The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-24
SWINDLERS EXPOSED
Postal Inspectors Disclose the
Operations Of SharperS.
BOGUS CHICAGO GRAIN HOUSES
Fleece the Public Through the Mails
Failed to Pay Their Bills
and AbseOnded.
BOGUS CHICAGO GRAIN HOUSES

The Astoria Herald and an evening
sheet have for several weeks been run
nIng an advertisement of Thomas q
Co., Chicago" which has been rejected
vy all respectable newspapers. The fol-
lowing from the San Francisco CHI on!cle
of last Thursday may be Of interest to
the Astorian's readers
Postal Inspector Erwin has been work.
ing for several months to obtain evil
dence with which to convict several
Chicago firms of using the mails TO aid
them in a confidence game market
scheme. Before he could make a case
against one of the principal firms sus-
pected the members went into bankrupt
cy, but the Investigation Of other sus-
poets continues.
Complaints reached the local inspec-
tors early in October that Thomas Il
Co., of the Rialto building, Chicago, and
Pattison & Co.. Of the Omaha building,
in the same city, were really one firm,
and that they were flooding the mails in
California with catchy advertisements OF
more dangerous bunko scheme than
the boldest of the green goods swndlels.
II at once communicated with Inspect
of Stuart, Of Chicago" said Mr.. Erwin
yesterday, "and we are ready to prose-
cute these or any like firms the moment
we can get evidence that they have OBJ
tained any money through the mails by
false and fraudulent circulars"
These firms send out what purports to
be market letter." and they say they
are sure to make large sums of money at
all times for their customers. Among
other things the typewriter letter they
send to the verdant fortune seeker who
answers their advertisement, contains the
following statements.
1--WE wish to call your attention to the
particularly favorable opportunities the
present market offers. By our systematic
plan 1t makes no difference whether the
market goes up or down. So long as 1t
fluctuates, large profits can be made. BY
referring to the market report In any
daily paper you will see that the price OF
wheat fuctuates almost every day from
1 to Q cents per bushel which is sufii-
cient to make enormous profits by our
systematic plan. No other business can
possibly yield such large profits on small
investments as our systematic trading In
grain.
"Our plan of systematic trading has
been brought to the highest degree OF
perfection, and we know that q trial
" Ill convince you that we can make you
more money for the amount invested T. an
you san possibly make In any other way
We want to extend our business and In
troduce this system In every state and
territory, and we want all our customers
to use this plan. 1t is not theory, II
's not an experiment. II has been tested
under the most adverse circumstances en-
on the worst markets"
Swindling by grain mraket frauds has
often been exposed in Chicago, and that
Is why the postal inspectors look with
suspicion a. the operations of Thomas Il
Co., and Pattison & Co., supposed to be
one firm. Until lately they had swell
suit of rooms In the Rialto bui ding, and
they flooded all parts OF the Union, es-
pecally the West, with their circulars.
inspector Stuart last week made thor
1ugh examination of the firms books,
and found that, while on their face a
was well, there was fraud underneath.
The investigation begun by inspector Er-
win, seconded by Inspector Stuart, OF Chi
ago, has resulted in the flight OF mem
hers of the firm. The collapse came few
days ago.
P. s. Brown, secretary and treasurer
# the Mississippi and Ohio River T 10
Society, of st. Louis, was the man I
make the kick. He had been speculatne
" mail and didn't win. At last, hndinP
hat he had been roDDeu' ne sent al tho
correspondence that he had with the con-
ern to a Chicago attorney with instruc-
tions to callect a small amount OF money
/ him and make complaint to the
,rstal authorities. When the lawyer W Mt
to the Rialto building he discovered the
office formerly used by Thomas q Co.,
but that was ALL The members OF the
oncern had not been there for week
A young man in their employ had state
hat the firm had lost its money In wheat
md corn speculation, and that Its mem
Ners' were now looking about town for
funds.
It is not known just how much good
California gold has been poured into the
offers Of the Chicago swindlers, but the
local authorities are on rich lead, ana II
ls probable that number OF formal COM
plants will soon be filed.