FRAUDS CARRIED ON THROUGH THE MAILS.
Sad Perversion of Talent--Increase of Roguery--Professional Men
suffer--Young America _at_ the "Bar"--Papers from Liverpool--The
Trick successful--A legal Document--Owning up--A careless
Magistrate--Letters from the Un-duped.
Victimizing the Clergy--A lithograph Letter--Metropolitan
Sermons--An up-town Church--A Book of Travels--Natural
Reflections--Wholesome Advice.
The Seed Mania--_Strong_ Inducements--Barnes' Notes--"First rate
Notice"--Farmer Johnson--Wethersfield outdone--Joab missing.
"Gift Enterprise"--List of Prizes--The Trap well baited--Evading
the Police--The _Scrub_ Race.
An incalculable amount of talent is perverted to dishonest purposes,
thereby becoming a gift worse than useless to its possessors, and a
fruitful source of evil to the community. Such misemployed ability is
like the "staff of life," turned by a magic worse than Egyptian, into
the serpent of death. And the brilliancy which surrounds the
successful development of some deep-laid plan of knavery--the
admiration which it involuntarily excites, in the mind even of those
who abhor the deed, and condemn the cunning designer, render such
misdirected powers doubly dangerous, by exciting in the weak-minded
and evil-disposed a desire to emulate such wonderful achievements, and
to become notorious, if they cannot make themselves famous.
It cannot be denied that a considerable degree of talent is requisite
to insure success, even in a course of knavery; and by success I mean
nothing more than that longer or shorter career, which ends, if not
always in detection, certainly in disappointment and misery. Success,
then, in this connection, signifies putting off the evil day--a day
which is as sure to come as any other day. Time is an enemy which no
rogue can ever outrun.
Even such pitiful success as this is not within the grasp of small
abilities. The possessors of such moderate endowments will find it
emphatically true, that Honesty is the best policy for them, however
brilliant and seductive a dishonest course may be.
When Shakspeare wrote, "Put money in thy purse," he probably did not
intend to exhort any one to pocket another's money, but to confine
himself to that which he actually possessed. But, judging by the
number and variety of the ingenious frauds which are practised upon
the community, the saying in question seems to have been adopted in
its most unscrupulous sense as a principle, by sundry personages, more
remarkable for smartness than for honesty. Not a few of these
characters have selected the mails as the means of facilitating their
designs upon the pockets of the public at large.
"But this sort of thing is becoming too prevalent," as a worthy
magistrate was in the habit of remarking, when about to sentence some
pick-pocket or disturber of the peace; and if the devices of the class
of villains referred to continue to increase as they have done for
years past, semi-annual sessions of the legislative branch of
Government will scarcely suffice for the enactment of penalties to
meet the increasing exigencies of the case.
There is no end to the gross swindles of this description now
perpetrated or attempted, and requiring the utmost care and
watchfulness on the part of the public to avoid being deceived by
them. No class nor condition in society is exempt from these wiles;
the most intelligent and shrewd being victimized quite as often as the
credulous and inexperienced.
Lawyers, clergymen, editors, farmers, and even post masters, have all
in turn been swindled by means of facilities afforded by the
post-office system, the frauds ranging in magnitude and importance,
from imaginary papers of onion seed, to "calls" for ministerial aid in
the momentous work of converting "a world lying in wickedness!"
It is with a view to put those who may peruse these pages on their
guard, that a few rare specimens of the tricks of these "Jeremy
Diddlers" are here exposed, most of which have come to light within a
few months of this present writing.
The first that we will describe, was perpetrated quite successfully
upon the legal fraternity, and some of the most distinguished members
of that highly useful profession in the different States, will no
doubt readily recognise the truthfulness of the picture, as it is held
up to their gaze. This "dodge" may properly be entitled
YOUNG AMERICA PRACTISING _AT_ THE BAR.
In January of the present year, the post master of Brooklyn, N. Y.,
called my attention to the fact that large numbers of letters were
arriving at that office to the address of "William H. Jolliet," and
that from some information he had received, he was led to believe that
the correspondence was in some way connected with a systematic scheme
of fraud.
Arrangements were accordingly made to watch the person who was in the
habit of inquiring for the "Jolliet" letters, and the next time he
called, which was in the evening, he was followed as far as the Fulton
ferry, detained just as he was about to enter the ferry-boat, and
questioned in reference to the letters.
The person thus interrogated was an exceedingly intelligent boy, about
fifteen years of age, plainly but neatly dressed, and of prepossessing
manners, particularly for one so young. When asked what he intended to
do with the letters he had just taken from the post-office, he
manifested great self-possession, and apparently anticipating trouble,
without allowing an opportunity for a second question, he hurriedly
asked,
"Why, what about this business? I have been thinking there might be
something wrong about Jolliet's letters. I am a student in a
respectable law-office in New York, and would not like to be involved
in any trouble of this sort. I can tell you, sir, all I know about
these letters."
As his explanation will hereafter appear in full, suffice it here to
say, that he threw the entire responsibility upon a stranger whom he
accidentally met in the Harlem cars. The story was told with much
apparent frankness, and a gentleman passing along who knew the lad,
and confirmed his statement as to his connection with a prominent
law-office in New York, he was allowed to go at large, under a promise
that at an appointed hour on the following day, he would call on the
Brooklyn post master, explain the matter more fully, and put him in
possession of facts which would enable the officers to arrest Jolliet,
if that was thought best.
