The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-07-30
SLICK SWINDLER|
Smooth Salesman Plays Dishonest
Game on Farmer
MAKES HIM sign NOTE
Thinks lie Is Signing Receipt, But
Instead Attaches Name to Note
For Hundred Dollars

The lightning swindler is abroad
in the land and has been operating
recently in the vicinity of Sauk Gen.
tire.
A little over week ago a soomth
looking individual drove up to the
farm house of Louis Rindahl, who
lives In the town of Kandota about
eight miles from Sauk Centre.
The fellow told Mr.. Rindahl he had
lightning rods of a superior quality
for sale and that he would like to
put one on his barn on trial. He
said further that it would not cost
Mr.. Rindahl anything; he simply
wanted to put up a sample to refer
others in that vincinity to. Mrs. Rim
dahl was rather cautious in the matter
and did not want her husband to
have anything to do with the fellow,
but inasmuch as he thought he was
getting something for nothing, let the
agent go ahead and put a rod on the
barn.
When this was done the agent told
Mr.. Rnidahl he wanted him to sign
a receipt for the rod so that the
company would know where to find
the sample. Mr. Rindahl signed
what he supposed was a receipt for
the rod. The agent then asked him
to sign another receipt, taking the
first paper from him. He then drove
on his way.
Mr.. Rindahl's joy in getting some
thing for nothing was short lived,
however, as when he showed the re-
ceipt to neighbor he was informed
that he had signed a receipt for al
note for 500. In other words, the
first paper Mr.. Rindahl signed was a
promissory note for 500, and the
second paper was simply receipt
for the note which the agent took.
When Mr.. Rindahl discovered that
he had been swindled, he came to-
Sauk Centre and consulted a lawyer
and was told that the only thing he
could do in the matter was to let
the note come to maturity and then
let the holder sue to recover. He
then might go on the stand and swear
that he signed the paper under false
pretences.
The alleged high priced rod that
the fellow put on Mr.. Rindahl's barn
turned out to be the cheapest kind
of material, the whole outfit beingl
worth not more than three dollars.
In the east sharpers are working
a steel range swindle and are catch
ing a good many farmers. Their mode
of operating is about as follows:
A man drives up to a farm house
with range and offers to leave it'll
on trial. In case that has come
to light the price agreed upon was
$40. Anyone can buy a larger and
better stove of any hardware dealer
for $44. A part of the deal was that
the farmer was to be allowed $40 for
his old stove, and also he was to
board the sharpers, who gave him
coupons that were to apply on the
purchase price of the stove. These
people never consider a deal closed
until a namc Is put upon paper. The
farmer does so, signing contract
as he supposed, but which later turns
up in the shape of note for $40
with interest. Some months later a
man presents himself at the farmers
house and requests him to take up
the note, representing himself to be
the purchaser, and an innocent one,
Of the note. In the deal made at the
time of the delivery of the stove $50
was the balance to be paid, and out
Of the $50 several dollars for board
were also to be taken. The fellow
with the note declared he knew moth
Ing OF the old stove and tickets for
meals In connection with the trade
and refuses to accept anything but
The face Of the note and interest,
which he had bought.