Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-23
Manager

The amount paid was written in care
lessly in pencil and the name Of the
directory instead of being printed was
also written in like manner
If the advertiser would inquire why
he should sign such a paper when he
was paying his money the collector would
explain to him he was giving up the
original contract, and he wished this GER
tificate to send in with his collections
to the main office which was always
the one in which he was collected. This
document was carefully worded that
by cutting off the end II changed it from
n certificate Of having paid into an order
for advertising, and a promise to pay
more money. The amount originally paid
and the name of the directory being
written in pencil was easily erased and
raised to such an amount as they
thought the intended victim would stand.
anywhere from so to $500.
The cover was then torn off the old
directory a new cover put on with a new
title page, and full page advertisement
set up for the intended victim and tipped
in the book. the edges being sand-papered
so 1t would not show II was not a part
Of the original work. The contract was
then dated back few months and was
then ready for collection.
Most victims would look at the sigma
ture. see It was genuine. and pay the
the bill without any great amount OF in
vestigation. with the idea in mind that
they probably investigated before they
Went into It. Even those who protested
they had never given such an order We're
easily convinced that they must have
done so as the signature was genuine.
and they would end up by paying the
contract. When this payment was made
another eo-caled Has Paid" was signed,
and this was treated In the same manner
the amount changed, the name Of the
publication changed in the contract, and
the old book doing service under n new
title Within a few months and some
times within few weeks, the new con-
tract was presented for payment, and
the 'ndless chain started to work.
Some few firms would refuse to sign
the Has Paid" or would sign careless
ly with pencil and initials so IT was not
safe 10 use the signature, They. how
ever. had other methods OF securing what
asking for directory information At the
bottom there would be quite a wide space
left above the lines for the signature.
When these blanks We're returned filled
out with the signature they would eimp-
~ cut off the Information portion and
print In an advertising contract over
the signature.
Another method would be when making
collections to ask the advertiser II ne did
not wish TO buy COPY Of the directory.
He would ask the price and they would
generally put 1t high. s15 or $50. and the
advertiser would refuse Then would
then say inasmuch as he had been a
pretty good advertiser If he would pay
the expressage they would send one free
Of charge. being anxious to get a large
circulation. The advertiser would then
sign a blank on which would read that
he promised to pay 26c or Foe expressage
on the book when sent to him This was
printed in lines far apart so by cutting
off the top line and printing IN two
other lines they again made an advertis-
ing contract.
They occasionally even resorted TO the
tracing Of signatures. using box with
incandescent light and ground class top
This method however. was very dan
gerous as experts by the Use Of magni-
flying glass could very easily distinguish
II from an original signature, and after
one man was sent to the penitenttary
this method was abandoned entirely.