Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-04-03
A MoRp OF WARNING.

A WORD or WARNING.
Farmers have been made so often the
victims OF shsrpers that | am glad Of any
opportunity TO drop word which may
save them from loss. The copartner-
ship ownership OF 3 stallion has been
urged aud adopted In many localities,
and have no doubt that under some con-
ditious IL has proved profitable and been
an aid 20 the Improvement Of the stock
OF u neighoorhood; but the experience
of the farmers In my township few
years ago proved that IL may be made \
swindle, and that farmers who are con-
templating n move In this direction
should be exceedingly careful and know
just what they are doing before going
into any such arrangement. | found
sfterward that not only In my locality
but In many others the same swincling
game had been prscticed.
In order To show the dangers TO be
avoided In sn arrangement Of this kind
will give briefly the history Of this par
icular case. noticed one day In the
oarnySrd Of nv Deighoor, who lives only
two or three hundred yards from me, a
horse which In the distance seemed TO be
an animal OF fine figure and carriage !;
but, not knowing why he was there, the
matter soon passed from my mind. A
year or two later learned the history
of the whole transaction. A smooth
tongued jockey from neighboriug
county seat brought the horse to my
town, and secured the services OF n
young veterinary surgeon TO help him
yet acquainted with the farmers and
urge them TO form joint stock CON-
psny for the purchase Of the horse. The
sDimal, which was very snowy one,
impressed fsvorsbly those who saw him,
but few of whom were good Judges Of
stock. and the result was that q stock
company was made up 10 buy the horse
NJ 81 500, the price st which he WAS
valued by the jockey who had him In
charge. With persuasive tongue this
m,n easily convinced the farmers thst In
three or four years the entire purchase
money would be refunded from the
services of the horse, and that in the
mean time their colts would cost them
he experienced little difficulty
in making up the required number, and
the bargain WAS closed. A years ex-
perience, however. led the farmers TO
doubt whether they had acted wisely, as
the animal did not prove 4 sure fosl get
ter About thirty colts was the result
u the tirst years experience, and the ex-
pense OF keeping the horse very nearly
used up sll the receipts. Then good
Judges who examined the horse told them
that they had been badly swindled in the
price, and one of the best judges OF
horses In the village, after examining
him and being told 10 put just esti-
mate on his value, said the horse was
worth $50; and when, At the end OF two
years, the company disosnded and the
horse was sold at auction he brought just
$50. This would have been bad enough
n itself, but there was another feature
entirely unlocked for which made the
worse. which WAS that after
hey had secured eight or ten names of
farmers the company WAS
flied up 20 the maximum OF stockhold-
srs by taking in boys aud men of no
credit, and joint note was taken for the
entire purchase money. The result was
hat the responsible men In the company
had 20 paw the entire amount, and II
cost them SlT0 each.
II seems 10 me that these facts should
Ne put before the Farmers snd that they
should De exceedingly careful in form-
ug sn association OF this kind. First,
hey should be certain as 20 The value of
he horse itself; second, they should
know the history Of the horse la the
past as TO what be has done, not only as
% the style and value OF the colts of his |
get, but also as To whether or not he Il
sure breeder; and, third, they should re- |
luse 20 give a joint note, but let each |
member assume his share, and only his
share. Of the finsncisl obligation. As
near ss / could learn, the men who form |
"a the club did not meet together 20 con-
.ult, and possibly none of them knew
= ho all the members were, so there was
very chance for the man who sold the
horse 70 swindle them. Probably. also,
lev OF the men knew that they would be-
held responsible for more than their pro
-atA share OF the purchase money, while
luder the laws OF Ohio men signing II
oiut note are held individually RESPONSE |
Die for the entire amount. IL there had
been only one man of sufficient means To
meet IL he would have teen obliged 10
pay the entire sun.
have given the history OF this one
transaction, which sm told wss dupli-
,ated in many loo ,lities, in order 10 sho y
he farmers the dangers and possibilities
Df such q transaction and 10 lead them 10
carefully and know just what
hey are doing before any such arrange
nent is entered into.-New York Trib-
lne.