Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-25
How Governor Shaw's Endorse.
ment OF the Concern Was
Obtained at Des Moines.
Plausible and Convincing Story
and Valuable Present to
Governors Wife.
shaw's Approval Used to Good
Advantage in the Various
Cities Visited.

Special to TimeS-RepuDiican.
Des Moines, Jan. 25.-The arrest OF
the man in Lincoln, Neb., accused OF
swindling in connection with picture
deal and promise of valuable presents
thrown in free recalls the unwelcome
few weeks. Just few days before
Christmas an agent of the concern
called on Mrs. Leslie NJ Shaw, Their wife
of the governor. who was preparing
even then to return to her quiet home in
Denison where their house had been
somewhat remo6eled. TIL agent had
books or portfolios of pictures To-. sale
on payments. He very much desired to
sell to Mrs Shaw. He would make her
present in addition. All subscribers
received valuable presents. He was
plausible and convincing. He told Mrs.
Shaw that If she subscribed she could
go to certain leading furniture store
and pick out anything she desired and
have it and the firm would pay the bill.
Half doubling and perhaps more Curl
Gus than otherwise. Mrs. Shaw accepted
the offer, and went to the furniture
store the next day. The proprietor told
her that the offer was good at his store.
He had investigated the firm and found
1t to be good. She could have any one
piece OF furniture she might covet.
The wife of the governor was astonish-
ed, and while yet half believing there
must be some trick in it she did not un-
derstand, picked out q davenport with
SITS marked on the price tag. The fur
niture man set 1T to her rooms at the
hotel. She thought it would be very
useful in refitting their Denison home.
Then the newspapers got hold of the
story in part and made it public This
made the picture agent mad and he
tried to suppress any further informa-
ton In regard to 1t. He begged and
pleaded with newspaper men not to give
the case any more notoriety. His bust
ness was all right but he didn't need
advertising.
The next step was also interesting.
Gov. Shaw returned home. About the
same time the furniture man, not trust
ing the agent entirely. had sent the bill
to the Chicago Office Of the company.
The manager appeared on the scene
forthwith. He used words that wouldn't
look well in print 1t was not expected
that such, valuable presents should be
picked out But the furniture man
explained that he had followed instruc-
lions literally and had delivered only
one piece OF furniture. Mrs. Shaw had
not misunderstood the agent. The. bill
was paid
The furniture man became merry at
the expense of the manager of the pic
ture house and twitted him on being
beat for once by woman. The man
ager said he did not know. Two days
later he appeared at the store and
showed the dealer signed Endorsement
of the firm and Acknowledgement of the
present from the governor of the state,
then already known to be slated for
secretary OF the treasury.
There" he is reported to have said
that is worth more to
me than the cost of the davenport.
Well make it back quickly enough"
1t appears that the Endorsement has
turned up In Lincoln, Neb. and the pic
ture agent has also been turned down
by the police authorities on complaint
Of scores of victims who did not getl
what they thought they were going to
get.
The davenport sofa is said to be the
most comfortable ana elegant piece of
furniture sold by any Des Moines fur
niture house this winter.