The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1894-12-26
Financial Vampircs.


Baker, who stoia from the New York
Shoe and Leather bank for ten years,
then committed suicide Itwas the log.
ioal ending of his career. Baker was q
shining light in Plymouth church,
Brooklyn, the one over which Beecher
was formerly pastor. He was the most
estimable, devoted, tender and faithful
father and husband that could be con-
structed on any principle. He never
staid out nights, never drank or gam,
bled. Once when man suspected him
OF dishonesty and would have declined
to invest his money with him the mans
wife persuaded him nothing could be
wrong with that good old man. !"
Yet he had probably never done an
honest days work in his life. He, the
highly respected citizen, the model hus-
band and father, was q worse criminal
than the highwayman who holds up
train. The very last act of his business
career was q crime. After he had made
ont heavy insurance policies ON his life.
They go to his widow, and the creditors
whom he has swindled SO pitilessly and
outrageously will not get cent of the
money unless she gives it to them. The
various insurances he had effected OH his
life amounted to not less than $50. 900,
II Is believed. Onp company alone will
have to pay $40, 900.
In every way known to an unscrupu
lous intellect Baker had robbed those
who trusted him. It was his favor
ite way TO get charge Of investments
for his clients. He would purchass
doubtful securities or estates In whose
title there was flaw or properties heav-
lily mortgaged cheaply, put the good
money Of his clients into IL Mt . high
price and pocket the difference. Once
he sold some stock belonging to an In.
vestor and kept the money, paying the
investor the dividends regularly. so that
he never knew until Bakers death that
the property had been sold.
Baker owned o handsome town house
and beautiful country place. He kept
blooded horses with the blood money he
drew from his clients. He was gen.
erous, hospitablo. popular man and gen.
tleman. Oh. yesi 53
II the roof could be lifted of the
transactions Of all tho so called bust
ness men in our rapid American cities.
how many would thcro be who pose as
rich men and good citizens living OH
the fat of tho land but who swindle their
way through tho world along the line
pursued by Frederick Baker? There are
thousands. The array of them would
astonish their fellow citizens, whom
they gull continually, if they could be
known. Il comes out now and then
when one of these robbers commits sui
eide, runs away between two days or
dies
They are vampires who suck tho life.
blood out of community. They are pro-
moters of false schemes for quick en-
richment, people who are always find
ing some great Investment for other
peoples money. They are apt to be Of
fine appearance and suave and agreeable
manners. Often, as Baker did. they
connect themselves with some promi-
nent church, the better to steal Then
we wonder why lard times and crashes
come periodically. They come moro than
anything else because people live beyond
their means and allow the financial
vampires to get their money from them.
The common thief or tramp is caught
and punished. The great thief who
swindles widows and orphans, who de-
liberately eoaxes away by fraud tho
money he is too cowardly to knock its
owner down and tako by force, is apt
to 20 unpurishcd
Yet the investors who lose are them
selves to blame for their mental lazi-
ness. Why do they not investigate care
fully the man who wants to take charge
OF Gnolr IuuuS, tue sNHcLio WhiOh pAoiA7
ises big returns? Why do they not use
their common sense? They are too lazy
and careless. Therefore they arc swim
died, and they often deserve to be. They
will continue TO DO. Bakers will -four
ish and grow fat and bloated off the
culls who trust them till the gulls
wake up and learn to attend to their
own finances.