Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1901-12-20

Brattleboro Store Did Up Wholesale Houses
May Have Got Thousands Out of 1t,
Though Only $4OO is Defnately Known Yet
Stock Found to Consist of Sweepings, Old
Paper, etc
A slick swindle from which several
thousand dollars was very likely real
lied, though not quite S4O0 is yet
definitely known, has been uncov-
cred here the past week. 1t
was worked by stranger giving
the name of Henry w. Marcus. with
one Goldsmith as an apparent employe
but probable confederate Two months
ago he rented quarters in Vinton block
for a dry and fancy goods store, got
some good letter heads printed and
wlote to wholesale jewelry houses and
very likely others for goods to be sent
Ion approval,' telling the houses
they had been recommended to him,
and promising to send check at once
if the goods were accepted and If not
to Immediately return them. Big
boxes of goods began to arrive at once
by express. marked valuable, on
which of course he paid high express
rates. His purpose was evidently
double one, to put the swindle through
quick and also to get good report
from the express company of which
inquiries are often made as regards
credit and through which some con-
Germs make collections.
In each letter he gave a list of refer
ences, all Jew houses, and some If not
all the wholesale houses made in
quiries of them, with most favorable
results. One replied that it had done
business with Marcus for several
years, that he had owed it as much as
$500 at time, usually discounted his
bills and seemed to be a careful man,
but it had not done any business with
him since he opened his store in Brat
tleboro. Another replied that it had
done large business with him and
was much pleased with the account.
The meaning of this is evidently that
there is somewhere reputable bust
ness man by the name of Henry W.
Marcus of whose business ways and
connections the swindler obtained
some knowledge to play upon. By
writing to the references, it can
doubtless be found where he is or
has been located. with a good chance
thus of tracing the swindler.
About December 3 the professed
Marcus began writing to the houses
again and wanted them to send more
goods and higher priced like solid
gold necklaces, and indicating big or
ders in prospect and in some cases
giving them. As no payment had
been received for the first shipment
some of them took precautions to get
special reports from Bradstreets show
ing that his store had not been opened
at all yet and that both he and his
clerk were gone. Then bills came to
LAWYERS. one of Harris & Clips of Albany
of 500 to Schwenk, one of E. Ii. Sax
ton * Co. of $50 to Barber and of
Boyle Bros. & CO.. White River juno
tion for $40 to Waterman Il Martin.
Another for a37 from Rochester, n.
Y. has come since the suits
were brought and attachments made
last week Saturday Sheriff Starkey
orened the store forcibly. The result
was that nothing of value was found.
There were a lot of big boxes filled
with little ones carefully tied that
only waste paper, sweepings
and excelsior and many of the shelves
were occupied in Il similar way,-all
evidently placed there to deceive any
inquirers until the swindle could be
completed.
1t is known that Marcus" received
many of his boxes from New York,
but none of the victims there have
been heard from and the swindle is
therefore unknown in extent.