The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-01-28
A GRANVILLE TRAGEDY.
How Green Goods Men Work in
the Rural Districts.
A Portentous Looking Document Which
Surprised the Reoeiver-The Adven-
lures Of q Long Island Deacon
with o Sawdust Gang.

Zedeliah Salter kept general
down on Long Island He was
deacon of the little wooden church
with the squat red steeple. and on one
occasion, many years ago, there was
talk of running him for supervisor. So
Zedekiah was quite parsonage.
1t was one day in early May, when
everything was green and hopeful, that
the worthy deacon received letter
in strange handwriting He was
sitting at his desk at the furthest end
Of the counter; there were no custom
ers in the store and he was casting his
eyes over some accounts when the boy
brought the morning mail The letter
with the strange handwriting seemed
to protrude itself from the bundle and
Zedekiah found himself puzzling over
the bold, round hand.
It was a portentous looking letter.
maybe q summons to court. There
was frown on Zedekiah's face US he
opened the envelope.
There were two Enclosures. First a
circular neatly printed on heavy paper,
and wrapped around that u neat type
written letter. Both circular and let
ter spoke direct to the deacon's heart.
Here is what the circular said:
"LoNd ISLAND CITY, L. l., May ls. 1891. To
Zedekiah Salter, EsQ.-Dear Sir: Judging you
to be man of business capacity In whom can
place confidence and also In position to
handle my goods in safety, have concluded to
write to you. II have made mistake let
matters drop. My principle is: Never wrong
man who is willing to prove himself friend
This business can be carried on By anyone who
will devote little time and attention to 1t, and
guarantee that II you enter into this
one, you will never regret it as long as you live
My stock is in different sizes. ones, twos, flves
and tens, and arc as perfect GS human skill can
make theul and can be easily disposed OF; II
you conclude to answe this letter and when
know you mean business, will then send you
full terms and particulars, and will endeavor
to satisfy you on every point, that II you are
my friend, will prove a true and lasting one
to you. Do you understand Remember
want simply to convince you that am just as
Isay, friend to friend When you write be
sure and send me your name and post office ad-
DRESS as might lose the one / now have be-
fore hearing from you again. l can and will
help you out OF any money troubles you may
be in, and no one on the face of tho earth need
be the wiser unless you betray me. Remem-
her, do not ask one single dollar OF you until
you have seen my whole stock; pick out what
you want and have the goods in your posses
sion, then you can pay me. | alone manufac-
ture these goods.
"Trusting that you will taise no offense from
the above and that We will become better &C
quainted, remain, Yours confdentially,
CHARLES WILSON.
up. S.-PicGse answer promptly"
The letter went into interesting de-
tails:
rhx ,;,,f,
good shrewd agent in your locality to handle
my medicine The incosurc herewith gives
all the Information that could be desired and
explains itself. It's sure cure for the blues
(read on). An opportunity to mako an inde-
pendent fortune like this has never crossed
your path before, and in oil probabilities,
never will again as long as you live. There's
no reason why you should be slave and toll
all OF your life for nothing. II you are foolish
enough to let golden chance like this pass
you by-all well and good. II you are niser-
able and In want OF financial cssistance-now
or never is your time. In years to come, should
you ever find yourself sadly in need Of coin In
order to keep body and soul together, you will
have no one to blame for your wretched exist
ence but yourself! This is serious and highly
important food for thoughtl Your sober and
earnest attention should DO given to every
word in this letter. person without the uni
versal rudder'--the almighty dollar-is thought
Dut lltlle on ana is loOBsl upon Is OF no I'M
portance to the world. Isn't this true! know
whereof speak; in former years have drank
from the bitter cup myself "A hint to tho
wise Is sufficient
"If you have not the money to buy my goods, l
would consent to your TAX ug some confidential
friend in with you who has, provided, OF course
he is trustworthy and could keep the secret
You could both then come on together and
make the deal However you would be very
foolish to take anyone IN with you II you could
raise enough money yourself
"If my business should suit you, It will be ab-
solutely necessary for you to come on here and
see me in person. only deal face TO face with
my customers. Experience has taught me that
this is the safest and most satisfactory way for
both. BY your coming on hero you see what
you are buying, and l see who l am dealing
with Consequently you buy no cat in bag
and we both feel better satisfied.
II know 1t is quite q journey for you to make,
but think OF the tremendous profits to be made
with no risk, comparatively speaking what
ever. And, as far as the expense is concerned,
! always make liberal allowance to cover the
same. Make up your mind to cone on. know
you will always be thankful for your visit to
me. You will Gnd me square and honorable
white man In every particular When you ar
rive here will show you my entire stock,
from which you can mako your own selections.
Them If my goods are no. all that claim for
them, and are not as lne as the enclosure
speaks OF, will make you present Of $1,000
In gold, and also cheerfully pay oil expendi
lures incurred upon your journey. ThGt's fair
enough, isn't It? My prices arc as follows
$500 gets 5000 c4oo gets 5000 $3.50 gets $1,000
$1,000 gets $4,000. The moro you invest the
cheaper you get the goods. The sizes run from
! TO co. Three hundred dollars worth Of my
goods Is positively the very smallest amount
l.