The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-01
old SCHEME
IS STOPPED.
Piano Dealer Arrested iii WASH
ington on Grave
Charge.
RlcHMoND's SIMILAR CASE.
Merchants Here Were About to
Have Parties in Corrt-Thcy
Are Now Gone.
RlcHMoND's SIMILAR CASE

The story OF the arrest In Baltimore
Sunday OF George II. Bristol, who
according to his own statement. has been
operating thriving cheap piano busl-
ness in Washington through the medium
OF newspaper advertisements. is OF consuin-
Ing public interest here, owing to the
fact that advertisements almost Identical
with his own, have appeared recently In
tire Richmond papers, and TO after de-
velopments which led to the belief that
similar scheme was in operation In
this city,
Bristol has been brought back to Wash.
ington. to answer the charge of "false
pretcnses." The advertisement employed
by the Washington man was as follows:
..Family must sell. regardless Of
price. elegant $40 upright cabinet grand
piano, 1-3 octaves; silver mounted over
strung bass Students practice muffler;
very sweet tone and sympathetic action;
beautifully carved mahogany base; with
out mar or blenish; Is practically new;
fully warranted for ten years by promi-
nent maker, and must be seen to be ap-
preclated; price, sleO, including stool to
quick cash buyer. as must be sold at
once: a great chance Tor any one de-
string an instrument. Call residence, 15oo
Vermont Avenue. ~ as
The plan OF the man was to locate in
quito Of rooms in Il residential portion OF
the city, and to insert the above advcr-s
tisement in the local papers within few
days.
Were Suppressed.
The above is almost the Identical Ian
{s, J.,n~ tenx ,nv1fC 70
1nond papers discontinued here recently
vpon information which they received
II Is known that a good many cheap
pianos were quickly sold here, and II is
said now that on account iof the probn-i
5Eiltty Of prosecution for doing business
without license. those behind the scheme
have left the city. It IS further under
stood on good authority that q pretty
good case he'd been made OUT and that
proper steps were about to be inausu-
rated TO have the parties who wanted to
make the urgent sale. because they were were
leaving the city, appear In court and
show cause why regular piano dealers
license should not be required OF them
5.sI Not a New Scheme.
SIT appears to be an old scheme" said
leading piano merchant IN discussing
the matter, ..and It has been worked 10
a finish In some OF the Northern and
Eastern cities where the operators have
been run down.
Il develops, according 10 those who
were investigating the matter, that at
least thirteen cheap pianos were sold TO
Richmond people, while the scheme was
being worked here.
Whentthe advertisement was answered
In person by the proposed buyer. the
latter would be shown at the address
given. an Instrument Of apparently stand
ard make. and worth sa75 Upon deliv-
e ths instrument Instrument was zof character
which could be purchased for about
$50 at wholesale. "A Broad Street
piano dealer was informed Of some OF
these purchases, and ttaiting the adver-
tiscment he set to work to make
quiet, but thorough, Investigation.
Young Lady Clever.
He sent one of his men to the number
given. but he was evidently recognized
by the woman he saw. who informed him
that the instrument had been sold.
A young lady employed at the store,
was then sent, and was received 4politc-
~. and offered the instrument shown
her Thirteen new and unpacked instru-
ments were then located IN Two freight
stations here, and 1t Is the belief Of the
merchant that the one at the residence
vas kept there as a sample. and the or 1
ders filled direct from the factory,
through the freight depots. without. be-
ing sent to the number where the sample
was shown
& The charges against the Washington
man are brought by the wife OF we'll
known business man.
The War.