The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-01-09

ed the authorities Is a difncult one.
In the first place, where the mails
have been used, the victims are wide
ly scattered, and it is difficult to know
who has been swindled, and the gov
ernment must choose its witnesses
from those who happen to make com.
plant. These witnesses are scattered
from Maine to California. 1t is neces-
sary to bring them here for the pre-
liminary hearing, then for the grand
jury session and once more for the
trial of the case. Much labor and ex-
pense are necessary.
Then, too, it is necessary for the
attorney who draws the indictment
to go through correspondence and the
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 at the trial of the case, the gov
ernment is, perhaps confronted with
the fact that the scheme has been so
cleYerly devised that direct intent to
defraud is impossible of proof, and re-
sort must be had to circumstantial
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
greatest fear of the federal authorities
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
2redulity 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 so
aXtraVagant, 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 it will, of
course it would be subscribed and
over-subsCribed for at once by the big
noneyed men, and would not have to
De peddled around at absurd prices
often as low as ten cents 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 a confed
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 bust
ness men and making inquiries from
people upon whom he could rely
Every prospective purchaser shoulC
stop and ask himself the question;
Why is this stock being peddleC
around in this manner? Is it possible
that good safe investment would bC
so handled when so much money i!
lying idle ready for good investment
in the hands of men who are compe
tent to pass upon the safety of al
investment? Who are the men bacl
Of this scheme and what are their an
tecedents? At what banks, or at wha
established business houses are the,
known as honest, conservative men o
business?"
OF course, the swindler has hi
| plausible answer to all these ques
tions, and the victim takes his explain
alton without making a thorough ad
ditional investigation.
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles,)