Evening star., 1901-07-10
THE OLD, OLD STORY
Green Goods Men Endeavoring to
Rope in the Unwary.
SCHEME FOR ACQUISITION OF WEALTH
Confidential Circular in Hands of
Police Of Washington.
TRAP FOR UNSUSPECTING

Detectives consider it highly probable
that some of the expert green goods
swindiers will endeavor to do an extensive
business this fall while the Buffalo expo
sition is attracting people from all parts of
the country. Thousands of visitors from
the rural districts of many states will take
advantage of the cheap rates and visit New
York city on their way to or from the ex-
position, and many Of them have already
been informed how, for a small sum of
money, they may become wealthy. Only
few days ago resident of this city re-
ceived circular explaining the method to
be pursued in order to get great amount
OF wealth. The circular, which is marked
CONFIDENTIAL informed the recipient of 1t
just what to do and gave an explanation
of how the principals to the deal may
meet and do business.
The circular is in part as follows:
4o our name was sent me by my son (who
is my travelling representative shrewd,
reliable and trustworthy for me to
cooperate with in your vicinity, and l
therefore take the liberty Of proposing
scheme to you that ninety-nine out Of
hundred up-tO-date men would gladly grasp
If they could personally examine my work
thereby convincing themselves of the ab-
solute safety of my offer.
ne WIlteI is an expert cnSTdNeT, nav
ing Tor twenty-five years been employed
In the bureau of engraving, Washington,
D. G., and for twelve years was superin-
tendent of one Of the largest bank note
companies In the country. During my
leisure 1 took up as side issue the du-
plication of ones, fives and tens and as
these were the original denominations ]
had worked upon, you can believe me when
l say they are perfect.
Is Aware of Existing Prejudice.
Now, my dear sir, I am fully aware of
the suspicion and prejudice that you nat
urally will entertain for my proposition, as
you will on first thought class 1t as coming
from a green goods or sawdust swindler,
but if you will lay aside that prejudice, ap-
ply common sense and look at my propo-
stion from a business standpoint, compare
it with the methods of these petty swim
dlers and you will credit me with not being
fool enough to waste my time addressing
man of your intelligence and standing in
the community.
1.-The methods Of the so-called green
goods swindlers have been exposed from
time to time in the daily press. They send
out seductive circular letters to ignorant
people, with a fake newspaper clipping
praising counterfeit money, etc. and offer
ing to sell that which they have not, in
ducing them to "end on their hard-e earned
money and sending them bag of sawdust
or some such in return.
The reason these rascals find it profit
able to work this game Is because they
know and take 1t for granted that the
people in general know that there are hun
dreds of thousands of fdolars-counterfeft-
In circulation. and as men have no moral
scruples against increasing the money cir
Culation dn fact, the ma jority of people
are In favor of doing 1t by law as wit
ness the late greenback craze and the pres
ent silver agitation), they are induced to
send on their money on the very liberal
terms held out to them-5 cents buying q
dollar or some such absurd price
NO Intelligent man would DO it, for their
proposition is ridiculous; but man has
only to stop and consider the cost of en-
craving, presses, printing, paper, etc, to
See the absurdity of the offer
Says His Method is Superior.
Now. compare these methods with my
proposition: Firstly, am not addressing an
ignorant person. Secondly, do not want
you to send me one cent. What 1 want to
know is whether you will be willing to oc-
operate with me In the disposal Of my
goods providing I prove to you beyond all
doubt that my work is all 1 claim for it,
that it cannot be told from the genuine,
even by experts. Understand, l do not
want you to invest one dollar until you
have examined my entire stock from 81 to
100000, compare them with the genuine,
ard, in fact, submit them to any test you
see fit, then after you are thoroughly salts
fed on every point, you can decide whether
fact Is, an investment of $400 will give you
an immediate return that a lifetime Of
toll in your present business would not do;
this without injuring friends, neighbors or
your fellowman. To convince you of the
safety of the business 1 will, upon receipt
of teegram-as per inclosed note-send you
sample Of my work, and l will also ap-
point a place to meet you, so that YOU can
personally examine my entire stock.
IF for any reason you decide not to CO.
operate with me, / trust as an honorable
man you will honor the protection that the
word 'confidentiaP insures to all commune
cations, and not be SO heartIess as to de-
stroy my life's work. so kindly burn this
and let the matter drop Trusting, how
ever, to hear from you Immediately, l re-
main, confidentially yours,
"OLD STEEL PLATE ENGRAVER"
Local Police Interested.
Members of the local police department
are considerably interested in this matter,
for the reason that occasionally the VIC
tins come this way and have to be cared
for, and In many Instances given trans
portation to their homes Many amusing
stories have been heard by the detectives
about the experiences of victims of the
green goods" men. 1t Is an old story
often rehearsed. The swindlers invariably
tell their victims not to open their pack
ages until they reach home, because they
might arouse suspicion and cause trouble.
Those who come south with their supposed
thousands seldom manage to pass through
this city without opening their packages
and discovering worthless paper instead Of
a package of green goods" Then they
are without funds and have to be sent
home at the expense of the District.
The victims tell the police how they were
induced to meet the New Workers and go
through rooms, narrow passages and dark
places until they get to the place where they
meet the crooks and stacks of genuine
money. Thousands of dollars are counted
out and put in valise. In order to avoid
suspicion the victim Is escorted to the rail-
road depot, and here they are dexterously
given another satchel, which contains only
some worthless paper.
One of the latest victims to stop here
was a colored preacher, who had dealt with
the New York men. hoping he would get
money enough to build a church. He got
worthless blank paper instead, and he was
at a loss to know just what explanation he
would make when he reached his home
Another victim was a business man who
went to New York to buy goods He had
received a copy of the "confidenttal'' cir
cular, and instead OF making purchases he
gave up his money to the swindlers.
Admiral Bunce Has Cancer.
A dispatch from Boston yesterday saws.
An operation for cancer was nerforp,aa