The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-18
ANOTHER DEFAULT MADE.
AGAIN THE "aRAND DISTRIBUTION
OF PRIZES" DOES NOT COME OFF.
The Man Of "Cotton Belt" Fame Still
Securing Subscribers by the Thou
sands-A Question That the Authori-
ties Find It Impossible to Settle.

Readers OF THE APPEAL have heard
something about the Mississippi Valley
Farmer and its grand distribution of prizes
scheme. They have also read few COM
ments upon the scheme and its local orig
inator, one +. NJ. Burrell. Thousands OF
people who do not read TnE APPEAL have
also slight knowledge G. the bonanza
promises.
His scheme is now well known to nearly
every intelligent aud passably well in
formed person in this section, and, IN
fact, all over the country. The bulk oil
the information he has scattered broad
cast himself by means oil circulars, letters,
postal cards and other advertising schemes.
From Maine to California and from the
lakes to the gulf came plaintve inquiries
as to the concerns standing and pros;
poets for the widely proclaimed disribu.
ton OF prizes. The date for this part OF
the program had long since passed, hence
the sudden anxiety. The Taxing District
Office, the postmaster, public officers gen
orally and many private individuals have
been made the recipients OF these appeals.
Burrell's scheme is, simply stated, this:
That whenever. through the aid OF agents,
his subscription list contains the names oil
100, 600 he will make grand distribution
OF prizes aggregating about the sum oil
| 500. 200. Some OF the inducements Tor
active and profitable Ito Burrelll rivalry
among the agents are bulky in the ex-
treme, and calculated TO spur the suscept'
| IDLE up to unwonted energy. One poor
lady states in an epistle that she has
tramped about 200 miles, secured q SUI
perb list OF victims, and shows anxiety on
the subject OF long deferred prize. She
| got the former but not the latter.
The last date fixed by the sagacious
publisher was Tuesday last, the 10th inst
Burrell acknowledges that the date has
now become ancient history, and tir-
Their comedies that he still swings on to
what has been garnered in, save what
went out as small salaries to hall dozen
or more industrious ladies who find en-
ployment in his Office, and perhaps little
luxuriousness, q spirit for which ever
and anon seizes upon him. For months
he has had his thousands upon thou
sands OF papers printed monthly in the A.
n. Kellogg printing company but the
manager, who had known his patron Tor
years, cut of the supply.
II was reported yesterday that the end
OF all was near, that the office would
hcnccforth be closed, and that Burrcll
would shake the dust OF Memphis FROM his
feet. A reporter investigated the report,
but found at every point where iniorma
ton ON the subject could lodge, an en-
phatic denial II probably arose from the
fact Of cutoff papers, further failure to dis
tribute his prizes" and also that an ex
aminer Of the postoilicc department had re
Gently been in the city investigating the
concern, as n perpctritor OF frand through
the United States mails. What this oilicia
reported is definitely known only at head
quarters, but here Il is understood that
after the consultation With the local lega
end OF the government IL wns decided tina
nothing could be done at present 10 rcacl
him. This conclusion, however, was M
rived at before the default on distribution
Now the solution may provea much CASTE
task.
When he purchased the NissisipI
VALLEY Farmer from Aiessrs. Batiailc
Marshall, the postoiiice authorities states
tho case at headquarters, 10 learn whethe
II could be transmitted through the mails
The number Of his paper submitted TO tn
examiners contained nothing relative 10 Tia
lottery scheme, and itentered the oiiic'
list rs second-class matter. But since thl
recent visit OF examination by an official
Burrell has gone off on trail that vii
bring largely increased revenue. Partie
, holding certificates emitting them 10 prize
we're notified 10 send ~ cents, alleged q
cover cost OF filing same. lie also caution
ed them TO ignore the money order an'
registry department, and send the re
mittance In an ordinary letter The EN-
ployes at the postoflce say hundreds O
responses arrive daily. enough TO keel
them busy. Buuell's payments Of
second-class matter are said 10 excec'
those Of any other two papers in the city
How can the concern be squelchedY h
query over which the authorities arc muc
perpIexed. Interrogaicd Ms 10 who CON
pose "The Mississippi Valley Farmer Com
pany," Burrell can only enumorntc hin
self. lie has issued circulars setting Tort
certain contingent promises, and fall
= back upon them against all interference.
II Is estimated that his receipts durin
: the winter could not have fallen short I
!. $50. 900, and the l0-ccnt contingent vi
swell the total 10 immense proportions.