4888 
657 
a 
FRAUDULENT BARGAINS. 
Storekeepers here have lately been the 
victims of a swindle, which, under somewhat 
different forms, is frequently successfully 
played on country people. Like most other 
frauds, it requires more than one person to 
work it. This required two. Last September 
a man calling himself Bernard, dropped in on 
a shoemaker in the upper part of the city, 
and gave an order for an expensive pair 
of shoes for his daughter, pretending that he 
lived in the neighborhood. As he was gossip¬ 
ing pleasantly with the shoemaker, in came a 
man who offered diamonds for sale. The 
stranger said the gems had been smuggled 
aud he was willing to sell them dirt cheap. 
Bernard, who declared that he couldn’t be 
cheated in jewelry, examined them aud then 
confidentially told the shopkeeper that he 
would pay $300 for them if he had the money 
with him. The stranger said be would sell 
them for $75, and Bernard told the shoemaker 
that he could get $200 for them from a pawn¬ 
broker a short distance away, thus clearing 
$fS5 in a few minutes. The innocent store¬ 
keeper straightway stepped into the trap, 
paying $75 to the stranger. Then Bernard 
showed his marvelous nerve and cheek by 
offering to take the gems to the pawnbroker, 
promising to return at once the with the $200. 
Having joined his confederate, they disap¬ 
peared with the “boodle,” and the doubly 
fleeced shoemaker appealed to the police. For 
nearly three months this precious brace of 
rascals have been swindling storekeepers here 
in this way, clearing several hundred dollars 
a week. It was seldom, however, that they 
managed to play a double swindle on a victim 
as they did on the shoemaker; but, then, the 
jewelry always turned out to be bogus ana 
nearly worthless. Bernard was caught by 
the police the other day and identified by 
about two dozen victims who were willing to 
own their gullibility. The confederate, how¬ 
ever, is still at large. 
The Eye-Opener has for years noticed 
accounts of similar swindles practiced in 
country places, and has several times told 
of them m these columns. Sometimes the 
things offered for sale are gems; sometimes 
violins or other wonderful musical imple¬ 
ments; sometimes silk or costly cloth fabrics 
—indeed the kinds of wares are innumerable, 
and all are offered at ridiculously low prices. 
In nearly all cases, too, there is something 
unusual connected with them, on account of 
which they are put at such ruinous figures. 
Either they have been smuggled, or stolen, or 
have been “salvaged” from fire or ship-wreck. 
•Sometimes samples only are exhibited and 
orders are taken for goods guaranteed to be up 
to standard. In such cases a deposit is re¬ 
quired, or an order must be signed “to bind 
the bargain.” In either case no goods are 
ever forthcoming. In one case the swindlers 
are satisfied with the deposit; in the other, the 
order soon turns up as a negotiable note in 
the bauds of an “innocent holder.” Gener¬ 
ally, however, the goods are delivered at once, 
but in all such cases they turn out to be the 
poorest kind of frauds. Often only one of the 
sharpers appears in the transaction; but they 
nearly always hunt in couples, one going 
ahead to find out who are likely to bite at the 
tempting bait, and putting in an appearance 
only when the nature of the swindle renders 
it likely that his aid would prove useful. 
How can one guard against the tricks of 
these plausible rascals? Easily enough— 
by having nothing whatever to do with 
them. The person who expects to get from a 
stranger something for nothing, or one 
dollar’s worth of goods for fifty cents cash, or 
who, to gain a supposititious advantage, is 
willing to become an accomplice in a dis¬ 
honest transaction, deserves little sympathy, 
if swindled. 
FRAUDULENT NEGOTIABLE PAPERS. 
Multitudinous are the schemes devised by 
sharpers for getting farmers to sign their 
names to innocent-looking papers which, in a 
mysterious way, afterwards turn up as negoti¬ 
able notes in the hands of “innocent holders.’’ 
One of the latest and most successful is prac¬ 
ticed by a couple of well dressed, glib-tongued, 
bogus lightning rod agents of very gentlemanly 
demeanor, who drive up in a stylish turnout 
to a farm house, and say that the “company” 
has sent them out to test the lightning-rods 
on the house and barns to see if they are safe. 
