The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-12
LADIES VICTIMIZED.
SHARP PRACTICE BY TWO DESIGN,
ING sCoUNDRELS.
How "Hartland Bros.," Under the Guise
of Giving Work to Deserving Women
by Teaching Them Painting, swindled
Them

Monday last neatly dressed young lady
walked into the Office OF the chief OF
police and asked him to read the following
advertisement which she had clipped from
local paper:
NTANTED-Ladies making less than $40 per
w week and wishing light work to do at home,
10 call on Hartland bros. 2l7 Main street, third
door, front room.
When Chief Davis had read the want"
he looked up inquiringly into the lady's
face and asked, what about IT'D" She
then told him how she had been duped by
responding to the catch-penny advertise
ment The story ran about as follows:
Hartland Bros had an Office at the above
number, over Harry COINS clothing store,
which they rented from Mrs. Blackburn.
The lady had gone 10 the Office for the pur-
pose OF procuring work. When she went
into the room, which was elegantly
furnished, and the walls decorated with
pictures, she was met by a well dressed and
most aiiable young man, who introduced
himself us " liarland."
He at once proceeded TO explain to the
lady that the business of the firm was that
OF tinting pictures. They would pay 80
cents per dozen TO women for coloring pho
tographs. The material TO be used was
perfectly simple, consisting OF bottle OF
ink, which was their own preparation, and
the usual number OF brushes for doing
artistic work. This outfit could be pur
chased by the applicant for the triAing
sum Of s.. The young man assured his
caller that they had orders from several
large advertising firms to put the "artistic
touches" on their cards and chromos.
The initial lesson, and the plan
was so simple, only one was needed,
would be given for 30 cents, and these
cards would be furnished in sufficient
number to enable any lady who was ut all
expert with the brush to make 81 80 per
day. The lady, though she was anx-
ious Tor work, was suspicious OF
the fair promises made, when she was
unhesitatingly assured that II she doubted
for moment the genuineness of the state
ments made, she would be furnished with
the address of the headquarters Of their
firm in Cincinnati, where she conld get
the material desired direct She prom
ised TO call again, determined that before
she parted with her money she would
know that she was getting value received.
Consequently she sought Chief Davis,
who, with Capt. 0'Haver, Wis
tied the "ollice" of Hartland
Bros, and inquired into the manner Of
business they were doing. The same po-
lite young man. as described by the lady,
met the officers. lie said that their bust
ness was genuine enterprise, that they
had come here about month ago from ~.
Louis where they had spent year and a
hall in the same business. When pressed
by the chief TO give some references as 10
their stay and dealings in 81. Louis he
failed To do 50, but after rumaging through
trunk filed with papers, he showed the
na,.as ~ five or six ladies' OF that city who
had listed with them, but could not
give the number OF the street they lived
on. The chief was quite satisfied that
Hartand Bros. were swindlen, but he had
no proof Of il, and having determined to
watch their transactions, he left.
Yesterday two Young ladies who had in
vested with the llariland Bros. on Monday
OF this week, but were told not to return
until Wednesday TO take the "lesson."
walked into the chiefs office. They ex.
planned TO him how they had been induced
to pay their money, and said that when
they went To the office, rs instructed, yes
tcrday morning, there was not thing IN
it-nOt the sign OF man, picture on the
wall, or anything else" The chief ut once
went over 90 the room at No. 227 Main
street, and found what the young ladies
had told him was true. The llartland
Bros. had skipped. They did not like the
inquisiiivencss OF the chief. They were
rank frauds, and they were not going
10 be caught. Mn. Blackburn seemed
10 be perfectly ignorant OF the de-
parture OF her tenants. In fact she
was very much surprised. She said they
were elegant young men, paid their rent
In advance, and were real nice" But
they are gone. How much money they
made by their thieving scheme has moi
yet been ascertained, but twcnty-cighi
young lady victims have made themselves
known TO the police. Their names ar,
withheld, for II Is bad enough for them "a
feel the humiliation and loss Of being
dupes Of such an iniquitous swindle, AM
would do the public no good 10 know.
Where the rascals have gone has moi
yet been ascertaincd, but II Is very likely
they will he heard from in some other city