People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1893 — Lightning-rod Swindle Again. [ARTICLE]

Lightning-rod Swindle Again.

Kontluml Democrat. On Thursday and Friday last, some of the farmers living near the Dehner’s church were very neatly “taken in” by lightning rod agents. They went to Mr. Schluttenhoter and to him they very clearly explained that they were from Philadelphia; that their company had been in a pool; that the pool had “busted up” on the 27th ult., and that they were now giving the farmers the advantage of all commissions and other expenses. Mr. S. understood their game and did not pay much attention to this rehersal. The agents then produced their contracts which contained the prices of the articles, printed in big letters with the word “each” in small letters, which were hardly noticeable. They said that they would put the rods on his house for about §6O, and as the were just beginning to work n that county, they would deduct §SO from the first few customers. Mr. S. would not “bite” so they went to Mr. Joseph Deliner, to whom they rehersed the scheme and he not noticing the word “each” connected with the words points, price §3O, he signed the contracp. When the rods were on, Mr. Dehner was informed that his bill was §370, with §SO off. Mr. Matthew Hubertz was “taken in” for §2lO.