The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-07-07
The Packer of Kansas City
Gives It's History.
II Does Not Speak Well of
the Concern.
Representative Said to Have
Been Here Yesterday.
From FRIDAYS Daily.

in the city yesterday stranger claim
ing to represent the so-called Sprague
Mercantile Agency OF Chicago. Concern
ing this company the following article
appeared in The Packer of Kansas City:
Chicago, June l0.-In the past The
Packer has had occasion to publish
some account of the methods practiced
by the Sprague Mercantile Agency
whose general offices are at 2lS La
Sale street in this city.
| 1t should be stated that no idea was
entertained as to the extent this bo-
gus concern was operating until its de-
vious, not to say absolutely crooked,
methods were exposed. And in passing,
it is pleasure to know that this paper
has been the means of saving a num-
Der of firms from being inveigled into
Sprague's tolls. The articles were in
teresting reading for many reputable
commercial agency men over the coun-
try and several leading newspapers who
asked The Packer for copies of the pa
pers containing the gentle criticisms,
and Immediately turned the information
to good account.
Naturally enough The Packer was in
| terested sometime ago in a claim filed
by a subscriber who had been duped into
paying the cool sum of 500 for which
he received almost nothing in return
and afterwards enjoyed the satisfaction
of having the unspeakable Sprague de-
lliberately relieve him of about $40. This
party is A. S. j. Mckinney, of Lake
land, Fla.
| 1t will also be remembered that upon
investigation. it was learned that
Sprague had had one of the spellbinders
operating on South Water street, where
a number of firms were roped in for
sums ranging from $50 to 500. Among
these are Gallagher Bros, Wayne &
Low, Hall, Wedge & Carter, H. w.
Dobson. Frost Brothers, c. H. Weaver &
Co, and SchlOsser Bros. 1t seems that
the solicitor who got these firms in
terested in the grand bunco game, was
lonce in full orders as a minister, and
it is said he had the 'Day of salvation"
speech down to the queens taste. F.
Ankenbauer & Sons, of Cincinnati, Were
IL 1al h hol. hot he
day was fast approaching and that they
should cough up hundred bucks to
be saved. All these firms, so far as
can be learned, have been treated in
precisely the same way. Claims con-
sisting of old accounts and bad debts
of all kinds, were placed with the
Sprague outfit for collection. Flaming
letters We're written debtors informing
them that all just debts should be paid.
OF course few # them antied. In fact,
very few of them. 1t is the rarest thing
to find where single payment has been
made. But Sprague also has mania
for getting percentage on everything
in sight, or forsooth, appropriating ev-
erything, yes. everything they can get.
| The A. A. Berry Seed company, well
known firm of Clarinda. Ia, was I'M
fortunately duped by Sprague spell
binder The firm paid $50 and under
stood all notes and accounts previously
considered bad would become easy to
collect. Sprague would collect them, yes,
sir. just give them the accounts allow
them 20 per cent on all collections. Pres
to! The collections did not pan out
as had been radiantly promised. Was
the thing strange. Very much out of the
ordinary! What in the world could be
the matter? Had the force of gravity
ceased to act? Was the day of judg-
ment actually at hand? The Berry peo-
pie began to think little. Only two
small bills mad been paid after the un-
speakable had heaped great fumes of
fury in the pathways of the delinquent
debtors unless they squared up their
obligations. After giving the soaking
in" process and the anathemas a fair
trial, the Berry people decided they
would get all the papers back which
they had placed with the unspeakable
In writing them, member of the firm
inadvertently mentioned that the two
small bills had been paid, and it should
be noted in passing that there was not
the slightest proof that these were paid
through Sprague's influence or efforts.
lnasmuch as the Berry people did not
think the game worth the candle, they
decided to call off the dogs of war" and
give it up for bad job. But the I'M
speakable Iunco steerers demanded their
commission, yea to the uttermost farth-
ing. But, it was retorted, haven't You
already got $50 of our money? We
think you have been well paid for what