The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-28
EAEELIAG ZOE CLOTHES.
a TaiIor's Scheme. In Which He Got All
the Dollars nnd His Customers Got Left.

SYRACUSE, July 27.-The village OF Baldwlns-
vile has Just been stirred up by the plausible
anil philanthronic pro ect OF a shrewd tailor OF
the town namoi Porter. Tho plan was not
only to keep business booming in town during
the summer. but als o TO confer large and sub
stantial returns on all participating. Porter
proposed that clothing club be formed. and
drew up document for signatures, by which
a suit Of clothes valued at s35 should be raflled
Off at each drawing which was to occur twice
each week. Zach member was to pay 81 at
each drawing until he was favored with lucky
number. when his name would be dropped
from the roll. The drawings were to continue
until the entire club was fitted out With
clothing.
Tho advantages were two!old. In the first
place Baldwinsvile would vie with more pre-
tentious towns In we'll dressed and neatly ap-
pearing Inhabitants. Secondly, here was q
chance to procure suit by the payment Of 81.
Tho suit obtained at the second drawing would
cost the lucky member 60 only. The last man
in the race 1t was argued, would receive his
moneys worth.
Tho scheme was too enticnE to go by default.
Literary men. lawyers. mii.ers storekeepers,
and their clerks FASTENED to join the new
clothing club. There was n rush 10 capture
the first suit. When Porter announced that
the list WAS closed there were seventy names
on tho roll Porter was the organizer, director.
and treasurer. and proposed to deal out tie
clothinE according to stipulation.
the first drawing took place several weeks
ago Mt Porters ship. The 81 per capita rs:
10 Porte. emitting each member &c, Iartici-
pate in the game. 4 slrlnter named OBren
was awarded him at the second drawing. Mr..
Porter Is said to hayo placed in his inside
pocket the y derived from the second assess
ment Tho club was reduced by one member
Mt Gao b meeting and the drawings continued
Tor about six weeks, the members faithfully
paying, according to contract.
rgani2ation. Porter did not make the suits
fast enough 10 please the lucky ones. and those
who still remained In the scheme. became sus-
piGious that further investment would only
was qsceriained that Only three or four suits
hal been delivered. while eight or ten more
memUels were cIam9rinG Tor theirs. Their
eyes were soon oiened. and an open rebellion
followed. The drawings ceased and the eleb3
in, 1t Is laid. had amounted 10 over 800. where
as less than 500 worth OF clothes had been
were frightened off too easily. aud that he was
entitled TO tho funds inasmuch as he was
ready and wiling TO perform his part OF the
contract. There was Gna-hinG q teeth In the
village. and those shrewd inhabitants who
were fortunate in not being rpped into the
scheme en- Dyed many hearty laugh Mt the
OF clothes for 81.
As a last resort it was resolved to bring
Porter 70 the bar Of Justice. He was last,week
arrested on u charge preferred by. James Ward
OF maintaining lottery. Much interest cen
tIoi in the trial, which had SPEEDY termina-
ton. resulting N tho discharge Of the prisoner
upon technical Croutd. The prosecution
placed several members OF the club upon the
stand. who teSti Cd 20 the scheme. Tho Jus
tire ruled that the testimony OF club members,
without co.roborative evidence. was inSufn-
Gent 10 warrant conviction. Many prominent
and not only bew"i the loss Of their dollars
but are the butt OF ridicule.