Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1904 — FRAUDS IN A BALE OF HAY. [ARTICLE]

FRAUDS IN A BALE OF HAY.

Frauds in Wutch Qgaea. According to an article In the Cincinnati Commercial, a fifty-one pound stone was ivcently found In that city secreted In a bale of hay of eighty pounds. This Is not as bad as finding a lump of lead of nearly one-half the weight of the solid gold watch case secreted in the center of the case. Gold watch cases are sold by weight, and no one can see where this lead Is secreted until the springs of the ense are taken out and the lead will be found secreted behind them. These cases nre made by companies who profess to be honest buF furnish frhe means to the dishonest to rob the public. It Is not pleasant for anyone to find that he has lugged A lump of lead In hlg' watch‘case. Another trick the makers of spurious solid gold watch cases Is to stamp the ease “U. S. Assay." The United States does not stamp any article made out of gold and silver except coin, and the fakir, by using this stamp, wants to make the public believe that the government had something to do with the stamping or guaranteeing the fineness of watch cases. Another trick of the watch fakir Is to advertise a watch described as a solid gold filled watch with a twenty or twenty-five year guarantee. These are generally sent C. O. D., and If the purchaser has paid for the watch he finds that the Company which guaranteed the watch to wear Is not In existence. The Dueber-Hampdeu Watch Company, of Canton, Ohio, who aye constantly exposing these frauds, will furnish the names of the manufacturers who are In thla questionable business!