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notorious； constituting a distinct branch of the business； but the
pretenses on which human credulity is invited to part with actual
cash for imaginary benefits are innumerable。 A few specimens are
given as illustrations。
AN OLD GAME REVIVED
On the 18th of September； 1875； a fellow was arrested in West
Virginia who sent the victims whom he proposed to bleed letters
whereof the following is a copy：
〃A lady who boarded with me died on last Saturday of apoplexy。 She
left a trunk containing the following property： One very fine
ladies' gold watch and chain； one ladies' gold necklace； six
ladies' finger rings； earrings； and a great deal of ladies'
clothing。 Among other things was a letter addressed to you。 I
suppose you to be a relative of the deceased； and want to send you
the trunk。 When Miss Thompson died she left a board bill unpaid
amounting to 20。50。 You will please send this amount by return
mail； and the trunk will be forwarded to you immediately。〃
Instead of remitting the money as modestly requested； the recipient
of one of these choice douceurs； a lady residing in the interior of
Pennsylvania； sent the letter to the mayor of the town where it was
dated and postmarked； who in turn handed it over to special agent
T。 P。 Shallcross； and he in the course of a day or two succeeded in
capturing the miscreant。
This particular form of the confidence game is very old； yet in the
year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seventy…five a swindler by
means of it succeeds not only in maintaining himself in dashing
style； but also in sporting a flashy traveling companion of the
female persuasion！
Where the letters are addressed to men； the articles reported to be
found in the imaginary trunk are changed to correspond to masculine
habits and wants。 The operators receive many singular and some
entertaining replies。 The following； dated long ago from a small
town at the South； may serve as a sample； the orthography of the
original being preserved：
〃COL。 SNOWDEN；
〃Dear Sir；Yours received； and you say John is dead。 Poor fellow！
I always expected it。 Death runs in the family。 Dyed suddenly of
appleplexyeat too many apples。 Well； I always thought John would
hurt himself eating apples。 I s'pose you had him buried。 You said
nothing about funeral expenses。 He had a trunkgold watch in it；
&c。 Well； well； what an unexpected legacy！ but strange things
happen sometimes。 Never thought I should get a gold watch so。 And
he had the watch in his trunk； did he？ Poor fellow！ was always so
particular 'bout his watch and fixings。 Had two revolvers。 What
is them？ I never heard John say anything about them。 Well； you
have been so kind as to write to me； just keep all the balance of
the things； you can have them； but the gold watch； send that to me
by express。 Send immediately if not sooner。〃
〃Very truly；
〃GEO。 STREAM。
〃P。 S。 My mother in law says； if you come this way； call。 She
likes to know all such good； kind folks。〃
It is safe to conclude that 〃Col。 Snowden〃 never accepted the
invitation to call from the hospitable mother…in…law。
A FORMIDABLE WEAPON
In the summer and fall of 1875 circulars were scattered broadcast
over the country； and advertisements appeared in the weekly
editions of several leading papers of New York City and other large
towns； setting forth the rare merits of a weapon of destruction
called 〃Allan's New Low…Priced Seven…Shooter。〃 As a specimen of
ingenious description； the more salient parts of the circular are
herewith reproduced：
〃In introducing this triumph of mechanical genius to the American
public； it is proper to say that it is not an entirely new article；
but that it has lately been improved in appearance； simplicity of
construction； and accuracy； having new points of excellence； making
it superior in many respects to those first made。 The
manufacturers having improved facilities for making them cheaply
and rapidly； have reduced the price to one dollar and fifty cents；
and while the profits on a single one are necessarily small； this
price places them within the reach of all。
〃We wish it distinctly understood that this is no cheap； good…for…
nothing 'pop…gun'； and while none can expect it to be 'silver…
mounted' for 1。50； they have a right to expect the worth of their
money； and in this new improved seven…shooter a want is supplied。