The appointed time arrived, but the young man did not. A rather
voluminous package of papers, however, was sent as a substitute. These
papers are so well worded, and so formally drawn up, that I will here
introduce two of them _verbatim._ The reader will bear in mind that
they are the production of a boy only fifteen years of age:--
New York, January 26, 1855, 12, M.
Post Master, Brooklyn, L. I.
Dear Sir:
Being detained by important court business from attending to my
promise given to you yesterday to be at your office, I am obliged
to write to you. I enclose a statement of facts which I think
sufficient to get a warrant. It is sworn to by me before a
Commissioner of Deeds of New York, authorized to take
acknowledgments for the State.
I saw Mr. Jolliet yesterday evening. He does not suspect anything.
I told him that the mails had not arrived when I was over to
Brooklyn, yesterday; and, in course of the conversation, he told
me _he would take a sleigh ride to Snediker's on Saturday_.
Therefore, it is important you should _get a warrant, and take him
upon that day_. He also told me he would have a white sleigh, a
white robe, and a cream-colored pair of horses. You can easily
know him. I will be over, if no accident intervenes, to-morrow,
say about 11 or 12 o'clock. I tracked him to the Manhattan
bar-room in Broadway, but could not find out his residence, as he
stayed too late. I think he is connected with a gang of rascals
who have made this kind of rascality their special business.
I am acquainted with the District Attorney in this city, and have
thought of getting him to bring the case before the grand jury,
and get a bench warrant out in New York against Jolliet, in case
you should think it advisable.
Meanwhile, I will remain still about the matter until I hear from
you again.
Yours, very truly.
Annexed is the statement of facts alluded to above:--
_Statement of Facts_. A.
During the month of November or December, 1854, I became
acquainted with a man whom I knew by the name of William H.
Jolliet. He seemed to be about 25 or 30 years of age, and, by his
dialect, of English parentage; he was genteelly dressed, and
seemed to be a gentleman by his talk and manners. He came to know
me from often seeing me on the cars of the New York and Harlem
Rail Road, and often talking to me. I am in the habit of doing
copying, &c., for pay, and therefore was willing to do anything in
that way, under the usual circumstances--that is, for pay.
He asked me one day if I was a man of business. I told him I was.
He then asked me if I could make a copy of a note he had in his
pocket, and show it to him the next time I should meet him, and
not to say anything about it to anybody. I told him I would. He
gave it to me, and it was something as follows--that is,
substantially:--
Brooklyn, L. I., Jan. 6, 1855.
Sir:
I have received a package of papers for you from Liverpool,
England, with six shillings charges thereon--on receipt of which
amount the parcel will be sent to you by such conveyance as you
may direct.
Yours, respectfully,
WILLIAM H. JOLLIET.
I met him one or two days afterwards, and gave him his original,
and my copy. He said it was very well done, but looked too much
like a law-hand, and asked me if I couldn't write more of a
mercantile-looking hand. I told him I supposed I could. He then
gave me my copy, and told me to buy some paper, and make as many
copies as I could, and direct them one to each of the names he
gave me on a list, and mail them. I told him I would. This was on
a Saturday evening; and on Sunday afternoon I wrote about a
hundred copies of them, and directed them and sent them. I met him
on Monday, and he asked me if I had done it. I told him I had; he
then asked for the list of names he had given me, and I handed it
to him. He asked if I knew the names I had directed the letters
to. I told him I did not, although I did well, my suspicions about
him having been aroused by his request for secrecy.
On that Sunday on which I wrote the notes, I made up my mind to
play traitor to him, by sending the notes as directed, and keeping
all answers which he should get (he having told me to call for
them at the Brooklyn Post Office), and then delivering them, with
my evidence, to officer B----, in New York, whom I know well by
reputation as a good officer, and an American in fact and
principle. This was foiled by my disclosures to the Post Master of
Brooklyn, on Thursday.
At the time he asked me to make the copies of the note, he gave me
a five-dollar gold piece, to defray expenses. I have kept a copy
of the list he gave me, and also of another which he had given me,
and which I returned in the same way. I have mailed about 200
letters in all. At the time he ordered me to make the copies of
the letter and mail them, he requested me to make a letter and
direct it to him at Brooklyn, and mail along with the others. I
did so, but I asked him what this was for, and he said he wanted
to know how long it would take for a letter to go from New York to
Brooklyn. But I did not believe him, and this formed part of the
causes for my suspicions. I afterwards received the letter, I
think it was Tuesday, and gave it to him. At the time of my first
mailing the letters, I dropped, by carelessness, a list of the
names of persons to whom they were directed, along with them.
Could this list be got, it would tell us a great deal about the
transaction, and then we could have a complete list of all the
persons addressed. It was dropped in one of the three new boxes on
the south-west corner of the New York Post-Office.
I have seen him since he first spoke to me about this affair, five
or six times, (once on Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, and
twice on Wednesday, I believe.) He lives in Harlem, I think. I
don't know anything further of interest, and close with the ardent
wish, that a King's county officer will get the credit of catching
one of the greatest scoundrels that ever lived, thereby ridding
the community of him.
