New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-26
SUGGESTIONS FOR MR.. COX.
HOW HE MAY UNEARTH THE SCOUNDREL.
DID lie FALL INTO ANY BUNCo TRAPS AND GIVE

AWAY HIS SIGNATUREf
dttOrof The Tribune.
Sir: Speaking Of Mr. Cox, and Of Mr.. Coxs sigma
turc, and OF Mr.. Cox's forged signature, and of Mr.
Cox's denials, and of Mr. Cox's wrath, and in fact,
speaking Of Mr.. Cox and his autograph in general,
may II not be altogether probable that his signature
on this fourpound package is genuine and that still
he did not know at the time whore he was placing
IT. May not Mr.. Cox have been deceived? May not
this really be the great question of the present day
Who buncoed Sunset Cox2
Suppose wicked and designing person or
persons, say for instance, the Democratic National
Committee had wished to Mr.. Cox's signature
and they had approached him In the glise OF charm
Ing sixteen ear-od school girl anxious to have the
distinguished Congressman adOrn page OF her auto
graph album. would not they have been very apt to
accomplish their dsreputable purposel The album
might have been sent TO him by mall with dainty
perfumed note saying that the owner had already
received the autographs of President Cleveland, b. F.
Butler and George Francis Train, and would with
timid but captivating little underscore below the
woudn-w not Mr.. Cox please add HIS The
paper covering the package might have been IN
gcniously bound I'm the album so that to hurried
glance which a busy man might have given it, it
would have appeared as one Of the leaves. Under
these circumstances Mr.. Cox would have seized the
PEN hastily written Z" s. S. Cox, NJ Co., scrawlcd,
through force Of habit Pub. Doc Free" handed the
album to his private secretary to be returned to its
fair owner and thought no about It, Nothing
easier than this.
Again Mr. Cox is up at his country place, slosh-
ing. around in a pair OF high boots, and slicker'
waterproof coat with axe in his hands, looking for
an oak 70 chop down, like Gladstone, and think
Ing perhaps that after all some day he VIII retire
to the Plough like Cincinnatus, when suddenly two
dapper men drive up in buggy. They wiring his
hand warmly and say 1t looks like rain and ask II the
bugs hurt his potatoes any Then they explain
that they are introducing patent churn which is big
thing and the leading man OF the nelghDorhood,
they arc sure he will want IL. They show him one
Of the churns explain how, with it, the family
Watchdog does the churnng An artificial ny
firmly attached TO the dogs ear. One end of the
connecting rod of the churn IS then mado fast to the
dogs hind foot and, when he begins to scratch his
ear by an ingenious system of levers tho motion Is
communicated TO the dasher Of the churn, which Is
caused to play up and down with remarkable rapidity
and make the butter come in very few minutes
With the clear intellectual grasp of a st desman, Mr..
Cox sees the advantages OF the churn and says he
will take one. lie pays for It and gets receipt for
his money. Then the young men get in their deadly
work Would he mind signing simple recommends
ton Of the churn that they could show TO his neigh
bors and thus boom salesl Certainly not They
accordingly produce what purports TO be simply good
word or two for Smiths Automatic Dog Motion Churn,
and without looking at IL much he scratches down
s. s. Cox, NJ. Co. and, before, thoughtessy adds
Pub Doc, Free lie has really signed just below
the edge Of the recommendation on blank paper.
The fends drove away and Mr.. Cox does not realize
that all IS lost, including honor This might easily
happen: many a man under similar circumstances has
signed deed to his farm-a bill of sale Of all his
personal property-an application for divorce from
his wife and agreement to leave the country-all at
once.
Again Mr. Cox is here in Ncw-York He is walking
Il, fron q Tho Actnr who bo ic
preached by welldrcsscd man, who scizes his hand
calls him Skinner and asks after the folks at Skinner
vile, and how the crops are at SINNERS Corner
But his isn't skinner, he explains and he isn't
from the Skinner country al all Incidentally, he
happens TO mention that his name Is Cox. The young
apologies and the Congressman goes on. Just
he into Park place another stylish young
PUSHES up and his hand and says he is ticklcd
to death at seeing fathers old friend Mr. Cox. Cox
doesn't remember him at first, but with some help
from the young man finally manages TO recognize
him. The young man says he has good job In
Bible publishing house, but that he is having little
holiday that day, they decide TO walk around town
awhile and talk about Swanzey and the old farm
and all that sort of thing. They wander over around
Chatham Square and pretty soon Mr. Cox's friend
asks him II he wouldn't like TO stop in and friend
OF his. another boy from up his way. His friend has
going IN and looking at H. Mr. Cox says the game ap-
pears square and he wouldn't mind trying It, He puts
I'm four and wins six. lie he knows when he has
got enough and gucsses he will 60 uptown. All
right" Lis friend says, "but just sign receipt for the
money first. please"
IS S. Cox, VI. c." he writes, and then without
thinking what he Is doing and purely from force of
habit he adds Pub Doc. Free--a a blank be-
fore Thus the buncO artist nches from him his good
name.
Now here are three plans, all of them perfectly
feasible by which Mr. Cox might have signed his name
thOughtcssly to blank without knowing 1t.
lii any Of these cases the paper with HIS name
on IT might easily have been used TO inclose Demo
cratic other disreputable documents and to pass
thcu Oh he mails II has becn putting
his 10 any such things we have mentioned,
be ought to say and make an investigation and
II ono OF them has not come TO light the of
the four pound package. +. II. c.
New-Yorf, Oct. IS, 1888.