Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-02-24
A GOOD COLLECTOR.
HOW DON NJ. DICKINSON. MADE A
FIRM COME TO TIME.

accommodating One Hundred Cent.
the Dollar Out OF Bad Case Of
Bankruptcy-Found Out.
A western congressman tells the following
about Mr.. Don II. Dickinson, Of Michigan,
the postmaster general.
Yes, know Dickinson, Of Michigan, very
we'll l have been in some railroad cases
with him. He is chain lightning. Dickinson
has made the bulk Of his fortune In the prac-
tace Of one legal specially. He is the best
collector OF bad debts ON tho face OF the
earth. Oh, no; don't mean small debts
This is the way Of it: In the first place, there
used to be a good many people with bad
habit 81 failing every few years They al
ways owed large sums Of money to eastern
merchants and capitalists, and did not mean
to pay cent il they could help it. To this
class Dickinson was and is a mortal terror
There is no device that the swindling debtor
can adopt that Dickinson can not see through,
and he is as sharp on the trail as the best
Partisan detective. The man who can nay
and won't is tho fellow Dickinson likes to get
hold OF. About ten years ago-to illustrate
what mean-there were three big failures
in Detroit One firm had the sympathy of
everybody, but the others were uncertain
customers The two doubtful concerns each
owed over $4,000 to New York and Boston
peopla
LIKE BAD CASE.
Among other creditors was New England
shoe manufacturer for large sum This
firm quietly retained Dickinson as their
counsel. and the largest other creditor did
the same thing. Don't let them know am
in the case said he as he left his clients He
went home. The agent Of the New England
firm came out to see the broken merchant /
am talking about He was German Jew
generally good responsible people, but when
they are tricky, look out! The usual tales
were told Of customers who could not come
to time, and all that. It really looked like a
bad case, and the Boston shoe concern was
about to accept a settlement at twenty cents
on the dollar. Don't go it for day or two
said Dickinson.
Just how he was going to get the money
out of the Israeiitish customer he did not
know, but be was sure there had been some
swindling. 1t happened that in his house
hold there had been an extremely pretty
Irish girl living as domestic for many
years. She was faithful, neat and unusually
intelligent, and the household was very much
attached to her. About year before this
she had married very industrious young
countryman Of her own, who was thrifty
young boss drayman. That evening after
dinner Dickinson learned that Maggie's hus-
band had broken his leg a week or two be-
fore. He went around to see the man How
did it happen, Peter he asked Well, We
see, sir, was on a bit of a job that-but sir,
the man told me, sir, that must not tell
Nonsense; you can tell me- can't youf
said Dickinson; and why not tell Mr.. Dick
inson, Peterf said the Irishman's pretty wife.
So it came about that two weeks before, late
at night, Peter had been draying goods from
the rear end of a store. A heavy box had
slipped and broke his leg.
SAW THROUGH IT.
But why did you say you must not tellf
said the lawyer. I'm sure / don't know sir;
| that's what Mr.. Katzenyammer told me, sir
answered the man
'katzenyamner; SO you are working for
him, ehF asked Dickinson. He soon got out of
the Irishman all he knew. I see it now, J
| said he to himself as he went home The
next morning Mr. K was rather surprised to
receive u call from the great lawyer He had
not sent for him, and was somewhat little
| uneasy I am the attorney for Messrs
Blank, of Boston, he began, very politely
They have claim against you of SAT ,977 so
What do you intend doing about it, Mr.
katzenyammerF
Ivy, l hat failt, you know, Mr.. Dickin-
son; don't know how much can pay on de
| dollar
| lou must pay this in full, or I will send
| you to the penitentiary in less than a month. ,
said Dickinson, sternly. You have been
running your goods out Of your store at
night, and sending them to Chicago auction
houses to be sold for whatever they would
bring in cash, and you have filed up your
books with false entries
| "'Fader Abraham screamed the other, as
white as he could become. ''How tit you flint
| all dis oudf
1T doesn't matter how I know it all, and
| if you don't settle now, today, will have
| you arrested before tomorrow night Sou
are watched; you can't get away so don't try
| it, and with that Dickinson left 1t hap
pened that he had dropped on to what the
man had been doing How he guessed it he
doesn't know himself. About O'Clock the
man came around to see what terms he could
make. None, sir, except 100 cents on the
| dollar was the only reply. In three days
the claim was paid in full. Missouri Re
| publican.