Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1915 — Spectacles and Rheumatic Cure Machines a Specialty. [ARTICLE]

Spectacles and Rheumatic Cure Machines a Specialty.

A couple of men worked the country near Rensselaer about the middle of January and apparently swindled a few farmers "hereabouts. Fred Bachman, of just north of town, alleges that he paid one of the men S4O as advance payment or, rental for an alleged electrical machine which was guaranteed to cure rheumatism. Primarily their business seems to have been in selling spectacles, and at Bachman’’s the man tested Mrs. Bachman's eyes and left -a couple of pairs of glasses at the house for her. After getting into the good -graces of the family he sprung the electrical battery machine scheme, stating that they were worth S3O 0 each but were rented for S4O each with batteries sufficient to run them three months. Bachman did not have the money in the house but came to Rensselaer and drew S4O out of one of the banks here, paid it over and the* stranger gave him a receipt for the amount. The machine was to be sent him from Chicago. Not hearing anything from the man, who gave his name as S. Grier of Chicago, Mr. Bachman wrote him at Chicago. The letter was returned with notification that party was not found, and it is altogether probable that he will not be. The other man gave his name as Graham, and they hired autoes and drivers at the Main garage to take them out. Graham is said to have sold a pair of glasses at John Moore’s in Barkley tp., for the latter’s son, Joe, but Mr. Moore says that the man did not spring any electrical machine scheme on them", and all that he i,s out is about $lO for the glasses. Whether any others were caught, is not known at this wiriting. ' As The Democrat has .frequently urged, people should be very wary in dealing with strangers, and especially in signing any papers or paying any money in advance.