They offer to do the work for nothing, only 
asking a meal for themselves and feed for 
their horse. If they obtain the farmer’s con¬ 
sent, they apply a battery and, of course, al¬ 
ways find the rods in a very dangerous condi¬ 
tion. Having put them all right, they begin 
preparations to leave, but while one is doing 
so the other politely requests the farmer to 
sign a paper “simply to show the company 
what they have done so that they may get 
paid for their work.” If the farmer signs, 
the paper turns up soon afterwards in the hands 
of some “innocent holder” as a promissory note 
for whatever sum the sharpers choose to fill in. 
Uf course, the farmer is expected to pay 
promptly in full when the note falls due. 
Should he do so? It would be often better 
not. To be negotiable and therefore transfer¬ 
able to an “ innocent holder,” the note or bill 
must not only contain the words “to order” 
or “to bearer,” or their equivalent; but it 
must also be taken by “the innocent holder” 
in good faith and under circumstances not 
calculated to excite suspicion of fraud. If 
one takes a note or bill out of the regular 
course of business and under circumstances 
that would naturally rouse suspicion, he must 
run his own risks even though he pays its 
value. If he has any reason to think the paper 
tainted with fraud, he ought to leave it alone. 
He cannot shut bis eyes and claim to be an 
innocent holder. Thus if a stranger, giving 
no satisfactory account of himself and ap¬ 
pearing to be in haste to raise money and 
leave town, should offer the note of a respon¬ 
sible person at much below its full value, 
there would be reason to suppose something 
crooked, and in most cases the discounter 
could not recover. If A finds B’s name on a 
blank piece of paper and fraudulently writes 
a negotiable note above it, it is a forgery for 
which B cannot be held responsible to any 
one. Most courts and juries would consider 
both these cases of the same character. 
There would he much fewer “innocent 
holders” of fraudulent paper, by which farm¬ 
ers are to be swindled, if the latter refused 
to be bulldozed into payment or even into a 
compromise in the matter. Judges and 
juries are strongly inclined to the side of 
equity in such cases, and if note-shavers had 
good reason to know that the payment of all 
fraudulent notes would he resisted to the 
bitter end, they would be far less likely to 
meddle with them. Will the time ever come 
when associations of farmers will pay the 
costs in all such cases, just as anti-horse- 
thief associations now pay all the expenses in¬ 
curred in running down and convicting dis¬ 
honest appropriators of other people’s horse 
flesh? 
Makes a beautiful Holiday 
Present. Anybody can use It, 
One Hundred instantan¬ 
eous pictures may be made 
without reloading. The op¬ 
eration consists simply by 
pressing a button. Mention 
Rural New-Yorker. 
Send for descriptive circu¬ 
lars. 
PRICE *25.00, 
The Eastman Dry Plate and Film Co., 
ROCHESTER, N, Y. 
DOUBLE 
Breech-Loader 
$6.75. 
RIFLESJ2.25 
PISTOLS 75c 
All kinds cheaper tbau 
elsewhere. Before yo. 
buy send stamp foi 
Catalogue. Addref. 
POWELL & CLEMEST. 
1 HO Main Street* 
Cincinnati* Ohlo^ 
THE MISSOURI CABINET. 
We will send our Missouri Cabinet 12x12, containing 
the following specimens for $1.25: Dlssimlnated 
Rock, Lead Ore, Bari tees,Tiff. Copper Ore. Crystalized 
Quartz, Nickel Ore, Blag, White Sand, Iron Cinder, 
Iron Ore and Zinc Ore. All orders promptly filled and 
satisfaction guaranteed. MlftSOURl CABINET 
CO., Bonne Terre, Mo. 
BURLINGTON ROUTE DAILY EXCUR¬ 
SIONS TO THE PACIFIC COAST, 
COLORADO, WYOMING 
AND UTAH. 
Railroad ticket agents of the Eastern. 
Middle and Western States will sell, on any 
date, via the Burliugton Route from Chicago, 
Peoria or St. Louis, round trip tickets at 
low rates to San Francisco, Los Angeles, San 
Diesro, Portland, Tacoma. Seattle, Vancouver, 
or Victoria; also to Denver, Cheyenne, Colo, 
rado Springs, or Pueblo. For a special folder 
giving full particulars of these excursions, 
call on your local ticket agent, or address P. 
S. Eustis, Gen’l Pass, and Ticket Ag’t, C. B. 
& Q. R. R , Chicago, Ill. 
“ Handsome and Strong.” 
I have been selling the Buck Thorn Fencing 
for several years, and find it gives better sat¬ 
isfaction than any other. It makes a strong 
and handsome fence, and stock can see it so 
they do not run against it. 
