Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-05-29
sw,ndlers ABROAD.

Lightning rod sharks are or have re-
Gently been operating In his county.
The Lamont Leader says:
1.-TWO strangers called last Thursday
at the home of John Kash east of town
and solicited him for lightning rod
for his barn. Mr.. Kash did not care to
buy rod at the price named, and after
some conversation they agreed to put
up the rod for $3.50, and, as they would
be in the neighborhood some time,
would take the pay in board. AS a part
of good faith he signed contract as
above and the gentlemen j?) departed,
leaving the work of putting up the rod
to another party who had that part of
the work in hand. Mr.. Kash reflected
on the deal after they had departed
and decided not to let the second party
put up the rod, and instructed his
wife when he called to send him to the
field to see him. Not many hours had
elapsed before lightning rod-man No. 2
arrived and was sent out where Mr..
Kssh was planting corn. He asked the
lightning rod vender how much the
rod was to cost, and he produced figures
from the contract that named the price
per foot and said it would cost 1927.
He then assured him that the rod
could not be put up and that If he
undertook to do SO he would kick him
off the farm, and after the CRATER had
gone into the road where his team was,
refused to allow him on the premises
again. After good deal of talk the
would-be swindler departed, leaving
the barn exposed to the lightning'a
flash and its owner 1927 ahead. Mr..
Kash did the proper thing at the pro.
per time. A stuffed club is not toe
good to use on men of this kind who
work swindles around the country
A farmer residing near Hopkinton
was not 80 fortunate as witness the
following from the Leader:
"The lightning rod shark and note
raiser has been abroad in the land anG
found one victim at least, though with
out doubt there are others. We refrain
from giving the name of the farme
who was duped, but it is well to relst,
the circumstances so that others ma!
be warned. The pseudo agent came tt
the farmers home and convinced hin
that lightning rods were about the pro
per things to adorn his buildings AMI
very innocent looking contract order
for doing the work we're signed. Tn
farmer signed two orders-one 70
S14.OO and the other for $16,-for rod
ding the barn and house. That was
little more than week ago, and OF
Saturday last a banker in this city re
ceived notice from the Peoples Nation
al Bank at Ottawa, Kansas, that it hell
the notes of the farmer referred to ii
the amounts of $40 and $3.50 an,
wanted an offer for them. Througl
the aid of the local banker the farme
has paid his notes with some reduction
and has mentally resolved that he vii
never again trust willy stranger. 1t
strange how often the sharks pick u
big money by such tricks as these
Had this man dealt with his HON
dealer he might at least have been
few dollars ahead of his present pre-
dicament. If he hadn't signed th
: agents orders he probably wouldn
have had lightning rods at all, fc
these fellows do not care to do bushes
for cash In hand. Its when the orde
}, turn up in the hands Of .innocent pu
chasers" as bona fide notes that tt
4 profits knock out q corner on corn /
Chicago. Don't Sign orders for me
with whom you have no acquaintanc
unless you are anxious to buy SON
experience at the expense of q whole II
of money"