Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-16
THE GREEN GOODS swINpLE.
Its Extent Com On by the Chief OF the
secret service

Its Extent Commsntsd On by the Chief OF the
secret Service.
In his recent annual report made to the Sec
Rotary OF the Treasury CHIEF A. L. Drummond
% the secret service division has an interesting
account Of the green goods swindle and the
methods BY which it il worked. Mr.. Drum
mond urges the enactment OF such legislation
o. VIII ehectu@lly put a stop to the fraud He
says tina. thsre have been several attempts to
accomplish this result by congressional legisla-
uon. but the shrewd villains by Q sudden
change Of tactics have measurably rendered
the efforts Of post otsce inspectors and others
under the law Ineffective. that it very sell
dom happens that one Of the-e plausible rascals
n convicted
The green goods swindle' Of today is COM
posed o! many ingenious devices which
manipulated BY experts Of many years expert
ence, whose lightning changes, adaptations and
elaborate plans ALWAYS work out for them sue
cessful results when the dupe visits them pre-
pared to purchase their alleged goods, even
though threats Of or actual violence may be-
come necessary.
WHAT THEr PROFESS TO SELL
Their PROGRESSED business is to sell counterfeit
United States notes Of the denominations Of 81.
~, Is. go and $40. printed. so an alleged
Newspaper clipping" states, from plates stolen
RON the bureau Of engraving and printing.
According 20 their prospectus $1,000 Of coun-
tsrfet money can be bought FOR $500 and s2o,-
900 for OIL 600
They inelose . printed slip. alleged to have
boon cut from newspaper. showing how easy
hsir eountsrfeit notes taken genuine;
they send references (bankers) a. to their hon
ssy; they will refund expenses Of a visit to
Ne~ York ~ party Is not satisfied with pur-
chase; he must not reply BY letter. or the
eorrespondencs ends, but BY telegraph" and
the message he IL TO send II already prepared
on Telegraph blank and accompanies the cir
cuiar. A variety Of these circulars are used by
them .o suit tastes aud conditions. from lawyer
10 stableman, from burned-out merchant to
bankrup, manufacturer. showing how each can
make fortune or retrieve one
NO PLATES wEKE FvER STOLEN.
The facts are these rsscals do not dare TO
have counterfeit moEev 70 show or sell; no
plates have ever been stolen from the bureau of
engraving and printing, and the printed slip
they inclose was not cut from a newspaper. but
prepared BY them. giving details Of an extra
ordinary trial Of counterfeiter that never
occurred. bGi intended to tole their CORE
spondsnt by commencing the quality Of their
alleged counterfeit notes Their references do
not exist except on paper, their promise 10 re-
fund expenses q trip are delusive and their
insistancs on correspondence by telegraph is
the only genuine point in their circular. and
this because several Of their rogues guild have
fallen In consequence of receiving letters by
mail
How they obtain the address of persons is
no longer a surprise. since IL is known that each
chief Of q gang. and there are many in the
city OF New York, Is a subscriber 10 the Brad !
street or the Dun Commercial Agency. In ad- |
ditlon postmasters are importuned on the |
promise Of brides. to furnish their correspond |
ent with the address Of each well-to-do citizen |
whose mail is received at their respective |
Offices.
improve their temporal condition. and bank |
officers how to become wealthy. railroad ticket |
agents how well to themselves while |
serving their company, and not class of i
agents In any hduciary capacity with any cor l
Porstion - neglected by these wholesale. heart |
less robbers. a. the Thousands Of letters re- |
eeived BY this division attest. To read the in |
sicious reasonings and devilish suggestions of |
these ruin workers and TO know that the law |
l. impotent to reach them makes ones blood |
boil
REAL MONEY SENT SAMPLES.
The man who responds to their invitations
BY seeking further information receives a
quarter or half and sometimes the whole Of a |
81 new, crisp. genuine United States treasury
note a. n sample Of their alleged counterfeit
money. Seeing its excellent workmanship and
lured by their seductive advice mot to be a
slave and toll all you- life for nothing" "a
nDerson without the universal rudder-the |
almighty dollars thought but little OF in
fhIs world, II prefer TO deal face to face. man
man, honest and square; then IL my goods !
not all | claim for them and are not fine !
the inclosed / will make Won a present Of
900 in gold and also cheerfully pay all the /
fpenses of journey; fair enough. Is it not?" |
Srndreds OF weak persons. embarrassed by /
debt or desiring to be rich and not willing to
reach the goal by honest endeavOr, yearly fall
into the traps sc; for them by these pretended
counferfeiiers.
One writes; Five hundred dollars is the low
est YOU can invest with me. and don't come I'M
les you have the cash in your pocket or a sight
draft IN a New York bank" | herewith give
two extracts. samples OF The many letters re-
eeived from victims Of the green goods swindlc.
who seek relief AZ the hands OF this division
from their own wrongdoing:
JrSIsrA, NEB. Ape 1892.
Mr.. A. l. DRuNMoND:
Dear Sir: Yours received and viii leave of
all preliminaries and tell you all straight and
honestly. Incloset you will ind copy of a
letter | received and so / answered IT, done
iast ~ the instructions say and ! went
down TO New York city and met the agent
and he took me to the head man and there
seen the Goods they call it and picked out
the amount / wanted to buy which was s25,-
600. 90 for which | paid 81 900. 90 in New York
Drafts and the agent went to the Express of &c
and there | sent or intended to send il 70 nv
address but the scoundrels changed boxes on
me and when ! got home aud reed the box it
had nothing in but blank paper.
AL the following:
EAsroS, y. X. June 16, ls92
Mr.. TRxksCRT,
Dear sir: l have been Svindled out Of hun
dred and 20 Dollars by those Gren goods mems
of New York and have been there twice and
seen them in Brosdeday light and should no
them all II ! should them again as HASN'T
Sufficient money now 20 look them up with
take this course hoping you will try ASSIST me
"a base them taken and punish TO the full E1-
teant Of the Law. y Won could see my papers
and meas what | base been through then YOU
could Judge what best to do / am Strusting
aud Hopsing In him who IL greater them ali
that NAV here from you soon and that We may
bring them 10 Justice.
your in Haste.
TIE DEyTCIs EMPLOYED.
The frequency with which similar cases 10 the
foregoing are brought TO the attention Of this
division. both in person aud BY letter. leave no
dOub; on nv mind that hundreds Of thousands
OF dollars are thus stolen annually from these
misguided persons in the city " New York
alone. The devices employed to effect this
robbery of the most original and subtle
character. involving ali the characteristics of
fair dealing and most generous hospitality and