G. H. B.
City of Brooklyn,
County of Kings, ss,
G. H. B----, of the city of New York, student at law above named,
being duly sworn, doth depose and say that he has read the
foregoing statement, and knows the contents thereof, and that the
same is true of his own knowledge.
G. H. B.
Sworn before me this
26th January, 1855.
B. T. B----,
Comr. of Deeds.
Being satisfied that a young lad of sufficient abilities to compose
these documents in such a style, could not have been made the innocent
dupe of any one, especially a stranger, I determined to lay the whole
matter before his employer, a prominent member of the New York bar. He
had heard nothing of it before, and was much pained to hear my
narration, for he was warmly attached to the young student, who, up to
that time had enjoyed his entire confidence, and for whose improvement
and legal education he had taken unusual pains.
A moment's reference to the Law Register, a work containing the names
and residences of all the members of the legal profession in every
State in the Union, and to be found in almost every law office, showed
the source whence he had obtained the list which had been "dropped by
carelessness" into the post-office, for pencil marks appeared against
the names of most of the _country_ lawyers, but including none of
those that had ever been correspondents of the firm with which he was
connected!
The opinion that there was no accomplice, nor even principal, in the
case, beyond the boy himself, was fully coincided in by his employer,
and it was at once decided to call the lad up for a private
examination.
I thought, as he entered the room, cap in hand, and with an air of
perfect _nonchalance_, that I had seldom seen a more expressive and
intelligent countenance. His high forehead, adorned with graceful
curls of brown hair, his full and laughing eye, and the regular
features of his face, seemed made for some better use than to delude
unwary victims.
"George," said his employer, "what do these Jolliet letters mean, that
you have been sending all over the country?"
_Boy._--"I will tell you all I know about it, sir. Some weeks since,
as I was coming in town one morning, in the Harlem cars, a man calling
himself Jolliet----"
_Agent._--"Stop, George, and hear me a moment before you go further.
We don't want to hear that story. We know there is no such person as
Jolliet, and if you go on with such a statement before Mr. F.," (his
employer,) "your pride will render it harder for you to make the
acknowledgments that I know you must come to. You have had no
accomplice, and if you will bring me the Law Register, I will show you
where you got the names of the lawyers to whom you sent the letters."
_Mr. F._--"Now, George, you see that Mr. H. knows all about it, and I
hope you will not attempt to deny the truth. I am deeply pained to
find that you have been guilty of such misdemeanors; and I trust, for
your own sake, that you will make a clean breast of it."
After a pause of a few moments, the young man acknowledged, that,
being "hard up," he had resorted to this plan to obtain funds, and
that he knew no such person as "William H. Jolliet."
_Agent._--"How then could you have sworn to the statement you sent to
the Brooklyn post master? You must have been aware that in so doing,
you were committing perjury."
_Boy._--"Ah! but I did not swear to it. My name is attached to the
affidavit, it is true, but having prepared it beforehand, I spoke to
the Commissioner just as he was leaving the officer, and he signed
it, but in his hurry he forgot to administer the oath."
_Agent._--"But that omission must have been merely accidental.
Supposing he had required the usual ceremony, what would you have
done?"
_Boy._--"I have so often seen him omit it, that I took that risk. If
he had insisted, I should have backed out."
Subsequent inquiry satisfied me that the Commissioner in question,
having often had occasion to sign affidavits for the young man, in the
course of the office business, was not always particular in
administering the oath, and that it was no doubt neglected in the
present instance.
The punishment inflicted in this case, was all that the most indignant
victim of the fraud would have demanded; and there is reason to
believe that a permanent reformation in the character of the young man
has been the result; and that the rare talents which he possesses,
will yet be found arrayed on the side of honesty and virtue.
Answers to the Jolliet letters continued to arrive from all parts of
the country, for some time after the discovery of the fraud, as here
related. The letters that had accumulated in the Brooklyn Post Office,
were sent to the Dead Letter Office, opened, and subsequently returned
to their respective owners, with their contents, accompanied by a
proper explanation.
In nearly every instance, the dodge had been successful. The six
shillings, or that amount in postage stamps, were duly enclosed; and,
in some instances a dollar, to make even change, with directions for
forwarding the mysterious package.
Such an unexpected notice had no doubt given rise in many cases to
sundry visions of heavy fees, which were to flow in upon the fortunate
correspondent of Jolliet, for conducting the business of some wealthy
capitalist of the old world, who, attracted by his professional fame,
was about to confide to him matters of great weight and
importance--perhaps some complicated law-suit, the successful issue of
which would bring him a wealth of reputation and money, compared with
which the outlay of six shillings was an item too contemptible to be
regarded.
Or some sanguine individual might scent out a legacy in the "package
from Liverpool."
People were dying every day in England, whose heirs lived in this
country. It was not very unusual for persons to inherit immense
fortunes from those whose names they had never heard. It might make
the difference of thousands of dollars to a man whether his name was
Brown or White, when some possessor of one or the other name came to
leave his property behind him. And it would be a pity to lose the
chance of securing a handsome property for one's self, or the
opportunity of acting as agent for somebody else, though the whole
affair might prove but a hoax, and the chance of thus finding a
fortune rather less than the prospect of drawing a prize in a "gift
lottery."
