The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-09-10

any day and every day in the Chicago
papers. Some of them are no doubt
legitimate, but for the most part they
are decidedly "snide." A tolerably
well-furnished Office, a formidable set
Of books, in which are entered the
description and terms of saleo Of large
amount of city and country real estate,
which has been picked up here and
there without the smallest authority
from the owners or agents, and numer-
Gus equally delusive applications for
large loans and "gilt-edged" security;
these, together with a respectable
looking, smooth-talking old man and
two or three stool pigeons" who dart
in at critical points during the nego-
tiation with sucker" TO accept i'm
aginary offers and make imaginary
loans. constitute the "wellestablished
business offered for sale.
This scheme has been so frequently
exposed by the daily press that native
game has become "tlmid7 and difficult
to bag Hence most of the victims
are now secured from the country,
where the Chicago papers have a very
general circulation.
The price for an interest varies with
the ability to pay of the party to be
swindled. Once secured. the new
partner is Systematically frozen
out" that is, after various schemes
have been played upon him and all his
surplus cash secured. One man in
Madison street takes in, on an aver
age, a partner month. Frequently
the swindled parties join the enter
prise and get even by finding a new
man with money to buy them out, or
take a third interest in the rapidly
growing business"
Sometimes tartar" is caught. Not
long ago prominent operator" In
this line of swindling took in" Young
man from Western Illinois. The latter
found out his mistake" the very next
day. Having locked the door he rested
books" the better TO insure his aim
and made the following demand upon
his urbane partner: My money or
your life"
This variation from the stereotyped
request of the typical highwayman pro-
duced the desired effect. His $500 was
returned and new victim sought.
AS before stated. business meu, thor
o ighly "up to snuff" are often taken
IN by slick confidence operators. One
of the leading publishers and book
sellers of New York was once swindled
in the following unique manner:
A clerical-looking old gentleman
called one day, and presented card
L. L i L. H.,
OF Western college. He stated that
he desired to purchase several thous-
and volumes for the college library,
and complete set of textbooks for a
new department of theology. After
spending q week in examining books,
he made out large order. The one
thing he lacked was a particular He
brew grammar which he had studied in
his youth, and upon which he had set
his heart The firm did not have it,
but sent out clerk who found, in q
rival ablishment, an edition of sew
eral hundred volumes and the plates
from which they had been printed.
The old gentleman was delighted, and
ordered the entire lot This so pleased
thepublisher that he bought not only
the books but the plates, at rather a
high price. As the reverend gentle
man did not again put in an appear
ance, he called upon his rival
and learned, to his intense NOR
LITIGATION, that the former. in
reality confidence man, had left the
books and plates, purchased by him
no doubt in Junk shop as old paper
and metal, to be sold on commission.
The sharper had collected the proceeds
of the sale, over $500, and decamped.
Returning, the purchaser sadly con-
templated his worthless purchase.
For three years and more, Chicago
will be the Mecca for country pill
grims. The best advice that can be
given them is to avoid not only stran-
gers but friends" who introduce and