Lawrenceburg, Ky. E. Ottenheimer. 
The Buck-Thorn Fence is sold by more 
than 3,500 agents in the United States and 
Canada. Write to the Buck-Thorn Fence 
Co., Trenton, N. J., for Circulars and Sam¬ 
ples. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
To C. F. M.: 
Yes, it is hard to decide what to buy for a present, 
but we think $1.25 mailed to ALLING <fc LODGE, 
Madison, Indiana, for one of their fine Razors, 
oroneof their $1.00 four blade Ruck Handle Pocket 
Knives would be just what you want, as the quality 
of their goods is unsurpassed, and we know them 
to be reliable. Or they will send you, postage paid, 
a pair of fine Breakfast Carvers, Stag Handles, 
for $2.50, or a pair of Ladies’ Scissors for 75 cents, or 
their large Shears at $1.00. We suggest you send 
them an order quickly, or their stock may not 
hold out. 
This CELEBRATED RAZOR SENT BY MAIL 
Mention this paper, 
If you wan t the best TillN HOE- 
LOW GROUND RAZOR 
that cau be made, send us 
$1.25, and we will 
send it postage 
paid. 
ALLING & LODGE, MADISON, IND. 
METALAND C 
Woodworker*’ I UvLO 
FOOT POWER Hn, HoHnsKKs, 
i, at it F.s.Koini tilts, UAPUIftICDV 
cmcuiiAKSAws, mHunmcm 
Wo curry in Stock all the 
LEADING *'m «<■!;. ne*. r 
MARK VERY LOW PRICES! 
__Send stumps for huge Illus. Catalog 
WILKINSON CO 
PT SSFRUIT TREES 
be destroyed by spraying 
tree* with Loudon purple dis¬ 
solved in water. For full directions 
and improved outfits for Hand or Horae 
Power at BOTTOM CASH PRICES, 
es« FIELD FORCE Pl'BP CO. Lockport, N.Y. 
WARRANTED SSSSST 
the tower, and that our 
Geared Wind Mills 
have double the power 
of *11 other mills. 
Mfrs.ofTanki.Wiud 
Mill supplies, aud 
the Celebrated 
CHALLENGE ■ 
Feed Grinders, 
HORSEPOWERS* 
CORN SHELLERS 
PUMPS and 
BRASS 
CYLINDERS 
bend for Catalogue 
ALWA 
. BUY the PE 
GaaredorPurnp! ug 
CHALLENGE^ WIND MILL & FEED aUXJE,* ci 
BATAVIA. KANE CO.. ILL. 
and Prices. 
flood AGENTS WANTED 
Cheaper than Paint. 
CREOSOTE WOOD STAINS. 
For Outbuildings, Shingles. Fences, etc. Durable, 
Strong Preservatives of the Wood Can be applied 
with a Whitewash Brush by any boy. In all colors. 
SAM(JKL CABOT, Sole Manufacturer, 
Send for Circular. 70 KILBY ST., BOSfON 
CATARRH, 
RHEUM¬ 
ATISM, 
AND ALL 
BLOOD DISFASF.S cured. A book (32pp., 11 engrav¬ 
ings), entitled “ How to Cum Catarrh and all Blood 
Diseases,” Sent Free. I0F“ Address 
IRWIN M. GRAY & CO , Montrose, Pa. 
COLORADO STOCK FARM 
At Larkspur, 40 miles south of Denver, on D. & R. G. 
and A T. & S. F. Railways; 2 240 acres? abundant 
irrigat ing and spring water; one-quarter under cult Iva - 
tion. balance graging: farm buildings and stabling 
valued at $(>,000; 22 miles of wire fencing; all or part 
for sale For particulars, an dress either II. S. 
Hutchings, Essex Building, or W. .1. A cheson. 
Times Building, Denver, Colorado, or William 
Dillon, Esq., Castle Rock, Colorado. 
ROUGH-COATED COLLIES. 
Pups sired by our best stud dogs, full pedigreed, 
and entitled to registry. Prices Low. Personal 
inspection request, d. 
W. ATL.EE BURPEE & CO.. 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
MICHIGAN FARMS 
AND TIMBERED FARMING LANDS 
In Central Michigan For Male at Great 
Bargains. 
Saw-mills, Flouring Mills, Fac’ories, Stores and 
Stocks, Hotels, etc., sola and exchanged. 