It was amusing to peruse the letters which the Agent received from
those who had been swindled, acknowledging the safe return of the
letter and money which they had sent to Jolliet. Most of them were
"well satisfied" when they sent the money, "that it was all a hoax,"
but then it was a small sum that he applied for, and they thought they
would send it to the fellow for the ingenuity he had displayed in
"raising the wind!" All, however, seemed very glad to get their money
again, even at the risk of allowing such talent to go unrewarded.
Some wary old heads, too acute to be caught by such chaff, took the
precaution to request Jolliet to call on their friends in New York,
leave the package, and get the six shillings. Another directed that it
should be left at the Express Office, the expenses paid there, and
when the parcel arrived, the entire charges would be promptly met.
Two or three, not content with informing Jolliet that he had not taken
them in, indulged in a somewhat sarcastic style of correspondence. The
following are two specimens of this kind of reply:--
P----, Feb. 2, 1855.
Mr. Wm. H. Jolliet,
Sir:
I am in receipt of a note from you, informing me that you have in
your possession a package for me from Liverpool, Eng., on which
there is a charge of 6s. sterling, and which you will send to me
on receipt of the above sum.
Sir, I cannot but think it a little strange that my large circle
of friends and correspondents in Liverpool (a circle which may be
represented thus, 0) should have thought it necessary for parcels
which they send me, to pass through your hands, unless you have
some connection with the friends aforesaid, unknown to me. Before
I send you the _sterling_ money, I should like answers of the like
quality, to some or all of the following interrogatories:--
1st. Who are you?
2d. Who knows you?
3d. Who do you know?
4th. Is "Wm, H. Jolliet" the name given you in baptism?
5th. Wouldn't you receive less than six shillings, if you could
get it?
6th. Do you think you have taken me in?
7th. After reading the above, please inform me whether you remain
_Jolly yet_.
Not your victim,
JNO. S----.
H----, Jan. 28, 1855.
Sir:
I know I am ambitious. I have my aspirations. My fame may be
extending. Perhaps it is, I had thought it was local; confined to
this county, certainly to the State. But it seems that I am known
abroad, and you wish me to pay the moderate sum of seventy-five
cents for verifying the fact. Sir, I am an Anglo-Saxon. I rejoice
in it. And I don't doubt that somewhere between Adam's time and
mine, some of my progenitors have inhabited England. But I believe
they have all died or moved away. So you see it isn't likely that
I have any relations in Liverpool, whence came the package you say
is in your hands.
In the next place, sir, living as I do in an inland town, I know
little of those "who go down to the sea in ships." (David, Psalms,
Cap. 107.) And all my particular friends are in this country,
according to the best of my knowledge and belief. But no others
than the individuals I have cited, would be likely to send me
packages from foreign lands. It therefore follows, sir, that the
aforesaid package is not _in rerum natura_. I shall be happy to
receive from you any facts which may vitiate this conclusion.
Pending this, I remain yours, &c.,
ED. B----.
Mr. Wm. H. Jolliet.
* * * * *
We have allowed the lawyers to lead off in the melancholy procession
of victims of rascality which we have undertaken to display to our
readers; and it is our design, in marshaling our regiment of "the
Great Deluded," to place the clergy second in order. Lawyers are (or
ought to be) hard-headed, with little faith in mankind at large; while
it is the general characteristic of clergymen to be soft-hearted, and
to trust, sometimes "not too wisely, but too well," in the integrity
of their fellow men. In addition to the weak points which they may
have in common with all, and through which they are liable to be
successfully assailed, the cultivation of that spirit of charity which
"thinketh no evil" makes them slow in suspecting villanous designs on
the part of others; and renders them an easy prey to those who are
unscrupulous enough to use their unsuspecting disposition as a means
of carrying into effect their own base purposes.
In making these remarks, we are far from wishing to cast any slur upon
the native shrewdness or penetration of the clergy, which would be
unjust to them, (for there are few keener intellects than those that
are possessed by some who are members and ornaments of this body,) but
our object is simply to mention some of the causes which often make
them the victims of imposition. Many of them, especially those who
live in the country, occupied as they are with the duties of their
calling, in the retired life of the study, and in intercourse with the
comparatively honest and virtuous community in which their lot is
cast, are somewhat secluded from the world at large, and know little,
except by report, of the innumerable forms of deceit and iniquity that
people enact, who live outside of their own quiet boundaries. This is,
perhaps, less generally true at the present time than it was years
ago, before the increased facilities for communication had given equal
facilities to rogues, who have chosen our large cities as a field for
their nefarious operations, and have extended them, by means of the
mails, to the remotest corners of the country.
The trick which we are about to describe was attempted on a large
scale, and the trap set for unwary clergymen was sprung in almost
every section of the country, with considerable success, though some
of the intended victims were too wary to be thus swindled.
The trap alluded to was in the form of a letter, of which the
following is a copy:--
New York, Sunday, March 18, 1855.
Brother P----:
Being at leisure this afternoon, and somewhat wearied rather than
refreshed by the morning's discourse of our respected pastor, I
have concluded to sit down and write you, though utterly
unacquainted save in that sympathy which persons of like
temperament involuntarily feel toward one another.
