Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-11
SHARP PRACTICE.
How Some Property Owners
Have Been Imposed On.
THE TALES OF THE VICTIMS.
Bills Which Contractors Should Have
Paid, Presented to the Property
Owners by Dealers.

Associated with the sudden growth OF
almost any city there always appears
upon the scene an element which is
anxious to share in the surrounding
prosperity without exertion on its own
part. These human vampires are general
ly gifted with smooth tongue, attractive
personnel and sufficient brain power to
enable them to be continually devising
schemes for the fleeing OF their fellow
men. Many exposes have from time to
time been made in this city Of the opera
tions of these gentry, but the public can
scarcely be said to have benefited much
thereby, for the operators gen
orally appear in another role in
which they are SO well disguised
that even the keenest business men fail
to detect the vol. within the sleeps
clothing.
A scheme, which has been success
fully worked in the city of late, is one
connected very intimately with the
growth OF the city. inasmuch as it ap-
plies to the building business. 1t is re-
ported that some time ago certain con-
tractor appeared here, and, announcing
himself as builder, proceeded to OBJ
tain contracts for the erection of domi-
Giles in and about the city. de was
very successful and obtained authority
from Mrs. Neal, Mrs. Longstreet and
Mr.. r. 7. Royal to construct houses on
property belonging to them. He
soon had big staff of
persons who had engaged him watched
xrsfl, r,1ao thar hon,au urn
heavenwa,ds under his diligent direction.
AT last his work was done, and in return
therefore he received the money con-
tracted for ere he began operations. The
owners OF the houses were astonished |
few days afterwards, however, when bills |
poured in from lumbermen for material |
supplied. Claims arrived from stores |
which had furnished this, that, or the |
other, for the new places, and even work. |
men made application for overdue wages.
1t at once became evident that this |
contractor had played neat lit
tie trick, but there was no way
of legally getting at him, for it was
discovered that the contracts had |
not been put on record. He was evil
IDENTIFY very bold operator, for he had
purchased SO 400 lot on which he paid
$50 deposit with promise to settle the
little balance within thirty days. On
his newly-acquired property he proceeded
to erect a magnificent barn, but his
scheme evidently had screw loose
somewhere, for on the second payment
becoming due he was unable to connect
Herewith, and he was incontinently ex-
PEELED from his new domain. Then
came bill from his lumberman to the
owner OF the property who refused, how
ever, to pay it, and thus the matter at
present stands, the Indications being
that the lumber retailer will be on the
wrong side Of the DEAL
A case OF similar nature has been
brought to light during the past week.
Many real estate men will doubtless be
able to recall to mind contractor who
called at their offices and made oyertures
for the erection of residences on their
property. He succeeded in getting en-
gagements for houses from Messrs. @. w.
Blaisdell, X. I. Royal, Spears, Hitch
cock, Neubauer, w. X. Burke, O. q.
Compton and Mrs. Richards, three OF
which were to be constructed for $4,000
each, one for $4,000, two for S2500
each, and one for $ll00. 1t
was noticed by those interested
that he made his contracts for about so
per C6ut. cneapef tiidu COuiu po oplslheu
elsewhere, but he appeared to be an
honest man 30 those who engaged him
simply thought that be was trying to
make start, and would work very
cheaply so as to gain a reputation. From
time to time he obtained money on ac-
count Of his contracts, and the buildings
he had undertaken to erect progressed
satisfactorily. About two weeks ago he
suddenly and Unexpectedly announced
that he had failed. He said that he had
underestimate his contracts, and could
not possibly meet his engagements, and
he offered to make statement to show
how he had expended the money that had
been entrusted to him. This statement
however, WAS not satisfactory, and it be-
gan to look as ii things were up Queer
street when bills OF all descriptionsbega
to pour in on the lot-proprietors from
every side. 1t was discovered that most
of the contracts had not been recorded,
and therefore all hopes of legal redress
were extinguished. And SO the situation
remains at present, and the property
holders have decided to finish their
houses ut their own expense and swallow
the bitter pill Of experience that has been
administered to them in so astute q
manner.