Real Estate Journal mailed free on application. 
K. A. ( LAliK «&r CO., Lansing, Mich. 
DFSSICATED FISH 
Something New for Poultry Food. The fish is 
cooked, pressed, dried and ground. Will keep any 
length of time. To be mixed with the s"ft feed. 
TRY sO.llE. Send for my Circular. Also send 
for Book on (successful Poultry Keeping, 31 
pages with Illustrations. Book is tree. Senu 2 -cent 
stamp to pay postage. Andress 
C. A. BARTLETT, Worcester, Mass. 
Hold Your June Butter for a Januar Price. 
It positively prevents Butter from ever 
becoming Rancid, and causes it to retain Its fresh¬ 
ness, aroma, and tine flavor for months—even when 
exposed to atmospheric influences for a long time. 
Endorsed by the leading agricultural papers. Also 
by Creameries, Dairymen, and others throughout the 
country, send for circular. 
Butter Preservative Salt Co., 
Footot West 11th Wtreet, New York City. 
AGAIN! 
One of the most unique, original and 
1 delightful of the Weekly Newspapers of 
PUFF 11 ^ BA5 ^ At fho roto they nave t>cen gofnjr the 
■■ K F* 1“ n Oj m p Public Domains will all bo none In 6 
years 
i Land 
Now is the time to secure aa Rich 
_ the Sun shines on at |1.25 pal 
here. What better could be left for Children? Where these lands are; how t$ 
them, as well as for information about Homes or Employment in aPhfteg 
•hiTmrkortes. 8end 10 <\ its and receive thy beautiful Engravings, a Uietur- 
saquo Fanorainaof America. Address TBJ WESTERN WORLD, Cbma^UL 
VIRGINIA 
FARMS and MILLS SOLD 
and oxchanged. Free Catalogue. 
E. B.CHAFFIN&CO. .Richmond,Va 
987 
Hidden Name and Motto Card*. Brrap Plelnr**, Parries, Omtmds trick* \9 
Magic, ono pack of Escort Card*, and large Hamplo Book of genuine Card* 
(not pictures.) All for a 2 cent stamp. Banner Card Co., Cadi*, Ohio* 
E , | MEST Card Sample Hook ever sent out 
■ I Iw 3 cento. Star Importing Co.,Cadiz, O. 
COO n.RYF n.y Lover, Oooil-Bye, A 
U LA ■ Ea ■ OS other songs, ISO sleight of hand tricks, 115 et» 
psmneoUinuagiq, and **tupJe cardju All out/ 10 cent*. Capital Card Co., Columbus, Ohio. 
Sample Styles of Iflid.leit Name ami 
Bilk Fringe Carda, Sleight of Uund Tricks, Recitations, Dialogues, .Tus¬ 
sive, Conundrum*. Games, and how you nut make $10 a day nt home. All 
fob ▲ 2 cbnt STAMP* HOME AXD YOUTH, CADIZ, OHIO. 
IDEAL FEED MILL 
AND POWER COMBINED (IMPROVED). 
Grinds all kinds of Shelled Grain and Ear Corn, 
drives Feed Cutters, Wood Saws. Fite. Lightest 
draft, strongest and best, fully warranted. Send 
for catalogue showing full line of Feed Mills, Two 
and Four-IIorse Powers. Wood Saws, etc. * 
STOVER MFO. CO., Freeport, III. 
America, and the 
RURAL NEW-YORKER 
BOTH one yeak for 
$ 2 . 25 ! 
S EN D for free Catalogue of Books of Amusements 
Speakers, Dialogues.Gymnastics Fortune Tellers, 
D.eam Books, Debates, Letter Writers, Etiquette, 
etc. Dick & Fitzgerald, IS Ann St., New York. 
$1000.00 IN COLD. 
Given as premiums for the American Farmer 
and Poultry Kaiser, the finest illustrated 50 cent 
monthly in the United States. Premium List 
and sample copies free. Address 
T. M. George & Co.. 316 Dearborn St. Chicago. 
BELLE CITY 
Feed & Ensilage 
CUTTERS. 
All sizes. Only self 
feeder made. Best 
machine 
on the 
market. 
Send for 
Catalogue, also free 
Book on Fnsllage. 
Belle City Mnfg. Co., 
JBsclne, WJ», 
i 
Address the 
RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
34 Park Bow, New York. 
