The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-09-25
THIS COMES CLOSE
TO A HOLDUP.
Youngstown People Are Being
Bled Properly.
TATLER TELLS HOW 1T Is

Auu Tfies TO Lay the Blame on His Col
league. Mr.. Richardson-some
Pretty Merry Letters Sent
Deiinquents.
Youngstown, Sept. 20.-A number of
Youngstown's best known residents
have invested in sets of books called
Messages and papers Of the presi-
dents" and there is much dIssa atisfac ctIon
as result.
The whole matter has been ventilated
at Washington, and until recently 1t
was supposed that the people in this
district had escaped the snare which
was laid by q clever book agent who
got into the good graces of the Demo-
Gratis leader Of the house, John d. Rich
ardson.
Regarding this matter Hon. r. w.
Tayler said to a reporter the other day:
"The whole thing Is a smooth con-
| f1dence game. The letters and many i'm
portant documents Of the presidents
had never been placed in book form,
and Mr.. Richardson volunteered to do
the work Of editing them. They were
we'll gotten UP and there was a great
call for them, but when the supply was
exhausted Mr.. Richardson asked that
he be given set Of the plates to run
off few sets for his personal use. AS
he had received no pay for his work his
REQUEST WAS GRANTED
One Barkus, who tried to break into con-
gress, from Indiana, and who was a
smooth book agent, secured the plates
and for their use gave Mr.. Richardson
small royalty on the publication Of
| each volume. Some idea Of the number
sold can be gained from the fact that
Mr.. Richardson had secured $4,000 in
royalties when the matter was investi-
gated and ventilated in the house.
1.-THE parties who had the matter in
charge tried to convey the impression
that the books were published under
the direction of the government and or
ganized what they called a committee
on distribution The books cost in the
neighborhood Of 81 piece to publish
and the set was sold by subscription at
$34, giving handsome profit. All ad-
vertising matter was gotten up to read
| that the buyer was selected as a par
| ticularly suitable person to have the
books and that they were being dis
tributed by the government at the act
ual cost of printing and binding. Hun
dreds Of people all over the country
were taken in, but I was not aware
that anybody in this district had been
approached"
prominent Youngstown profession
al man, after having been induced to
deposit $40 and affix his signature to a
guarantee to pay $24 more, discovered
the hoax, repented Of his action and
since that time has been the victim of
what is certainly next
DOOR TO BLACKMAIL,
as the following will show:
Mr.. -, Youngstown:
Aug. "a.
Dear Sir-It Is a noteworthy fact that
you do not respond to our letters, not
| withstanding that we were advised
that you were competent to pay and
would be governed by honest business
principles. Your disregardins the terms
of your contract checks confidence,
| subjects us to loss and clearly admits
of drastic steps to>reach your earnings
| or property.
I appeal to your honor and business
fairness to give this letter attention, IL
you deem 1t expedient to fore estall
garnishment or attachment proceed
ings. I will stay these measures, how
ever, a few days, anticipating that you
will not underestimate the value Of
credit or disqualify yourself for trust.
The evidence is beyond question, the
| records are conclusive so that II you
do not respond you will take the con-
| sequences of your own impruderce.
Kindly give us the names Of two
neighbors to whom we can refer as TO
your efficiency END fidelity. Have you
| recently given chuttel mortgage!
Yours respectfully,
H. LAh'SON.
On the margin is formidable array
| of instructions to
ATTORNEYS AND CONSTABLES
calculated to strike terror to the bravest
heart. Others letters followed and then
came an attempt to destroy the pros
pective victims business standing with
a large corporation which he represents.
Observe the implied threat and the fact
that the letter is unsigned:
The following Is a copy Of letter
this day written to the National Steel
company concerning your Indebtedness
for the messages and papers of the
presidents:
| Aug 10