Year: 1867

past year been operating in New Jersey
and New York, were arrested at Middle
town, Orange county, n. Y, recently
For expert, bold faced swindling we think
they excel anything we have ever heard
of before. Their method of business is
as follows they enter county in which
they wish to practice their scoundrelism
a party of twelve or fifteen men, with wo-
men and children, fine buggies and splen-
did teams Of horses, all in princely style,
having one man whose only business was
to pay the bills, another to superiutend
the horses. The mode of proceeding is
the same nearly in all cases: They show
beautiful model of Palmer's Hay Rake,
and propose to make the person an agent
and sell him right for 800. The per-
son hesitates they then assure him he
cannot lose, as he will not be required to
pay any money until he shall have realiz-
ed in profits $500 from sales-the whole
sale price of the rake to be $40, retail
$S5. They give him certificate of men,
bership acknowledging the receipt of
Sl00, with the name of Palmer printed,
and on the back what pretends to be an
agreement, but signed neither in writing
or printing, that no part of the SlO0 shall
be paid until $500 is relied in profits !;
also that until such time the order this
day given shall be null and void Every
thing appearing so fair, they then ask the
victim to sign an order or receipt, merely
to show Mr.. Palmer that he is an agent
or member, which pretended paper is an
absolute promissory note to pay Palmer
500 one year from date. If the man is
sharp enough to notice that the paper is
a promissory note, they tell him the.
agreement they make leaves it perfectly
safe as it cannot be collected If, how
every, the man is not willing, they then
write on the end margin (for the note has
purposely wide one) the condition that
the note shall not be collected until $500
in profits has been realized. The man
thinks then he is safe, and signs. The
operators afterward tear off the marigu,
leaving the note free of conditions. The
notes are then sold at discount to an in
nocent purchaser.


The same party swiudled New Jersey
farmers last year, out of some 600 or
$50, 900, by selling what they represent
ed to be remarkable Wine Plant, from
which an excellent article of valuable
wine could be produced at trifing cost
1t was to prove sure thing for the for.
tunate possessor wherewith to realize a
speedy fortune. 1t is hardly necessary
to explain that this wonderful plant was
nothing but the common rhubarb or pie
plant. In Burligton county, they bought
all in large nusery, and then resold
them in the immediate vicinity at fabul-
Gus sums. Their mode of operating was
precisely the same described in the Hay
Rake Swindle. They drove into town
with four or five very handsome teams,
accompanied by women represented as
their wives, and wherever possible secure
the services of vagabond residents of the
localities in which they intended to ope-
rate, as guides or stoolpigeons Filling
their wages with roots Of the plant, and
taking with them a bottle of wine, they
would 60 the same day in different direc-
tions among the farmerss Their story,
of the wonderful properties
of the newly discovered plant, of course,
did not secure many purchasers, but a
taste of wine, and the assurance that no
money was required to be paid until the
purchaser had thoroughly tested the plant
and realized hundred dollars on each,
hundred cents invested, usually proved
potent. Taking the purchasers note pay
able at six months, they would dispose of
it at large discount, urging necessity
for submitting to the sacrifice by their
heavy expenses and want Of funds The
makers of the notes being well known and
repossible men, not much trouble was ex-
perienced in disposing of their paper at
small per ccntage off, and in this way it
is believed they obtained in two or three
months somewhere near $4,000.


Let our country readers give the above
a careful reading, and be prepared to re-
ceive a visit from a section of this band
Of villains. Driven to the wall on the
Hay Rake they will probably turn up as
operators in some other patent confidence
game. Have them arrested as soon as
they appear, no matter under what dodge
they are working.


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