Middletown transcript., 1891-08-20
4atfsFrsffYH rem tfifTEhAl
4 NbvEt, CLOTHING SCHEME GOES tji
s. ANb THE DUPEs 0LAMoR FOR
THEIR MONEY.

had the following which viii be read
with interest here, especially as several
interested in the Clothing Association
are residents of this town.
Among the pathetic scenes which
have become common in this city IN
connection with failing banks and
bursting get-rich-Quick bubbles was
witnessed yesterday at the corner of
Eighteenth and Walnut streets, where
crowds of hard-working men and
women packed the Offices of the Rice
Wright Clothing Association and beg
eed for the return of their hard earned
money, which the flattering promises
of the concern had induced them to
invest.
The Rice Wright Clothing Associa-
tion appears to be sort of short-term
order as applied to clothes or merchan-
disc, and nearly 5000 men, women and
children have been induced to deposit
in it their dollars under the impression
that for S15 they would receive S35-
suit of clothes or $35 worth of mer-
chandise. As in the case of the short
term orders the earlier customer
came out all right and the know
ledge induced many Others to join. by
and. by it was found that the GER
tifcates could not be matured so quick
", and demands were made something
after the style of the extra assess
ment - business of the short termers
for more than the S15 to be paid in
before the s35 suit could be given out.
The depositors did not mind a dollar
or SO extra, but when they had paid in
500 and $25 each. and we've Informed
that they would have TO keep on paying
they began to suspect that the affair
was bogus, and, taking the matter to
their attorneys, were advised to at
once bring actions against the propri-
etor for the recovery Of the full amount
paid in, it being decided by the attor-
neys that the whole affair was fraud
and that false representations had
been made.
Lawyers Samuel E. Maires and j. ".
West represent nearly thirty OF the
poor dupes, and both intend to recover
the whole of their clients money in
full or endeavor to send Mr.. Rice
Wright and his confrees to prison.
Yesterday in response to the suppli-
cations Of the hundreds Of people who
visited the offices Manager L. G. Maui
vel promised to refund on Wednesday
all money paid. less twenty-five per
cent, and endeavored to clear the
skirts of the principals by saying
6 Look at the agreement you signed.
It doesn't say definitely We will give
you $50 suit of clothes for SIS, it
only says we will If We can. You may
have to pay in all the $35. This state
ment evidently took the dupes by sur
prise, as although many remembered
having signed some sort of document
when they joined, very few appeared to
have taken the trouble to read what
they had signed and had depended
entirely upon the verbal representa-
tions that they were sure TO get $35
worth for S15.
The idea of the Rice Wright Custom
Clothing and Merchandise Company
appears to have originated in the mas
sivs brain of Mr.. Rice Wright, who is
said to be the son of Presbyterian
minister of this city. The Office at
Eighth and Walnut streets was the
first one opened, but so well did it
prosper that others were quickly added
and branches opened IN New York,
Chicago, Boston, Trenton and other
cities. When the run first commenced
about three weeks ago, Manager, l.. ..
Mauvel endeavored to quiet the fears
of some of the depositors who then
wanted their money back by saying
that the Keystone Bank failure and
tine Bardsley affair had made money
rather short.
The Rice Wright system of doing
business is copyrighted and the motto
of the Company is 6 In union there is
strength. % Their circulars say " The
business in conducted upon novel
system and is guaranteed to pay 100
per cent? The depositors who were
not satisfied yesterday, it is understood
will apply fur warrants for the arrest
of the principal of the company to-day.
Attorneys Maires and West aver that
the company have no right to deduct
twenty-five per cent, and having made
false representations, must return the
money in full or become defendants in
criminal proceedings that will be insti-
tuted against the principals. The
concern not being incorporated has no
standing in law.