The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-01
Seeking LOCAL VICTIMS
Washingtonians Receiving Green
Goods Circulars.
Postof.ice Inspectors Looking for the
Benders-A Slight Variation in an
Old svindIc - Chief WiIkic. of
the Secret Service. Describes the
Method OF Working the Game.

Method OF Working the Game.
Postoffice inspectors are endeavoring 20
discover the senders of numerous green
goods" circular letters which are being cir
culated throughout the country. and which
recently have been scattered in large num-
bers liz this city. Such matter has fire.
quontly engrossed the attention of the in
spectors and their present efforts are di-
rected toward putting a stop TO the WE'LL
known swindling game. While the Offend
ing parties if caught in the act of con-
summating a swindle would be amenab.e TO
law, experience has taught the police and
the Secret Service detectives that it is
difficult and almost Impossible to catch the
swIndiers under cifcums aEccs which would
ensure conviction. For that reason it de-
wolves upon the postofiice authorities TO
locate the senders OF the letters and prose-
cute them for using the mails for fraudu-
lent purposes.
Though many residents of this city. some
of them reputable business n IN, have from
time TO time for years nack received
green goods letters, they have never
been so numerous or the offerings con-
iained in them never so glowing as in the
several received here within the past two
weeks.
Chief Wilkie, of the Secret Service. has
stated that an average of thirty letters each
day have been mailed to his office by per
sons who received them direct from the
green goods" operators This is but a
slight percentage of the number of circu-
lars of that nature received by persons who
pay no attention to them. and who never
mention the fact that they have been con-
sidered sufficiently gullible to be APP
preached as intended victims of an old
swindle. There are two other classes OF
persons who receive these letters-those
who answer the letters out OF curiosity and
the occasional victim who falls into the
trap.
Those victimized generally make COM
plant after they have been swindied. but
as it is almost an impossibility TO locate
the swindier. and as the swindled were
willing 10 be party TO a scheme to swindle
the Government there is little chance for
a successful prosecution. The g.een goods
men realize that fact and it is a part o. t o
capital of their peculiar calling.
As an illustration of how da3iag the
swindlers are, they recently mailed a cir
cular letter relating the scheme operated
containing The usual induceme ats. and Civ
). u.
Rock. business man. II was not the first
document OF this nature Mr.. Rock had re-
ceived and he at once brought the matter
to the attention of the police. The would
be swindlers are not within local jurisdic
ton, and hence the police are unable to
apprehend them. The letter addressed to
MIR. Rock is pCstmarlSed New York. while
the instructions contained in it safe that
all kilograms (no other communiclti tito. ar
desired must be sent 10 Allentown. Pa.
The letter, which is exactly like those
sent 10 ether intended victims, is printed
in circular form, and in imitation of type
writing. II contains about coo words, and
is worded in manner INTENDED 10 play on
the feelings of the susceptible and cledu-
lous. The letter follows:
CCoHfdcntisl)
Ny Dear Sir: Your name was son; me by my
son twho Is my travelling representative a
slreyd. reliable, and Trustworthy man for me 10
cooperate With in your vicinity, and | there
fore take the liberty 81 making you proposition
that ninety mine out Of a hundred up-to-date men
would gladly grasp If they could personally ex-
anime my work, thereby convincing themselves
Of the absolute safety Of my offer.
The writer is an expert engraver, having for
twenty-five yeafs been employed in the Bureau
OF Engraving, Washington, ID. C., and for twelve
years was superintendent OF one Of the largest
bank note companies in the country. During my
leiSlfe Took NJ as SIDE issue the duplication
OF Ones, fiNcs. and Tens
The mc,hodA OF the so-callod green goods
swindlers have heeB exposed from time TO time
in the daily press. They send out seductive cir
cular Letters TO ignorant farmers. with newspaper
Clipping in regard TO counterfeit money, etc.
falsely pretending they are the parties spoken OF
IN the article, and Offering 20 sell that which
they have not, inducing them 10 send on their
hard earned money and sending tllrm yaiso OF
sawdus, brick, or some such in return.
The reason these rascals find & profitable 10
work this game, IS because they know and they
take ii for granted that the people in general
know. that there are hundreds Of thousands Of
dollars- coutoricit-iH circulation, and as men
have no moral scruples against Increasing the
money circulation Tin TACT ting majority Of people
are IN favor u doing 1t by law, rs witness the
late gfeeBhack craze and the present silver agi-
tatiou) they induced 10 send their money
the very liberal terms held out to Them
cents buying a dollar OF some such absurd price.
Nc Intelligent man would DO IL. for their very
proposition is ridiculous not alone the buying
q q pig In a bag" but . man has only to stop
and consider the cot Of engraving, presses. print
ing, paper, etc. to see the absurdty OF the
offer.
Now, compare these methods with my propo-
sition: Firstly, ] am net addressing ignorant
farmer. Secondly, DO not want YOU 10 send me
one cent What ! want 10 know Is whether YOU
viii be willing 70 cooperate with me in the dis
posal Of my goods. providing prove TO you be-
yord all doubt. that my work is an claim for
1t, that il cannot be told from the genuine even
by experts. Understand. ] do not want YOU 10
invest one dollar until yOu have examined nv
entire stock from one TO one hundred thousand
dollars, compare them with the genuine, and, in
fact. submit them To- any test You see tit, then.
after YOU are thoroughly satisfied on every point,
yOn can decide whether YOU accent ms promo.
sitiun or not. The i-ct r., an Investment Of 500
VIII give you al immediate return that q life
time 81 toll In your present business would not
DO; this without iuiuring iricnds. nrighbors or
your fcllowman. TO convince YOU OF the safety
Of tie business ! viii, upon receipt Of telegram
as per enclosed notC-zcrd YOU a sample Of ms
work and viii also appoint place TO meet
entire stock
II for any reason you decide not TO cooperate
with me, ] trust Us 40 honorable man. Won Will
honor the protection TINT tie word ''can6dentiaT'
ensures 70 all communications and not be 90
heaFtloss as TO destroy ny lies work, So kindly
hufn the and Jet the matter dr6b Trusting
however, 10 hear from you Immediately, ! remain
tcufdentally yours.
OLDEST STEEL PLATE ENGRAyER IN THE
r.s.-Ior obvious reasons have omitted all
names. date, c;c., from this letter.
Enclosed with the letter is a small card
OF instructions. The card states that all
kilograms ono lettersl must be addressed
to j. White, Allentown. Pa" The tele-
gram must be worded as follows: Keep
duplicate No. liz OF Or. Fords book
That. 1t is explained, in a cipher which
none but the sender and recoirer will un-
derstand. On receipt of the telegram. the
Oldest Steel Plate Engraver in the United
States" viii send sample copy OF his
work and appoint a place Of meeting with
the proposed victim. when any amount Of
money that cannot be recognized from the
genuine" can be purchased for small
sum.
Chief Willde in speaking of the matter.
I
he said, the old scheme known as the
'sawdust game After the telegram such