,
"that these are the offices Of the com
pany for which | am commissioned to
find a secretary. | am a financial
agent. or what is commonly called a
promoter OF companies. Before we g.
further, ! may tell you that the com
pany in which hope you @ill obtain
employment is not yet fully formed, al
though it will be so in very few days.
1t will be called the Trixie GOld,Mine
Company (Lmited), and will be by far
the best thing that has been iiOa'e / in
the city for many long day. The
capital will be Gl50000 in shares OF
Gl each, so that even the poorest may
invest their money. We have got Lord
Bunkum as chairman-do you happen
to know his. lordship?"
Ireplied that | had not the honor,
and asked if he was rich man.
swell, not exactly rich" answered
Mr.. Nixon, "but he has means, and the
fact Of his being on the Board is certain
to cause shares to be applied for. Mark
nv words" be continued, 1" the shares
will be at q premium the day after the
company is advertised, and if you have
got, or can borroS, any money, yon
may make a good thing Of it, in addi-
ton to your salary Of $500 a year."
"May ! ask" | said, who your
OF her directors are as yet?"
He replied "0ur list is not full
We have Sir Henry IrescOte, Barone!
who is a director Of the Coda rail
way; Mr.. Fusley, Of the firm Of Rains
worth 4 Fusley Mr.. Slimp, late Ia
spector- General of Mines in Patagonia
and Mr.. Fraud, who is director o
the Fiji Islands Tramcar Company
These, with the chairman, make toto
OF five; but we want two or thre
more before the prospectus appears be
fore the public. But now let us tai
about yourself. I am quite Statistic
with the reference you have give
me; bat are you ready to deposit th
$500 ss security, say in week fro'
this time? You will have tb
: Joint note Of hand Of myself and To
directors that the money will be returI
ed 10 you il the shares are not allotte
within three months and if the cou
pany is ilosted you will have it back
a month, plus 10 per cent. interes
being ut the rate Of 100 per cent. p'
annum. Moreover, ! will write yC
an undertaking TO give you elOO
fully paid-up shares for any gentlemS
you msy induce to join the Board, pr,
yided be is approved OF by the chat
man and other directors. And now,
he continued in the most frank, o.
hand manner, take twenty-fo
hours to consider what ! ha
told you. Come TO see me to-morro
Mt this hour, and il you are ready
Join us on the conditions uamed v
will sign the different undertaking
Your name will appear as secretary
the company in the prospectus viii
will be published next Saturday, al
We can make matters pleasant s
round, as the saying is; but don't
later than tomorrow. If | doa't &
you / shall consider the matter o
There area dozen or moro applicant
and they are Az ready to agree to 4
terms which ] offer you."
! went home and sat thiaking oy
Mr.. Nixon's proposition. had lit
or no experience OF business, aud | tn
knew nothing Of the class Of men whC
business it was to bring out joint.stc
companies--to bring them out, b,
estly il they can, but in any case
bring them out. confess to have b'
somewhat surprised by that portion