New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-22
A BARE.FACED SPINDLE.
HOW s. THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD" GETS THE
COUNTRYMEN's DOLLARS

| COUNTRYMEN's DOLLARS
| One of the most baIe-faced and despcable of the
petty swindes by which the confidence operators of
| New-York seek to prey the gullible countryman
and satisfy his desire to get much for nothing has
5een brought TO the attention of The Tribune by
victim In Maryland. The offender this time IS
monthly publication called "The Farm and House
hold" with offices at No. Murray-st. This enter
prisng journal has been publishing display advertise
ments in other papers recently under the attractive
caption "Gold Watches Free-Lades' or Gents Size
Stem windingl" The announcement continues: ave,
the publishers of this paper will give away absolutely
free genuine Gold Stem winding and Stem-setting
Watch lin order to get subscribers and agents. to
any persons stated in advertisement in our
paper" long description Of the watch follows and
"bona-fde exploration" of how the publisher
afford TO make such grand Offer Here is part
of the "bona-Hdc explanation"
by giving away absolutely Free Gold Watch we
expect to get the largest circulation of any Family
publication in the world see7 We must have it!
Even though it costs Million Dollars Otherwise
enterprise would be dead failure. ANY person
with money to invest can make money. Isn't this
premium:
OUR GRAND SIXTY DAYS OFFER
Upon receipt of One Dollar BILL Postal Note, Ex-
press Money Order REGISTERED Letter or r. O. ordeg for
viii send You by return mall RGsHge n Pa,d A6son, e6
winder as ilHStrated here. This advertisement may
not appear again. so Cut 1t OUT
Accompanying the advertisement are two iustra
TONS one following the caption "GOld Watch Free
and the other opposite the words Our Grand so Days
Offer" The TTibunes Maryland correspondent sent
81 expecting to get gold watch, which he understood
be the offer contained In the advertisement Instead
he got very cheap brass dial of the shape and
size of watch. 1t cost perhaps cents to manu-
facture and Is absolutely worthless.
A Tribune reporter called at the office OF Farm
and Household" 10 inquire about this swinde. He
told f. l. Gray the proprietor, that he would like to
invest 81 in his publication and get one of the gold
watches advertised.
We don't make any such Offer" replied Mr.. Gray
II you will read advertisement You viii see that
we give away gold watches advertised in our paper
Well the advertisement in our paper says that we
will give away gold watch to any one sending us
$25 for twenty-five yearly subscribers"
How about the 81 offer ~
"Oh, that is for a stem-winder, not watch
merely sundial." .
Your advertisement is very misleading then. 1t
certainly gives the reader the impression that he is to
get gold watch"
IL ought not to il he knows how TO read. l can't
furnish brains for people TO read advertisements with
You can't deny either can you, that the intention
is 10 deceive and mislead pe0plel"
Why IL doesn't say. will give watch for ST. 1t
saws a stem wnder You have to read the advertise
ment in 'onr' paper TO know how TO get the watch"
Il should call that bare-facod swindle,' insisted
the reporter
on, no It's plain enough If you have any brains.
Superintendent Murray said Yesterday that the police
could not interfere with the business Of this concern,
the advertisement wOrded that the swndle was
not technical violation Of the law.