The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-04-09
They Had Bitten On Scheme
Concocted In Twin Cities
srnm fridays DaIis.

Over goo Mankato ladies are today
bemoaning their flight into high finance
in the nature of rattle club operated
by n Minneapolis furniture concern,
whose sudden plunge into bankruptcy
was chronicled by this mornings city
papers. and in which some of the la.
dies lost sums amounting In some
cases up to almost $50. which they
had paid into the club on the weekly
installment system.
Sometime ago n representative OF
this firm. known as The Home Fur
niture company" S22 Marquette ave-
nue., Minneapolis. came TO this city
and interested large number OF
housewives In what seemed a most
admirable plan to obtain nice articles
OF furniture for their homes Upon
payment Of twenty-five cents he OPP
ened q contract with each one. the
contract being called "Si5 nerchan-
disc contract" for the obtaining OF
furniture. carpets, rugs, jewelry. crock
cry. etc. In consideration of sixty
payments OF twenty-five cents each, in
advance, the company agreed to de.
liver TO the holder of the contract
merchandise to the value of SIS.
No Money Could Be Lost.
II was stated that no money could
be lost during ''the life of the con-
tract" as the amount paid In could
be applied on any Sl5 article of mer-
chandise at any time within the sixty
weeks. No money was TO be returned
ON discontinued or lapsed contracts.
Although not stated on the contract.
n weekly raifle was held for every
club OF sixty. the ladies upon paying
In their quarters every Thursday. be-
ing allowed to draw cards. and some
being lucky enough TO draw an article
of furniture I'm this way. The draw
ing of the furniture stimulated inter.
est in the club, and the coming OF
the agent was eagerly awaited each
week. Yesterday was his day TO call
in Mankato. and when he failed to put
In an appearance there was great dis
appointment among the housewives
Eyes Rudely Opened.
Their eyes were rudely opened this
morning. however, by news OF the
firms bankruptcy, and some OF them
would like TO meet the local repre-
sentative. The agent. probably wise
TO the TACT that the bubble would
shortly burst, when collecting the
weekly installments. carefully neglect.
ed 10 sign his name to the receipts.
simply giving the date. the amount.
and the initial an"
Rattle Scheme In Operation.
This rafile scheme has been In OPP
Grafton for the past forty-three weeks.
and many other towns have suffered
i'm like manner. The only city said TO
have been immune from the opera;
lions of this firm Is Minneapolis.
where Il was located. r. G. Andrews.
attorney. 70l Andrus, building, st.
Paul. has been appointed trustee of
tho firm. lie states that the assets
comprise q very small stock of In
different furniture, which will prob.
ably net the women stakeholder"
about two or four cents on the dollar.
He estimates that the total loss. 10
Minnesota women will be about s10s-
600. J. j. Coyne and NJ A. Morris.
of Minneapolis, comprised the firm.
and the police are now looking for
them to get an explanation of the
firms activities. Over LOCO ST. Paul
housewives are out from Sc to sill
each through their experience with
this firm. which also operated clubs at
Rochester. st. Cloud. Sank Rapids,
Albert Lea, Marshall and other towns.
Among those In this city who lost
sums ranging from s27 down to SIS
are Mrs. c. Johnson. Poplar street:
Mrs. Conrad. Poplar street; Mrs.
Thomas Oglesby, Wheeler avenue,