Wichita eagle., 1890-02-15
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NETS FOR COUNTRYMEN,
HOW RASCALLY HORSE TRADERS
ENTRAp THE uNWARY.
Old Horses Have Their Teeth Filed Their
Hair Dyed Glossy Brown, and the Stiff
Joints Limbered So That They Can BE
Palmed or Upon the disappearing.


Hair Dyed Glossy Brown, and the Stiff
Joints Limbered So That They Can Be
Palmed or Upon the disappearing.
Yes, the swindler is abroad in the land.
Tricks In all trades except ours" laughingly
spoke horseman recently to Post reporter
who happened to witness transaction not
too commemorate to the spokesman An in
vestigatlon as to the manner in which these
traders on small scale were accustomed to
40 business is not fattering in its result to the
men following this calling for livelihood.
While every occupation is supposed to have
some degree of responsibility attached to it,
and there are, no doubt, many honest men
engaged in the livery and sale business, hir-
ing and boarding of horses, it has become a
notorious fact that there are class of men
who follow it in small dealings, most of
whom in their operations border on the line
Of rascality, and to say the least, show what
knavery and trickery can accomplish, and
keep those who resort to it beyond the reach
of criminal prosecution. Now and then they
become over confident, emboldened by their
successes, and deliberately rob some Door
to make any attempt to recover his confs-
Gated property.
In TIE CAPITAL
In this city can be found a number of men
who call themselves horse traders. Some of
them have neither horses nor stable while the
stock of the others will range between one
and half a dozen horses. Many of these men
locate near the Center market and bazaar.
where they find countrymen who can be
cheated and robbed with their eyes wide
open; also where opportunities are constantly
being presented for deals and trades.
The man with few horses and the stable,
small or large, viii work in with the one
without either, and they will quickly form a
combination when a chance presents itself
Of their lettering themselves. Some of the
old hulks that are on hand and to be oper-
ated with, have been obtained for little or
no money consideration, and it is astonish-
ing how rapidly they change ownership, fit
ting the circumstance and necessities of the
case.
1t is known that one horse was handled
and claimed by five different men as its
owner in two days. 1t figured during that
period in five trades, only one of which was
successful, and then the farmer, having let
the Sharpers get hold of his horse they dis
appeared, leaving the worthless animal in
his hands. The stock used in this cheating
Is doctored for the purposes of deception.
1t IS known that to mislead as to the age of
some of these veteran horses, whose services
should entltle them to place on the retired
list in the pasture field, have had to submit
to filing down of teeth, that the year marks
might be destroyed. In another instance the
fetlocks were neatly cut and trimmed, the
frogs cleaned and polished, and toes set up
TO hide all appearance Of weakness in those
points and give the impression that the horse
was all right in trent
Stiff and lame shoulders, TO which an ami
NAL may be subject, have been temporarily
liInbered in order to trade the unsound horse
off. When the new owner attempts TO work
the animal he quickly discovers the imposi-
ton and fraud put upon him and brings back
the horse, complaining of the deception. He
is coolly informed that the horse was not
lame when traded, but that the nlishap &C.
CURED since and he must make the best of
it. The horse he received is proven as repre-
sented, and the dealer comes out $50 or more
ahead on the trick.
Coloring of the horses hair is also practiced
for the purpose Of facilitating trade 1t
might be supposed that this would have no
weight in such matters, but in some cases it
is very important as TO the looks of the horse
By a process used among the dishonest traders
the horse is fitted out in a bright, glossy suit
of hair, which viii last for q few days, or
until water strikes it, when it will entirely
disappear.
COLORS THAT FADE.
Then it will be discovered that the animal
has coat badly sunburnt and worn, any
49, 81 I,,lr IL
four, or half dozen men participate in the
effort to effect a trade, and the innocence
they pretend TO show regarding horses is re-
freShing to witness. Schemes of all kinds are
devised, combinations effected and jobs put
up to cheat the unsuSpecting, if not to actual
Iy rob men willing to make trades of their
horses, or give them in exchange a worthless,
patched up animal under the falsehood told
and description placed upon them.
The neighborhood of Fifteenth street and
Louisiana avenue and B street, thence up TO
street, between Tenth and Eleventh streets,
has been the scene OF a number of these ras-
cally transactions. Couutrymen, more par
ucufarly the younger ones, are selected to
operate upon by the traders, who start on o
very plausible plan. y stranger happens
near, anu stops TO look at the countryman's
horse, admires the animal and wants to know
if he is for sale. In this manner the ice is
broken for a conversation, and the stranger
suggests that he has q horse and viii make
trade. lie mas not, but 4 lie like chat amounts
tt nothing in horse trade.
be goes away representing that he will
bring the horse, coBsults his confederate. who
loans HIM a plug that has had different
owner for every trade attempted to have
been made for & week. It has been worked
upon until preSentable, and is shown to the
counuynlan in its best light About this
time a stranger appears on the ground, APP
parently unacquainted with either party
lie is soon followed by one or two more
They learn the terms proposed by the profes-
sonal trader, and TO their mind it looks like
Il good offer. Both horses are represented as
entirely sound, aud q satisfactory trial is TO
5e made before the bargain is considered
complete
u the countrvman hesitates and appears