The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-21
The sly.,er and the Law.

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There are various methods by which
the inscriptions fakfrs who infest the
produce trade succeed in swindling
country shippers and still keep them
selves out of the clutches Of the law,
says the New York Produce Review.
The old way was to get up attractive
and often expensive and heightened
stationery, posing as commission mer-
chants. quoting prices for produce
higher than could be obtained, and
guaranteeing phenomenal results based
upon claims Of exceptional facilities.
prompt returns would be made for the
hrst few shipments, then there would
come great praise of the goods, and
calls for larger quantities.: then slower
returns until enough goods were in the
hands sof the frauds to make a good
sized haul; then a general selling out,
pocketing the proceeds and fly by
night to other fields where the same
operation would be gone through UNI
der another name.
But this was risky business because
the laws referring to commission sales
are likely to be effective and failure to
make proper return may result in ar
rest, criminal prosecution and perhaps
Imprisonment. The new way Is safer.
The snide does not pose as a commits
sion merchant but simply offers to buy
produce either on track at shipping
station or delivered in the city where
ne locates. He quotes high prices, cash
payment, mo commission" and, as a
bait to get goods, generally says why
pay commission for selling your goods
when you can sell them to US for the
highest market prices without any de-
duction except for freight?"
This is attractive bait and there are
usually many to bite the hook. A trial
shipment Is made, and back come, the
returns as prompt and as satisfactory
as possible. Other shipments may be
paid for promptly also and as soon as
the shippers misplaced confidence is
won he is entreated to make larger
shipments. Then payment begins to-
fall behind. but excuses are made until
the Indebtedness is as large as pos
s1ble; perhaps notes are given to coax
along further shipments, but before,
the notes become due the house fails.
Now as this scheme Is worked on
large number of shippers at once-as
many as can be caught with the bait
used-the total stealings may amount
to good many thousand dollars and
the creditors have no redress unless
they can get positive proof Of fraud
which Is most difficult matter. And
as they can't squeeze water out of a
dry sponge and few Of them would pur-
sue the criminals merely for vengeance
sake, with no hope of getting back
their property or it's value, the rogues
escape, probably only to start up again
under some different name and do the
trick over again.
The basis of success in these nefari-
GUS operations is the lack Of confidence
with which many shippers regard the
commission trade. There are many
who look upon an unusually tempting
offer as merely the sign of honesty and
integrity; they seem to think the COM
mission man gets too much out of their
6oouo anu WAeu man comes along
who says he will pay top prices mo
commission" the country shipper
seems to say to himself "here at last
is an honest man." Then he bites the
bait and gets left.
1t is best to realize that service in
selling goods-as in other perform
ances-cannot be had for nothing.
There are many honorable merchants
ready to receive consignments of prod
uce and obtain their full value, to
whom shipments may be entrusted
with the utmost confidence. When
strangers come with offers to do better
it is safe to suspect fraud until the
most careful investigation proves the
contrary.