Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-04
LOOKING FOR MUTTON
That Blank Draft Scheme Reach
es Clarksville.
Bankers and Business Men Should Be
On Their Guard, for There is
Crook Abroad.

Last Thursday smooth faced,
sharp featured man, about twenty
five years old, put up at the Frank
lin House and registered behind the
high sounding name of IL. A. De-
Mack, agent of the Chicago, st
Paul and Minneapolis railroad. He
had two valises with him and was
given room No. "a, one of the best
in the house. Friday morning he
rushed into w. p. Titus job printing
Office on Franklin street and wanted
some printing done. The first job
was for lot OF drafts of the Adams
County Bank of Ritzville, Wash,
drawn on the Hanover National
Bank of New York. He then Or
dered some letter heads for the
Adams County Bank and some note
circulars explaining the workings of
1.-THE United States Sheep and Land
Association" This circular says the
association was formed by prominent
bankers of the Northwest and has q
paid up capital of $750,00O
''The object of this company"
says the circular, sis to place within
the reach of farmers the sheep at the
lowest market price, and to extend
such time to him as may be neces
sary in which to liquidate the obliga-
ton. In such case, the company
takes a mortgage on said stock until
said obligation has been fully liqui-
dated.
"Thc company since its incorpora-
ton has placed $4,000 sheep in the
hands Of farmers and the stock has
netted Is per cent. AS an invest
ment it cannot be eXcelled. The
stock is issued in first preferred and
common stock at par value of 500,
this stock being worcestershire treas
ury with a guaranteed yearly rate OF
seven per cent. We would say to in
vestOrs that this is no wild cal
scheme, but a solid business enter
prise, at whose head are the most sub
stantial business men of the North,
west"
The circular then goes on to show
that the stock is fully insured and
that leading bankers and security
dealers in New York are taking ii
right along.
After giving w. p. Titus the order
for the above printing, which, all
told, amounted to $3.50, the fellow
left and was not heard from until
Friday evening. He rushed into the
Office and called for half dozen OF
the blank drafts, saying that he
wanted to use them and that he
would return soon and take the bal
ance of his work out of the of
flee and pay his bill. He told
several parties that he was
in the city on business with
railroad officials getting rates for
shipping his sheep, but if he ever
conferred with railroad man it haS
been forgotten.
The next authentic account of Mr..
DeMack is when he went to the
Franklin House, moved his baggage
secretly from his room and skipped
his board bill. He has not been
heard of since, but the snppOsition is
that he went north on the O'Clock
train Saturday evening. He never
called for his printing either.
A few weeks ago the Columbia pa
pers contained an account of how a
pretty slick set of fellows had worked
a scheme just like this in that city.
They went further there, however,
for they took one OF those blank
drafts, filled it out and drew about
800 on it. The fraud was detected
however, and one man was arrested
and is now in Jail there on the charge
Of forgery.
There is no evidence that DcMack
tried to get any drafts cashed here,
but ii is evidently his intention to vic
timizc some one with them. Bank
ers and business men generally
should keep nm eye out for him and
farmers should be very careful how
they take stock in that ahecp associa-
ton. The sub treasury scheme will
beat ii all hollow.
Not Improving.
! The TullahOma Guardian saws ;