The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-03-10

ny ieslsiatioh, II Is absolutely ss a. y
ual Wat the issuing OF a fsIs. easeh
pectus be made a crime bafo"s pros
possible to deal effectively u,e, Is
largest class of swindlers tba nm he
prey upon the public. lat nov
While the United States
ment cannot directly nre SVEN.
schemes to defraud, vet n ~ gh,OSecus
are used in the furtherance nalls
scheme, the government can AZ VI ns
most OF these schemes contos AZ
the use of mails, 1t Is possible suplas
government to proceed against ns
under sections $3.50 and 54lo .aen
United States revised statutes lne
ton 54SO provides that wboon 'ec
vises a scheme to defraud aas ar %
notes 1t by opening corresnona. p'e
through the mails, shall be gni I.suce
misdemeanor; section 544O ~, o.
that II two or more consDire 70 ''us'
NIT the offense denounced IN sao vua
$3.50, they shall receive a sim 's n
er punishment. sieat
Acting under the authorize o..
these two sections, the post ofBoa
partment and the United statos "
trict attorneys office for the north w
district of Illinois have for u .a'la
waged a vigorous and relentlas.' sa'
against all swindlers who mali "H
OF the mail service. The task nro..-"
ed the authorities is a difienl,
In the first place, where the WI, OI'
have been used, the victims are via. '
ly scattered, and it is difficult IN ~
who has been swindled, and the o..
eminent must choose its witnosS'
from those who happen to mako ~
plant. These witnesses are scatts,as
from Maine to California. II is rsa''
sary to bring them here for tbe ~
liminary hearing, then for the g,s.,
jury session and once more for hs
trial of the case. Much labor and =
pense are necessary.
Then, too, it is necessary for N.
attorney who draws the indictma,.
to go through correspondence and tSa
various conversations with the gro,,
est care in order that he NAV analv,.
the scheme and determine exactly 1,
what the fraud consists, so that tbs
indictment may be accurately drawn
Then at the trial of the case. the pov.
eminent is, perhaps, confronted with
the fact that the scheme has been a
cleverly devised that direct intent n
defraud is impossible of proof, and "a
sort must be had to circumstaptl,
evidence.
The records show, however that
the government has very seldom Lost
a case of this kind, and that swinden
and confidence men stand in tbA
greatest fear of the federal authorize,
because of the vigor of prosecution in
the past. If the law could be amend.
ed as above suggested, undoubtedly
the government would be able TO
reach and suppress a large majority
of the schemes to defraud that are
now operated from this city.
One of the surprising things IN
connection with this subject, is the
credulity Of the average person who
has saved a little money, and hopes
for large and immediate returns from
it. 1t seems that there is nothing 50
eXtravagant, so improbable, that the
people will not believe it. If the stock
of any company had any chance Of
earning the dividends which these
promoters represent that 1t will, Of
course it would be subscribed and
over-subscribed for at once by the big
moneyed men, and would not have TO
be peddled around at absurd prices
often as low as ten cents a share
When this is suggested to the promo
ter, he always states that the big
moneyed men are trying to get hold
of the stock, but that it is not desired
that they should have it, because they
would then come into control Of the
property; and the victim swallows the
explanation.
The swindler usually has conted
crate to whom he refers the victim
who wishes to learn about his stand
ing and integrity; and it seems the
victim rushes right to this confeder
ate instead of going to banks or busf
ness men and making inquiries from
people upon whom he could rely.
Every prospective purchaser shoua
stop and ask himself the question.
why is this stock being peddled
around in this manner? Is it possible
that a good safe Investment would %
so handled when so much money
lying idle ready for good investments
in the hands of men who are comPV
tent to pass upon the safety Of a.
investment? Who are the men oacA
of this scheme and what are their au'
tecedents? At what banks, or at wna'
established business houses are inc!
known as honest, conservative men u
business?"
OF course, the swindler has nl'
plausible answer to all these gus.
tons, and the victim takes his ehpas
alton without making a thorough 'N
ditional investigation.
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bo"lsS'
Rare Coin to Be Sold. !,
The sale of the rare Miners oa1A