Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-11
A GOOD COLLECTOR.
HOW DON M. DICKINSON MADE /
 FIRM COME TO TIME.

's'" SS"@ t0 A Good Story Told by a Western Con-
 gressman-Getting One Hundred Cent.
 on the Dollar Out of a Bad Case of
 Banhruptcy-Found Out.
 A western congressman tells the following about Mir. Don M. Dickinson, of Michigan, the postmaster general
 "Yes, know Dickinson, of Michigan, very we'll. have been in some railroad cases with him. He is chain lightning Dickinson has made the bulk of his fortune in the prac- tice of one legal speciality. He is the best collector of bad debts on the 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 a bad habit of failing every few years. They al ways owed large sums of money to eastern merchants and capitalists, and did not mea1 to pay cent if they could help it. To this class Dickinson was and is 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 pay and won't is the fellow Dickinson likes to get hold of. About ten years ago-to illustrate what mean-there were three big failures i2 Detroit. One firm had the sympathy of everybody, but the others were uncertain customers. The two doubtful concerns each owed over $250, 900 to New York and Boston people,
 LIKE A BAD CASE.
 "Among other creditors was New England shoe manufacturer for large sum- This firm quietly retained Dickinson us their counsel, and the largest other creditor did the same thing. Don't let them know I 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 @ bad case, and the Boston shoe concern was about to accept 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 Israelitish customer be did not know, but he was sure there had been some swindling. It happened that in his house bold 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 oot<1Suc0 OO ucfs aDOuU U year DGlOIc IQlS she had married very industrious young countryman of her own, who was a thrifty young boss drayman. That evening after dinner Dickinson learned that Maggie's hus- band had broken his leg week or two be- fore. He went around to see the man. How did it happen, Peter he asked. Well, ye see, sir, was on a bit of 0 job that-but, sir, the man told me, sir, that must not tell
 Nonsense; you can tell me, can't your said Dickinson; and why not tell Mir. 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 store. A heavy box had slipped and broke his leg.
 SAW THROUGH IT. But why did you say you must not tellP said the lawyer. I'm sure don't Know, sir; {; that's what MT. Katzenyammer told me, sir, , answered the man.
 'katzenyammer; so you are working for him, ehP asked Dickinson. He soon got out or the Irishman all he krew. I see it now, : said he to himself as he went home. The next morning Mir. K. was rather surprised to receive a call from the great lawyer. He had not sent for him, and was somewhat little uneasy. am the attorney for Messrs Blank, of Boston, he began, very politely. They have a claim against you of s47, SIT. SO. What do you intend doing about it, MT. Katzenyammerp
 "'Vy, haf failt, you know, Mir. Dickin- son; don't know how much I can pay on de dollar
 You must pay this in full, or will send you to the penitentiary in less than 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 filled up your | books with false entries.'
 "'Fader Abrahamp screamed the other, as | white as he could become. 'How tit you flint all dis oudr
 "'It doesn't matter how know it all, ana if you don't settle now, today, will have you arrested before tomorrow night You are watched; you can't get away; so don't try | it. and with that Dickinson left. It 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. .n-Missouri Re publican.