The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-31
Get-Rich-Q Quick Bubbles That Have Burst
BY HARLEY MATTHEWS
THE GREAT SOUTH SEA BUBBLE

, DO not call at the above address,
but write two days before starting.
telling me when you will arrive, and
the hotel you will stay at, so that l
can call on you personally.
Have nothing to do with any per-
son who cannot show you your last
letter to me- Then yCu will know that
you are dealing with the right party"
Having read that, did the reader
start up to have the passer of coun-
terfeit money brought to justice? He
did not, as Mr.. Homan foresaw. In
stead, with the phrase $1,000 for
5000" ringing through his brain, he
sat to ponder over the possibilities. If
he were at all cautious he wrote a
Fletter saying that, before making the
journey to New York, he would like
to have a sample of the goods. Mr..
Homan had already allowed for this,
as his letter went on to say that $500
worth of counterfeit bills, done UP in
book form would be sent on his re-
ceiving $50 in cash.
But often, people receiving that let
ter did not trouble about samples. 1t
was enough to have a fortune sud
denly within your reach. None of
them seemed to ask why, if the bills
were so perfect, Mr.. Holman did not
pass them himself. instead of giving
away practically $4,000 for $500 and
putting himself to the risk of appre-
hension.
No, instead from all over the United
States. Mr.. Homan got replies stating
that the writer's would like to make
his acquaintance on their arrival in
New York Some days there were so
many to be met that he had to get an
assistant to keep some of his engage
ments.
The business that followed was swift
and simple. The man from the coun-
try would be shown a package of bills
which certainly looked genuine. He
would see Mr.. Homan, or the assist
ant, passing them without any trouble,
whatever, and, when handed a few
, found that he, too, could get them &C
cepted easily. There was no reason
why he shouldn't. For all those bills
were genuine currency issued by the
United States Treasury.
After this, it was only a question Of
the amount of the deal. Nor in most
cases was it a small one. Mr.. Homan
only wrote to men who had money
enough to make them want more. a
purchase of $4,000 worth of goods to
MT. fOman was small one.
And so flourishing. was the business
that he had competitors all over the
city. A Mr.. l.. X. Luddington had an
office in Broadway, and a James A.
| Knox another in West Street. AS gen
orally happens with competition, they
offered even greater inducements
than the originator of the business.
Another, who wrote his letters from
Park Row, was more cautious than his
competitors. Read this carefully" he
said. 81 want an active man with a
cash capital of from 5000 to $500 to as
sist me in the disposal of certain
class of goods which are manufac-
tured exclusively by myself. They are
goods that are used by everyone, and
the business is strictly confidential"
He had been asked by mutual
friend to write, because he thinks
you will like to have some OF my
goods"
With the amount of purchase
settled, there was now only one thing
for Mr.. Homan, Luddington, or who
ever it was, to do-to deliver his
goods Here he would become sud-
denly cautious. You had better not
run the risk of taking them on your
person." he advised. IN express
them to your home town for you Or,
if the man was at all suspicious, Mr.
Homan had no objection to letting
him come to the express office and see