Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-23
A PREMIUM SCHEME
Art Goods Racket Worked in Mar.
shalltown Said to Be
Crooked.
--------------.
Hundreds Of Subscribers Won.
dering Whether They'll
Get Premiums.
Secretary Shaw's Name Being
Used, But Without
Permission.

A press dispatch sent out from Linz
coin, Neb., may prove to be of interes;
to several hundred of Marshalltowr
people. The story from Nebraska con-
Germs the American Art Publishing
Company, canvassers for which have
been operating in Lincoln and securing
subscribers to series of art publica-
tons, with the promise that they are
to receive the choice of certain articles
of fine furniture, after half the premi-
ums are paid.
During the past few weeks. in Mar
shalltown, four men representing q
firm by the same name have been so
liciting orders for q similar work, and
presenting the same. prize furniture
scheme. They have been quite sue
cessful, from what can be learned, and
have taken many names of subscribers
who have already paid down certain
amounts. The inducements offered here
have been identical with those said to
have been presented in Lincoln, and
other places. In short the scheme Is
as follows: BY the subscriber signing
a contract to take the art publications
he pays 81 down and agrees to pay 81
per month for eight successive months,
making in all 50 he has paid in. Each
month he is sent two art magazines
which, at the time he has paid his
50, are to be exchanged for one bound
volume, embracing ill of the loose
copies he already has in his possession
He in return, returns the loose ones to
the agents of the company. and is al
lowed to make his selection of china
closet, sideboard, a leather couch OF
some other piece of fine furniture
ranging in value from SIS to $50
While in the city, to show that the
scheme was all right, and that the pre-
miums promised were forthcoming, the
agents produced copies of letter pur-
porting to be from Governor Leslie NJ
Shaw. in which he stated that he had
received his premium. and that the
deal was straight one.
The Lincoln dispatch in which the
scheme Is outlined. and which tells OF
the arrest of one of the men connected
with the company, is as follows:
timonial bearing the signature of Mrs
Leslie NJ. Shaw. wife of Secretary Shaw
agents of the American Art Publishing
Company have been doing land Office
business In Lincoln for the past few
months.
THE state OF affairs was made public
by the arrest of Orville n. Gilbert, trav-
cling agent of the concern, by the police.
pending the investigation of the enter
prise Gilbert is now on trial.
Eight hundred people have been
duped in Lincoln and the police have
discovered the names of 1000 in the
state. They lost from 50 to SIS.
The concern has $50 subscribers In
Sioux City. and is now working Des
Moines.
zone agent Of the concern goes about.
aver the police. and secures contracts
with the poorer classes, promising some
valuable premium when the victim has
paid for eighteen sets of pictures at the
rate of so cents per set On the contract
is a list of premiums consisting OF
household furnishings. gold watches and
sewing machines. Collections are made
on this basis, the agent agreeing to have
The premiums on exhibition in month.
A different agent comes the next time,
excusing the non-appearance OF the
premiums on some pretext, and 80 the
deal is worked. Meanwhile the patrons
contribute at the rate of 81 a month.
THE climax came with the appear
ance of Gilbert and his arrest. Local Of
flcers declare he can be convicted of
fraud.
Mrs. Shaw explains her connection
with the concern as follows:
ga gentleman made me an offer of a
present ii / would purchase eighteen art
books at SO cents each. I declined. but
he told me I might go to Harbach's fur