The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-20

all swindIers who make use of the mail
service. The task presented the au-
thorities is q difficult one.
LII tile first place, where the mails
have been used, tho victims are wide
~ scattered. and 1t Is difficult 10 know
who has been swindied, and the gov
crnment must choose It's witnesses
from those who happen TO make com
plant. These witnesses are scattered
sary to bring them here for the pre-
limInary hearing. thcn for the grand
jury session and once moro for the
trial of the case. Much labor mud en-
pcnse arc necessary.
Then. too. 1t is necessary for the
attorney who draws the Indictment
to go through correspondence and tho
various conversations with the great
est care in order that he may analyze
the scheme and determine exactly In
what the fraud consists, SO that the
indictment may be accurately drawn.
Then Mt the trial of tho case the gov
ernmcnt is. perhaps. confronted with
the fact that tho scheme has been
SO cleyerly devised that direct intent
to defraud is impossible of proof. and
resort must be had to circulnstantial
evidence.
The records show. however, that the
government has very seldom lost a
case OF this kind. and that swindlers
and confidence men stand in the great
est fear of the Federal authorities be-
cause OF theAvigor Of prosecution in the
past If the law could DO amended as
above suggested, undoubtedly the gov
eminent would be able to reach and
suppress q large majority 1of the
schemes to defraud that are now oper-
ated. from this city.
Ore OF the surprising things in con-
nection With this subject, Is the cred
ulity OF the average person who has
saved a little money. and hopes for
large and Immediate returns from It.
It seems that there is nothing so
| eXtravagant, SO improbable. that the
people will not believe 1t. II the stock
| of any company had any chance OF
earning the dividends which these
promoters represent that it Will, of
course 1t would be subscribed and
over-subscribed for at once by the big
moneyed men. and would not have to
DO peddIed around at absurd prices
often as low as ten cents T. share.
When this is suggested to the promot-
or, ho always states that the big
moneyed men ara trying to get hold
of the stock. but that 1t Is not desired
that they should have 1t, because they
would then come into control OF tho
property, and tho victim swallows the
eXplanatlon.
THO swindler usually has confed.
crate to whom he refers the victim
who wishes to learn about his stand
ling and integrity; and 1t seems tho
victim rushes right to this confed-
crate instead Of going to banks or bus
Illness men and making inquiries from
Ipeople upon whom they could rely.
Every prospective purchaser should
stop and ask himself the question:;
why is this stock being peddled
around In this ma1nerr Is It possible
| that good. safe Investment would be
SO handled when 80 much money Is
Lying idle ready for good investments
/ in the hands OF man who are compe-
tent to pass upon the safety Of an
investment? Who are tho mon back
/ OF this scheme. and what are their
antecedents2 AT what banks, or at
what established business houses are
they known as honest. conservative
men OF bnsiness2"
or cpurse, the swindler has his
plausible answer to all these ques-
,ttions, ana the Victim takes his explana.
yltion without makir:S thorough adut-
4 tlonal inyes u CATION. s