It is the apparent coldness and formality of our metropolitan
sermons that has led me, by a pleasant contrast, to think of you.
I heard you once, while passing through your place--a sermon that
has many times recurred to my memory, though its calm piety and
deep perception of human nature may be weekly occurrences to your
congregation. I have several times thought it would be well for
our church to call on you for a trial here. Our house is wealthy,
and "up town," though that is no matter.
I had almost given up the idea, when it was forcibly returned to
me yesterday by seeing a notice of you in the new publication of
travels through the States; in which I see the writer has heard
you, and was so impressed that he gives a strong description of
you and your style, so well according with my views, that I feel
confirmed in my opinion of you. You have probably seen it. And,
aside from any vanity at praise in print, or any pain at his
censure, (for he finds fault, too,) I think a preacher cannot too
much study his style, in duty to his Master and his people, by
learning all he can of his hearers' views of him, if not for the
praise at least for the blame.
So you see I yet hope to sit under your ministrations. I wish you
would write me, immediately, what you think of coming here, if I
propose you. My bell has just rung for tea, and I close hastily,
wishing you success in any field, and "many souls as seals of your
ministry."
Yours, in the Lord,
A. D. CONNELSON.
P. S.--If you have not seen the notice of you, (in the book I
alluded to,) I will get it for you. I believe it sells at a dollar
and a half, or thereabouts.
I close in haste,
A. D. C.
Here is an instance of one who
"Stole the livery of Heaven
To serve the devil in."
The author of this production, which was lithographed, leaving only a
space after the commencing word "Brother," for the insertion of the
name of the person addressed, was signed in some copies as above, and
in others by the name of "W. C. Jansing."
We can easily imagine the effect of such an artful, flattering epistle
upon the mind of some unsuspecting and humble country pastor, whose
chief ambition had hitherto been to minister to the spiritual wants of
his little congregation, and who had never before indulged the thought
of receiving a "call" to the attractions and responsibilities of a
city pastor's life. He taxes his memory in vain to recollect upon what
occasion any stranger, who might represent the devout Connelson, had
been present during his Sabbath services, and in like manner fails to
recall any reminiscences of the author, who, in his "Travels through
the States," had also heard him, and was "impressed" so remarkably in
accordance with Mr. Connelson's "views." His opinion of his own
abilities having been elevated several degrees by the united testimony
of two such competent witnesses, he begins to think that after all,
it is not so very improbable that he should be thought of as a
candidate for that "wealthy" and "up-town church."
"Was not the distinguished Dr. L---- called from as small a place as
this, to the charge of a large city congregation? And I remember that
his abilities did not use to be so much superior to mine."
With reflections like these, he works himself into a state of mind
that would prevent any surprise, were he some day to be waited on by a
committee from the church aforesaid, with the request that he would
favor the congregation with a specimen of his preaching, with the
additional view of securing the "pleasant contrast" to the "apparent
coldness and formality of metropolitan sermons," that might result
from his ministrations. At any rate, it would be gratifying to him to
see for himself, what the traveling critic had said of him and his
sermons; not that he cared particularly about the opinion, so far as
he himself was concerned, but he would like to have his people know
that their minister had attracted the attention of distinguished
characters from abroad. So he replies to his spontaneous
correspondent, intimating that he should have no objection to taking
charge of the "up-town" church; and enclosing a dollar and a half, to
purchase the book of travels, which he does, not without misgivings
that he is sacrificing too large a portion of his slender salary, for
indulgence in the anticipated luxury.
It is almost needless to add, that the dollar and a half went to the
"bourne from which no _traveler_ returns," and that our clergyman did
not, in this instance, display "that deep perception of human nature,"
which so often recurred to the mind of the admiring Connelson.
The operations of this worthy were soon stopped by the New York post
master, who, having received letters from some of the shrewder members
of the reverend body, enclosing the above epistle, gave the matter in
charge to the police, whose movements alarmed the rogue, and blew up
the cheat, before many letters containing money had arrived. Enough
came, however, to show that had he not been disturbed, he would have
feathered his nest comfortably with the spoils of those whom he had
plucked.
These letters, remaining uncalled for, became "dead" in due course of
time, and were returned with their contents to their authors;
doubtless refreshing the heart of many a sorrowing minister, who
supposed that he had seen the last of his money, and had given up all
hopes of receiving the promised _quid pro quo_.
I insert as a sort of epistolary curiosity, a letter addressed to
Connelson by one of his intended victims, which was sent under cover
to the New York post master, with the request that he would read and
deliver it, if he knew the whereabouts of the person alluded to.
"F----, March 23, 1855.
"Mr. A. D. Connelson.
"Sir:
"I am in receipt of a communication from you, of the 18th inst.,
of whose flattering contents I have reason to believe that I am
not the only recipient; as I am not ignorant of the fact that the
art of lithography can be employed to multiply _confidential_
letters to any extent. If, as you state, you have at any time
heard a discourse from my lips, I regret that the principles which
it inculcated have produced so little impression upon your
actions, especially as it has 'many times recurred to your
memory.'
