The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-07
A TRICK IN THIS TRADE
CLEVER DELUSION 70 THE TUNE
or $500.
The Agent of the &c ncinnati Publishing
and Novelty Company" Before Justice
CrutchfieId Yesterday Morning.

Mr.. c. A. Freeberg. who is a represen-
tative, he says, but who has had con-
troll here OF what is known as the Gin
cinneu publishing and Novelty Company
,,.os before Justice Crutchneld yesterday
an the charge of stealing s. from II. u
Bolden. IL oo,-
For the past eight months the con-
Germ has been doing business IN hlcAihoi'1
and Manchester. and In the TWO places
has q list OF subscribers numbering De-
tween eight hundred and nine nun
dred. -
81 fraudulent concern. but their methon
of doing business Is certainly not rs
STRAIGHTFORWARD as II might be. and tnelr
manner and methods OF advertising Is
surely .ubiect to most ordinary miscoh-
struction.
The alleged purpose of the Cincinnati
Publishing and Novelty Company was
to sell one hundred copies OF u pupilca-
,ion known as the illustrated World OF
Family Magazine" on weekly in,talments
of 10 cents per week, and upon the pre-
sentation of coupons cut regularly from
the entire series they would presen'
free to the holder. a silver pltcner' WIN
an automatic music work. or SILK plush
olhun with the same musical attach
ment. or a decorated tea set consisting
Of hfty-sx Pieces.
THE TRICK.
Their printed matter. however, was
well calculated TO deceive anybody into
the belief that only fifty publications at
ten cents per week were necessary before
thew could apply for the premiums 50
lavishlv described in their catalogues.
The form of the contract which each
subscriber was requested 10 sign bore II
conspicuous type the following:
After purchasing fifty deliveries OF
our Illustrated World or Family Maya
zines. an elegantly mounted quadruple-
plated silver pitcher" &c.
Lower down in the body OF the con-
| tract. and lost in the brOadsde OF adJec'
J tives that lauded the excellence OF theiI
| gifts. were two lines of very fine type
! reading thus:
This publication appears in fifty de-
! liveries, each containing two numbers
which will be delivered at ten cents pei
! number"
Each subscriber. Of course, signed The
| certificate. thinking that when fifty de
| liveries at ten cents each had been made
| that he or she would be entitled 70 d
| premium as 50 generously described; IN
| stead. however. they were met with the
| information that they were only hall
| through paying. and the heretofore undis
| covered fine lines We're read and explained
TO the disappointed subscriber.
A great many accepted the explanation
] and continued tie tedious process Of pay
| ing ten cents for another hfty weeks. viii
an eye single TO that s.lk-plush album
and an ear already rayished in dream.
by the meifuence music Of the automatic
contrivnce hid in its covers.
THE ASSURANCE"
In a larger and mere generally dis
! tributed publication. teeming with further
| exaggerated specifications of the chimcri
| cal l0veliness OF their premiums, the firm
states in heavy. black-faced type: IAN,
premium named IN this catalogue -.
be promptly delivered 20 the SUBSCRIBE
at our Office on the return Of fifty cou
pons consecutively numbered from OF
| 20 fifty" Then falling inls fine type
again they continue: with assurance tina
the Subscriber will continue taking on
paper until they have the number o
books required"
What assurance" they needed as TO tn
continuance Of the subscriber is no
stated, but doubtless it was sufficient to
Make assurance double sure.
And take bond Of fate"
The manipulation of the type certainl.
indicates that it was the purpose of tn
! concern TO leave the subscriber In the be
| lief that the premiums came with m.
copies at ten cents per copy and the sub
| scrihers who were on hand yesterda.
seemed with one accord to have laborel
under this wrong impression
Code OF Virginia prescrihes that in IN
surance policies or certificates any claus
which works tie forfeiture Of the polio
snail be printed In a certain class O
| type. but O.; course. this would not b
touched at all by that provision.
MIR. WINTER BUYS.
Another phase OF the business is tina
Freeberg has just sold out the bushes
20 Mr.. J. Il. Winter. OF Richmond. an
10 is reported that Mr.. Water himsel
was deceived as 10 the exact facts II
the case. His attorney. however, state
| that Mr.. Winter will change the decepuy
printed matter and continue the bushes
in a legitimate way, advertising that on
hundred instead Of iifty books are TO b
bought before the donation Of any OF tn
premiums Will take place.
This would, Of course. save those sub
scribers who have already accumulate
a number OF coupons.
The case was continued, and will b
determined just as soon as witnesse
| CROUCH report to Justice Crutchneld