Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-09-03
HAS EVERY INDI-
CATION OF GRAFT
When Money Is Asked For as
Advance Payment by
Strangers.

Perhaps the word ''grafters" Gov
ers the class OF people that are al all
times trying hard to get something
for nothing, and are attempting In
all manner OF ways conceivable to
mislead the public to gain a paItry
sum OF money under false pretenaes.
and just such things are being
worked In our midst nearly every
day in some form or another. Only
last week the Press covered the story
OF man who was In the city and
took orders for clothing. securing a
large amount OF money and departing
for parts unknown. This was a big
lesson and warning to keep shy OF
strangers and their clever work
until You are convinced that they are
all right.
N@ASNuNA aS@i btAuil0t u tue OuH
above mentioned is now In progress,
or rather has that appearance. as a
certain amount OF money is demanded
as advance payment without any
equivalent whatever give in return.
except slip OF paper promising to
deliver certain amount OF goods at
a given time.
This does not look right. as the
asking for money without delivering
In return goods to the value OF the
amount received from those you
know nothing OF Is overlapping the
mark of business dealing.
The one in operation nov Is thu
taking Of orders for enlarged pictures
and is being done In this manner:
A lady goes around In the morning
with three envelopes and suggests
that the lady OF the house draw one
from the number, as one OF them
contains a lucky slip giving her an
enlarged picture absolutely free. The
drawing being done the lady OF the
house is successful apparently never
Immediately after the stranger had
visited this one. and every one was
the same. drawing the lucky num-
ber1, aud Is advised that the sam
Piles of the pictures for her to select
from will be brought around later.
In the evening OF the same day a
gentleman follows with a line OF
samples, and after the lady OF the
house selects the one of her choice
she Is confronted with the matter OF
a frame. and these are sold at from
SO to SIS. and II is necessary to get
a frame with the picture. OF course.
After making a selection OF the
frame the matter of a deposit comes
up. and the lady is asked to deposit
anywhere from 81 to So. according
to the cost OF the frame. as the Agen:
says. ''iust as guarantee OF good
faith that she will take the frame
upon its delivery" and here is where
the question of square business deaf
Ing comes In.
As 1t Is simply an agreement be-
tween the two parties. why should
the lady pay a stated amount down
for something for which she has re-
celyed nothing but the agents word
or the form OF a written agreement.
which. perhaps. is practically worth
less? Why Is not the lady's word tn
pay upon the delivery of the goods
Just as good as the salesman's TO de-
liver the goods and receive a bal
ancs?
1t Is worth investigating. at least.
and It Is gratifying to qote that the
above parties were turned down" at
several homes in the city. where all
went well until a small deposit was
asked for as an advance payment.
It's a good buyer that pays for what
he gets and knows that he Is going
TO get what he pays for.