"There are truths, sir, in addition to those you may have heard on
the occasion referred to, (if there ever was any such occasion,)
which, judging from the apparent object of your letter, it might
be profitable for you to recall. I would recommend to your
attention the truth contained in the following saying of the wise
man:--'The getting of treasures by a lying tongue, is a vanity
tossed to and fro of them that seek death.'--_Prov._ 21, 6.
"You have expressed a hope 'to sit under' my 'ministrations.' I
trust you will be profited by the few words I now address to you,
and if you feel any disappointment in failing to find the expected
'dollar and a half, or thereabouts,' you will have to console
yourself with the reflection, 'How much better is it to get wisdom
than gold? and to get understanding rather to be chosen than
silver?'_Prov._ 16, 16. I give you the references to the passages
quoted that you may ruminate on them at your Sabbath's 'leisure,'
which I hope will hereafter be more profitably employed than in
attempting to perform the part of "a wolf in sheep's clothing."
"Your well-wisher,
G. J. T."
"P. S. If you ever happen to pass through this place again, and to
be detained over the Sabbath, your name, mentioned to the sexton,
or indeed, to any member of my congregation, will secure you as
good a seat as the house will furnish; and if you will inform me
of your intended presence, beforehand, I will endeavor to suit my
discourse to your _wants_, if not to your _wishes_.
"'Not what we _wish_, but what we _want_,
Do thou, O Lord, in mercy grant.'
"If, however, circumstances like some that I can foresee, if you
continue in your present course, should prevent a visit to our
place, I hope you will manage to be satisfied with the
ministrations of the chaplain at Sing Sing, who, I understand, is
an excellent, talented man. And I trust that you and your
_traveled_ friend will agree as well on the question of his merits
as you have on those of others."
Further comment on this case is unnecessary; and we would only say
that any one suspecting an imposture in any such mode as the
foregoing, need not be prevented from indulging in a reasonable
suspicion, by the charitable thought, "This person could not be such a
rascal;" for it is a truth that should be well known and acted upon,
that no amount of hypocrisy, deceit or audacity is too great to be
practised by miscreants like those whose villanous devices are to some
extent exposed in these pages.
* * * * *
THE ONION SEED TRICK.
"If you have tears, prepare to shed them now."
The next ingenious "dodge" to which I would call the attention of my
readers, is one which might be styled double-barreled, inasmuch as it
brought down both editors and farmers simultaneously.
The agricultural portion of community has been much exercised of late
years on the subject of seed. Astounding stories have circulated
through the newspapers from time to time, concerning the wonderful
prolific powers of certain kinds of seed, and prices have in some
instances been demanded for these choice varieties, which remind one
of the times when a laying hen of the right breed would earn more per
day for her owner than an ordinarily smart negro. It really seemed to
be the belief of many enthusiastic persons, that seed could be
brought, by careful culture, to a pitch of perfection that would
almost render it independent of the assistance of mother earth, save
as a place to stand on. The improved seed was to do it all. However
desirable it might be to obtain seed which could be warranted under
all circumstances to produce heavy _crops,_ (which of course can
always be done after a certain fashion, by feeding it out to fowls,)
this "good time coming" will not be hastened, we apprehend, by the
public-spirited efforts of "Mr. Joab S. Sargent," notwithstanding the
glowing prospects held out in the following advertisement:--
FARMERS AND GARDENERS.--ATTENTION!
_Spanish Onion Seeds._
The subscriber will send to any part of the United States and
Canada, a paper of the seeds of the above superior Onion, on the
receipt of ten cents (one dime.)
Farmers and Gardeners, see to it that you secure the best of
seeds. For a mere trifle now, you can put money in your pockets
and fat on your ribs.
Address, JOAB S. SARGENT,
266 Hicks St., Cor. of State,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
P. S.--Publishers of newspapers giving the above and this notice
three insertions, calling attention editorially thereto, and
sending marked copies to the subscriber, will receive by return
mail three dollars' worth of the above seeds, or a copy of Barnes'
notes on the Gospels, valued at three dollars and fifty cents, or
two dollars cash. Address plainly as above.
April 11, 1855.
Observe how adroitly the cunning Joab aims his thrusts at the most
vulnerable spot in both classes of his victims. "Publishers of
newspapers," in the plenitude of Joab's generosity, are to have their
choice between the onion seeds, the gospel, and the ready cash, if
they will but make known to the world the incomparable qualities of
the genuine Spanish article. And many of these publishers "called
attention to the same" with a will, as the following copy of one of
those notices will show:--
"SOMETHING NEW FOR FARMERS AND GARDENERS.--See our advertising
columns. If you want _large onions_, get the real _Spanish_
seed--a change in the seed works wonders. We have seen bushels of
onions imported from Spain of half a pound weight each, and as
large as saucers."
It may be well to say here that no onion seeds, "Spanish" or other,
were sent in compliance with the many orders which poured in upon the
successful Sargent from all parts of the country, excepting that a few
of those first received were supposed to have been answered by the
sending of a few seeds of some kind, whether onion or grass, no one
knew. Perhaps the recipients will discover in the course of time. The
editors were equally unfortunate. Many of them selected the "Notes on
the Gospels" in preference to the seed or the money, yet their wishes
were not destined to be gratified.
Let us see how this tempting advertisement worked on the farmers and
gardeners.
