Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1874 — AN EXTENSIVE SWINDLE. [ARTICLE]

AN EXTENSIVE SWINDLE.

“N. H. Bancroft & C 0.,” of Chicago, formerly “Maynard & C 0.,” of Magnolia, lowa, Come to Grief in Chicago in the Person of One Morris Mason—The Swindler’s Mode of Operations. For months past the mails have been burdened with letters and circulars sent by May-' nard & Go., of Magnolia, lowa, to prominent gentlemen in the country, containing the circulars and tickets which indicated a swindle, and which have led to the arrest of the “firm” and the exposure of the swindler. It seems that the “firm,” unlike most swindlers, instead of selling the tickets, generously presented them, and in an accompanying circular announced that when the drawing took place they would be promptly notified, being only expected to contribute five per cent, of the cash value of their winnings to the managers, said Maynard & Co. Shortly after the dispatch of the first circular came another, announcing that the ticket held by each gentleman (and each complimentary sent out was similarly successful) had drawn a prize valued at S3OO, and suggesting that the payment of the five per cent., $lO, would secure its instant transmission to the lucky holders of the fortunate numbers. This wag immediately followed by another, announcing the appointment of N. H. Baneroft A Go., of Chicago, as the financial agents, and the withdrawal of Maynard & Co. from the further prosecution of the scheme. Payment was to be made to N. H. Baneroft & Co., and Maynard & Co. guaranteed that the former would faithfully carry out their pledges, etc. It has now transpired that Maynard & Co. and N. fi. Bancroft &’ Co. are one and. the same firm, and that the swindler who had adopted these titles is a resident of Chicago, named Morris Mason. From some facts that came to his knowledge, the Special Ageut of the Postofflee Department, U. -R. Hawley, arrived at the conclusion that “N. H. Bancroft <fe Co.” was a myth and a fraud, and forthwith proceeded to investigate. The result of his investigations was the arrest of Mason and the* exposure of the swindle. Mason was brought before United States Commissioner Hoyne and held to bail in the sum of $5,000 for trial. Mason became penitent and gave the agent permission to examine the letters and return the lnclosures to the writers. Over one thousand letters were opened which had accumulated during the 'da; of his arrest and examination, and of these fifty-two contained ten-dollar remittances. These were in bills, bank-drafts, and Postofflee money-orders, while one or two sharp customers sent along bogus bills, with a request for change. Buch letters- as contained money were separated from those which did not, in order that the money inclosed might be returned to the writers, with a piece 6t salutary advice for the benefit of those who so became the dupes of a knave.' t Those letters which did not inclose a $lO bill or its equivalent in many cases directed Maynard A Co. to act as the writers’ legal agent, sell the S2OO worth of miscellaneous goods, deduct a handsome percentage as agent sod remit tbe proceeds of the sale to the

writers. Others represented that the lucky ticket-holders would be glad to have the goods sent C. O. D., when the $lO would willingly be handed over, wbitenot a few show that the writers look upon the scheme as a clear swindle and would like to act as special agents for it in the territory in which they reside. Some of the letters were very amusing. A young lady from Rose Stream, Tates Co., N. Y., addresses the firm as follows: Diabolical and Dear Sirs: Your favor of Jan. 24, announcing onr good fortune, was received with deep and heartfelt joy . . We tender you our grateful and heartfelt thanks for the complimentary ticket and prize, and for the prompt notification of onr good fortune. In regard to the trifling form of your mention of the five per cent, bonus* we would gladly oblige yon. bnt, owing to the late panic and the high price of bntter, we are unable to raise the money and are compelled to task yonr kindness still fnrlhbr. Yon forget to mention which prize we have drawn. Now, as our family have no need of horses, carriages, parlor sets, or pianos (being well supplied with musical instruments, a tin horn and a habv), we propose that you may deduct the five per cent, bonus and five per cent, extra to recompense you for yonr trouble, and send on the balance in cash. A sarcastic young man of Purgitsville simply returns the circular with the following information upon it, which will prove a maxim interesting equally to anglers and lottery swindlers; Suckers don’t bite when the water Is so very low. Thank yon for your offer. A butcher in New Castle, Del., with a weakness for euchre,- writes to the swindlers as follows: I received yonr letter, stating that I had been a lucky man, and had drawn a prize of S2OO, and you demand five per cent, before sending the prize. I profess to he a moral man and abstain from profane language, bnt I am not so much of a fool as you are a rogne, and if you want to euchre me, come to New Castle, where I can get a deck and have the pleasure of seeing you do it. Messrs. Allen & Baker, saloon-keepers of Valley Falls, N. Y., write to request the S2OO gift won by ticket No. 154,288, and inclose a S2O bill of the late-lamented Confederate States of America! They close their letter as follows: “Change being scarce here, and trusting you are honest and will send change back, we remain, etc.”