〃Great care is taken in the adjustment of EACH； so that ALL are
equally good and reliable。 In their production no trouble or
expense has been spared。 An elaborate and complete set of
machinery and gauges has been made； by means of which all the parts
are produced exactly alike； thus insuring great uniformity in the
character of the work produced。〃
This remarkable implement； equally useful for peace or war； is
offered to an eager public at the low price of 1。50 each； or 13
per dozen。 On the score of cheapness； the inventor greatly prefers
the mails to the express as a vehicle for the transport of his
wares。 In fact； he declines to patronize the express companies at
all； unless a prepayment of twenty…five per cent； accompanies each
order as a guaranty of the 〃purchaser's good faith。〃
At first the enterprise succeeded even beyond the most sanguine
expectations of its projector； letters with the cash inclosed
pouring in by the hundred。 For several months； however； after the
first publication of the advertisement； 〃this triumph of mechanical
genius；〃 though 〃not an entirely new article；〃 existed only in the
comprehensive brain of the gentleman who had the greatness to
discern in the imperfect work of predecessors the germs of ideal
perfection。 Having no seven…shooters to send； he was compelled to
dishonor the requisitions of the expectant 〃traveler； sailor；
hunter； fisherman； etc。〃 While careful to lay aside the
inclosures； he entirely forgot even to so far remember his patrons
as to make a record of their names。
In due time； however； the 〃factory〃 went into operation； and the
seven…shooters were actually produced。 The mechanical 〃triumph；〃
rudely made of a cheap metal composition； is a duplicate of a toy
long used by boys to the delight of each other； and to the
annoyance of their elders。 The propulsive power resides in a steel
spring； which has force enough to send a bird…shot across a good…
sized room。 The outfit would cost perhaps six or eight cents to
the manufacturer。 A portion of the orders were now filled； the
greater part being still thrown unhonored into the waste…basket as
before。
Curses both loud and deep began to be showered on the head of the
swindler。 Complaints having reached the department； special agent
C。 E。 Henry started to hunt for 〃Wilcox & Co。；〃 of Windsor； Ohio；
for such was the direction in the advertisements and on the
circular。 Proceeding several miles from the nearest railroad； he
found the rural settlement where the factory was supposed to be
located。
Guided by various inquiries； he finally drove up to the small farm…
house where the parents of Wilcox & Co。 resided。 On entering； the
officer said； 〃I am in search of Mr。 Wilcox； of the firm of Wilcox
& Co。〃
〃I am your man；〃 remarked a youth； perhaps twenty…two years of age；
whose countenance at once suggested acuteness and cunning。 〃What
will you have？〃
〃I would like to take a look about the arsenal and gun…factory
located here；〃 replied the detective； leisurely surveying the
landscape。
〃The works are in Cleveland；〃 answered the great inventor。 〃You
can see them by calling there。〃
〃But where is the arsenal？ I understand it was situated here。〃
〃Your information is correct；〃 replied the young man。 〃That is it；
across the road。〃
Casting his eye in the direction indicated； the officer saw a
rickety woodshed about seven feet by nine in size。
Observing the smile of amused incredulity that played upon the
features of his questioner； Wilcox reiterated； with an air of half
offended dignity；
〃That's it。 We keep our seven…shooters there。 But look here；
before this thing goes any further； I want to know who you are。〃
〃Oh； certainly； sir；〃 answered the stranger。 〃You will find
nothing about me that I care to keep concealed。 I am a special
agent of the post…office department； and my business here is to
arrest you。〃
〃Why； what have I done to warrant such a visit？〃 queried youthful
innocence。
〃I shall be happy to make that point clear to you；〃 replied the
detective； 〃though I am afraid the enlightenment will come too late
to prove of much service to you。 In using the mails for the
purpose of swindling； you have violated the laws of the country；
and must suffer the penalty。〃
〃But where does the swindling come in？〃 expostulated Wilcox。 〃I
advertised a seven…shooter。 I didn't say an