Here is farmer Johnson, whose boy has just brought in his weekly paper
from the office, and who is proceeding to refresh himself after the
labors of the week, with the record of what the world at large has
been doing in the same time. He deliberately peruses the columns of
his hebdomadal, dwelling with solemnity on the more weighty articles,
and endeavoring to laugh over the funny ones, till, after having
exhausted the "reading" department, his eye goes on in search of new
advertisements, which he can distinguish at a glance, for he knows
all the old ones by heart. His attention is arrested by the
conspicuous heading, "SPANISH ONION SEEDS." He reads it over
carefully, and studies every word, that he may be sure that he fully
and correctly understands it; and then comparing it with the editorial
notice of the same thing, he rapidly becomes convinced that Spanish
onions must be great things, and that ten cents may be safely invested
in the speculation. Visions of saucer-like onions rise before him; of
prizes in Agricultural Exhibitions; and if he is an inhabitant of
Connecticut, he fancies he sees the former renown of the ancient town
of Pyquag, or Wethersfield, growing dim before the lustre of Spanish
onions. Accordingly he sends the required dime to Joab, who proved to
be like the elephant which had been trained to pick up coin from the
ground and place it on a lofty shelf. Upon a certain occasion, a young
gentleman was gratified by this performance, he having furnished a
half-dollar for the display of the animal's skill. After the piece was
safely deposited far out of reach, the youth requested the exhibitor
to "make him hand it down again." "We never learnt him that trick,"
was the reply!
The enterprising Joab reaped an abundant harvest of dimes, and floods
of papers poured into the Brooklyn post-office, each one containing
his advertisement marked, agreeably to its conditions, and a few words
written upon it by the editor, making his choice between the valuables
promised by Sargent, and directing how to send the books, when they
were the articles selected. These papers were of course charged with
letter postage, and as the quantity which had arrived was becoming
somewhat troublesome by its bulk, (since Joab took very good care not
to inquire for _them_,) the post master sent to 266 Hicks Street, in
order to notify him of the mass of news waiting for him at the office,
as well as to make some inquiries in reference to the voluminous
correspondence in which Mr. Sargent was engaged. But the person sent,
returned with the report, "_non est inventus_," and the wary deceiver,
having doubtless taken the alarm, came no more to the office to
inquire for letters; so that although the rogue was "unwhipped of
justice," a stop was put to his unrighteous gains. This case may serve
as a warning to all, to look with distrust upon such advertisements
emanating from unknown individuals, especially if the promises made
are out of proportion to the "value received." In the present
imperfect state of human nature, it is not common to find an
individual offering through the papers most disinterested proposals
for the good of people in general, without the fact coming to light
sooner or later, that he had rather more prominently in view his own
good in particular. And I will conclude with the following
aphorism,--If you want onion seed, or anything else, send where you
know you will not be cheated.
* * * * *
A GIFT ENTERPRISE.
The fraud of which I am about to speak, also depended in a great
measure for its success on the fact that it could be carried on
through the mails.
Gorgeous hand-bills were sent to the post-offices throughout the
country, accompanied with requests to the different post masters to
act as agents, and allowing them a liberal per-centage on all tickets
sold. Those who read these hand-bills (suspended on the post-office
walls,) and swallowed with expanded eyes and capacious throats the
magnificent promises which they contained, could not determine by
anything that appeared on the surface, whether "Dashall & Co." were
real personages, or merely figments of the brain; and if the former,
whether or not they were able and willing to meet their engagements.
The scheme certainly had as fair an appearance as any "Gift
Enterprise," and the "local habitation" and "name," which were
appended, gave more probability to the idea that the firm in question
was not a myth but a reality. Thus it is evident that no one could
have detected the fraud without entering into a course of
investigation which would have involved more time, trouble, and
expense, than most people would be willing to devote to the affair
under the circumstances.
The following is a copy of "Dashall & Co's." list of prizes:
150,000 Presents to be given to the purchasers of the large and
elegant engraving of the "Inauguration of George Washington,
President of the United States," from the celebrated painting of
David Paul Laurens. Price of engraving One Dollar, which includes
a gift-ticket, entitling the holder to a chance in the following
list of magnificent gifts.
The value of the presents, as appraised by a committee chosen for
the purpose, is $146,000, as follows:--
A splendid Farm on the Hudson River, completely stocked,
houses, &c. $20,000
Stone Front Dwelling and Lot on Fifth Avenue, N. Y. 13,000
A magnificent _gold_ Tea Service, property of the late G. Van
Denton 4,000
Silver Wine Service 1,000
The Race Horse "White Raven" 8,000
Coach, Harness, and Horses, _a magnificent establishment_ 3,500
30 Shares Central Rail Road Stock 3,000
200 Fine Watches, $100 each 20,000
10,000 Gold Seals and Charms 10,000
10,000 Gold Pens and Silver Holders 5,000
100 Boxes Best Cigars 500
100 Gold Guard Chains 1,500
A splendid Buggy 190
" Phaeton 1,000
A Horse, Harness, and Buggy, splendid affair 500
An elegant Dog, St. Bernard 100
Splendid Fast-sailing Yacht, "Spirit of the Wave" 4,000
The fast and trim pleasure Yacht, "Evening Bird" 1,000
A loan for 25 years 8,000
" " 5,000
" " 1,000
(all without interest.)
