Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-04-23
AGENTS FOR MYTHICAL CONCERNS.
Malls Bnrdened with Complaints OF
swindIed Country People

Malls Bnrdened with Complaints oil
swindIed Country People
merchant connected with a large Try
GOODS firm of this city brought to The
Tribune Yesterday the following letter.
which he had received from "A friend ~
Lewisburg. Pa:
DEAR -: Inclosed send you -eeeipt for
three dollars. which one OF our wor hs dress
ma'sers gave an agent in February Isl for a
subscription TO a fashion magazine which
has never come TO hand. and probably never
rill This IS one OF several subscriptions
| taken and pail for in our town, and II II Is o
swindle think the parties shout be exposed
Knowing your abhorrerce Of anything that IS
mean. and believing this 10 be one OF the most
cruel ssindles that WAS evss perpeirated upon
coniding and hard wcr.-ing class. now
write to ask you II you viii do US the favor 70
call al 30 Broadway and investigate the
matter. and if you find il is fake ] think
the world at large should be apprised of the
scheme through one or more Of Your metropol-
itan papers. and am quite sure The Tribune
would be glad 10 expose the same.
The receipt. which WAS a printed blank
filed out in the usual form, was dated
I.owisburg, Pa. Feb. 6, 1892, and stated
that the New York and London Subs ip
ton Agency. Office 100 Broadway, y. z,
had received three dollars from - ''for
lie journal Des Moiit.s anil Lacouturiere
with Books Nos. / ri 2" The receipt
was signed by -. b. Allison, Assent
This form Of swindling is one that is
more frequently called to the attention Of
the postal authorities than any other, not
excepting the complaints from the multi
tudinous victims of the Industrious green
goods men. The address given. 40
Broadway, Is the "Old London Street" OPP
posite the New York hotel That familiar
and antique lit Of Broadway architecture
has been closed and empty for three years.
or course nothing was known there Of any
such concern rs the New York and Lon
don Subscription Agency"
Pennsylvania and the southern and
western states swarm with these swim
dlers, said an official 81 the postotlice yes.
terday to a Tribune reporter. They rep
resent themselves 70 be agents for New
York concerns, dry goods houses publish
ing HOUSES, etc. Needless to say these con
celns are mythical The swindlers are
amply provided with printed blanks to aid
them IA deceising people They will take
subscription for "A publication, rs was
done in the case OF the Lewisburg dress
mater. or viii sell bin Of goods amount
ing 10 hundreds OF dollars 10 country
merchant They viii ask 10 haze check
cashed or for ten dollars advance on the
order. and usually get what they are after
After staying "A week in one town and
working it, the swindler moves on TO an
other field. Their dupes, after waiting a
reasonable time and not getting what they
had paid for, write TO the New York con
Germ. These letters are sent by Us TO the
Dead Letter office in Washington, Endorsed
Not found Before the victims hear from
Washington they generally write to this
Office wanting 90 know why their letters
are not delivered These poor people bar
den the mails in vain.
is il uat / 'ssihle 10 catch the rascalsSp
1T Il lext impossible for they change
their stHtinn ny, their New York addresses
aud are con innally ON the move them
selves. Que fellow was arrested recently
in Wiliiamsport, Pa. for selling paints, |
etc :, and taking money as the agent OF the |
American White Lead company, iicti- !
tious concern lie gave the New York adj |
dress a. "A box in this postoiiice | went 10 |
and testified AGAINST him |
lie WAS sentenced to eleven months in the /
and to pay the costs OF court. |
When lycoming county is through with |
him there viii be fifteen other counties in |
Pennsylvania ready 10 seize him for simi
Tar oifenses One Of the mythical concerns /
worked by one Of the swindlers was Hill.
ton Day q Co, dry goods. who were sup
posed to he n Broadway and Canal street.
Hosts Of people were swindled on this
alleged firm, which the victims were made
% believe ex-iudge Hilton WAS member
d. James y. Johnston & Co. is another
nyth. But the eruclest work OF the
'caHps Is when they obtain photographs,
of,cutines the only likeness 81 some de
ceased nieuler Of a family, On the pntense
d sending il TO New York city 10 be en-
alged into q crayon. They take a small
uln as part payment, 80 away with the
picture aud are not heard Of aiterwarl
New York Tribune