Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-30
THEY WORKED THEM
Gang Of sharpersswind ottumwa
People This Summer.
RECENTLY OPERATED IN BURLINGTON

ALVENlLl VI EAAlLU IN OUNLlNNlVN
Woodland Avenue Furnishes . Goodly
List Of Victims for the Represents
lives Of "The German Amer.
lean publishins Co."
There are several hundred people in
this city and Burlington, with more
places to hear from, who had expected
long ago to be the possessors OF hand
some gold watches, but they are not
and the hope Of ever realizing their ex-
Pectations in many cases is rapidly dis
appearing II not In fact already
dead.
Three smooth talking individuals
have been working Ottumwa for the
past six months representing them
selves as canvassers for the "Germau-
American Publishing Company" con-
Germ which has no existence but in
name. They promised a gold
plated watch, ladies' or gentlemen's, as
required, on subscription to and pay
ment for magazine (no name given).
Victims were to pay for eighty five
numbers at ten cents each, and were
tod when they had paid for fifty they
might choose" their watch. The swim
dlers began their work last June and
remained in the city until about two
weeks ago or, until many OF the sub
scriptions were about to expire. This
was true for the reason that the mag
azine" was not a periodical, in the
common acceptance of the term, but a
cheap penny publication of lurid fic-
ton and alleged history of Dreyfus. 1t
was gotten up about like an almanac
only with poorer printing and cheaper
paper. The price, per number, ten
cents, was printed on the cover, but
they were not worth that much hun.
bred.
The sharpers presented to their VIC
Tins, when their glib tongues had won
their confidence, q cheapiy printed
certificate OF Guarantee stating that
the German American Publishing COM
pany herewith agrees to deliver to the
bearer of this guarantee certificate one
gold-plated lady's or gentleman's stem
winding watch, in good repair, entirely
free of charge as shown by our agent,
after the expiration of a subscription
for a magazine, consisting Of eighty
five single numbers of ten cents each
number, amounting to $3.50, It was
signed by the German American Pub
fishing company, All South Secohd
street, Cedar Rapids. The FcanvasseFs
named signed at the bottom of the
certificate in one case is l.. ID. Kramer,
and in another it is given as Pollack,
While in burlington the name was
signed Jac. Kramer. The signature
OF the canvasser had been witnessed
tby Ola Il. Edmunds, as notary public.
and her seal was attached. The name
For the third canvasser could not be
Plearned, as in majority OF cases the
Fcertificate had been DESTROYED, the
Eparty of the second part having lost
Hope of the German. American Publish
ing company" fulfilling its part OF
the contract.
Mrs. Hattie Johnson, of 412 West
woodland avenue, was seen today and
said that she had paid $3.50. on the
contract and that she had received a
watch, but She did not presentit to the
gaze of the reporter. /. Mrs. johnson
said that but two mem were lat her
/ house, one of them tall and the othet
short. They outlined the scheme ia
her practically as given above. She
| said the men when On their collecting
tour had a stack OF. cards thar musi
have numbered nearly two hundred
and linking that as index of the bust.
ness they did, there must have been
nearly three hundred people in this
icity. who bit.
1 Another woman on the same street,
1 who did not want her name used, said
that she signed the contract and paid
for eighteen of the books. She became
suspicious of the men and inquired
Z too closely into the scheme, and she
was told that II she would STAY in
until she had paid $3.50 they would
! present her with set of solid silver
spoons. She agreed to that bat they
did not put in an appearance after
wards and she has the books, each one
containing a chapter of the story. The
chaters do not run consecutiyely. The
! sharpers would run out of the chapter
she ought to have and upon inquiry
would find out the one needed and sur
sreptitiously change. the printed number
for the one she should have had.
Mrs. a. l.. Mosier, of North Wapello
~ a'Ss'i N'oStii0tiN dNSttuS, s.tlll IQul
she had paid for twenty-one numbers
hut that they did not run consecutively
and that the men, after making the
last collection, did not come back. She
showed the reporter her books, and
they We're printed on the cheapest
kind of paper and bore the title "Eter-
nally Parted. or the Terrible Fate OF
Capt. Dreyfus and His Faithful Wife,
and contained some sort of story in
which the French army officer figured
during his Imprisonment on DEVILS ISL
and. Mrs. AIosier said that when she
I had Maid SIS she could choose a gold
watch, according to the terms of the
contract and the representations made
by the capvasser, aud could have the
choice of any movement she desired.
Several other women were found who
had been duped by the swindlers, but
the only other watch that could be
learned of was in the case of woman
who had purchased it. paying IS with
out the f'magazine" attachment, but
that 1t began to turn black the next
day after she received it, Another