1 Rosewood Piano 800
3 Mahogany Pianos 1,500
A Farm in Ohio 4,000
A Farm in Kentucky 3,000
A Farm in Pennsylvania 6,000
A Farm in Massachusetts 10,000
25,000 Vols. Poems 11,000
Statue of "Cigar Girl," by Reeves 1,000
Also over 100,000 Paintings, Statues, Medals, Charts, Albums,
Valuable Books, and Portfolios of Engravings, making in all
150,000 gifts, which will be distributed by a committee appointed
by the Shareholders, and forwarded free of charge by the Public's
obedient servants,
DASHALL & CO.,
486 Broadway, New York.
Whoever concocted the above list certainly deserves credit for the
expansiveness of his views, the soaring flights of his imagination,
and the nicety with which he adapted his various enticements to the
different phases of human nature and life.
Was the reader of the hand-bill a "fast" youth? To him a dollar opened
the prospect of "a horse, harness, and buggy,--splendid affair;" or "a
splendid, fast-sailing yacht;" or "100 boxes best cigars;" or, as a
companion to the above cigars, "Statue of Cigar Girl, by Reeves." Did
the list of prizes attract the attention of a person agriculturally
inclined? To him a choice of farms was offered in the varied regions
of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Kentucky; or "a splendid farm
on the Hudson River" awaited some fortunate individual, who had
sufficient faith in good luck and "Dashall & Co.," to purchase the one
hundred and fifty thousandth part of a chance to secure that valuable
property. The man of business was tempted by sundry loans "for 25
years without interest," and by "thirty shares of Central Rail Road
stock." Through what "centre" this rail road ran, unless it was
Dashall & Co's. office, the deponent sayeth not. Upon the man of
literary tastes, one dollar might confer "an elegant selected
library," while the lover of music was attracted by the offer of
elegant "rosewood and mahogany pianos."
Nor was the fairer portion of creation forgotten, in the shower of
gifts which was to fall on the 10th of March, 1855. The ambitious
lady, who had long sighed for more splendid adornments to her table,
could not read without emotion the promise of "a magnificent _gold_
tea service, the property of the late G. Van Denton." As the lamented
Van Denton was doubtless known, in the circle of his acquaintance, as
a man of taste, the promised tea service must have been
unexceptionable in that respect.
"Melodeons, Harps, Paintings, Albums, Portfolios of Engravings, &c.,"
formed a galaxy of attractions which drew many a dollar from fair
hands.
The engraving of the "Inauguration of George Washington" appealed to
the patriotic feeling of every American. What friend of his country
would refuse to part with the paltry sum of one dollar, which would
enable him to possess this transcendent work of art, copied from the
"celebrated painting" of the no less celebrated "David Paul Laurens;"
a blood relation, no doubt, of the departed "Van Denton."
Each ticket was so embellished with intimations of the rich gifts
possibly in store for its holder, as almost to make him feel as if he
were already driving a "blood horse," or taking his ease in the
"magnificent residence on the Hudson."
The reader is by this time probably aware of the true character of
"Dashall & Co.," and their magnificent scheme. The former were
atrocious impostors, and the latter was only a bag of wind.
The suspicions of the New York post master were excited as to the
character and destination of the numerous letters which came addressed
to the aforesaid firm; and the Chief of the Police taking the matter
in hand, a detachment from that body made a descent on 486 Broadway,
where they found a respectable female of Milesian extraction, engaged
in washing the floor; and observed an open window, through which the
representative of Dashall & Co. had probably made his exit. There was
no furniture of any description in the room; so, having secured
neither "persons" nor "papers," the civil authority was compelled to
beat a retreat, not without sundry remonstrances from the old woman,
touching the invasion of her "_clane flure_." She could tell them
nothing about the firm, and only knew that she was sent there by the
owner of the room to "clane up," which occupation she resumed, after
imparting this information, with a vigor that threatened the immediate
submersion of the intruders.
The parties concerned in this fraudulent transaction are supposed to
have cleared upwards of fifty thousand dollars by the operation,
which, allowing for the per-centage to agents and other expenses,
proves conclusively that there was more than that number of fools
existing at the time in this enlightened land. We would hope that
those who were taken in by this cheat, will not be thus deceived
again.
We trust that the foregoing record of knavery, whose contrivers were
indebted, in some measure, for the carrying out of their plans, to the
post masters who acted as agents, will have the effect of producing
greater caution on the part of these officials as respects undertaking
agencies for _unknown_ individuals. It would seem that a proper regard
for the public interest would prevent any post master from lending
himself, even undesignedly, to a fraudulent scheme like this of
"Dashall & Co." It would be easy to refuse to have anything to do with
proposed agencies, whose principals were not known to the post master,
or concerning whom satisfactory information could not be obtained.
The adoption of this practice would seriously interfere with the
operations of the class of rogues who succeed in their villanous
designs by making cats' paws of honest people in ways similar to that
above described. I do not hesitate to say that thousands of dollars
would every year be saved to those who are now swindled out of their
money, if post masters were to take the course suggested, and refuse
to allow hand-bills containing advertisements to be posted up in their
offices, unless they were satisfied of the reliability of the parties
sending them.