THE SHODDY SWINDLE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1135, 18 March 1872, Page 3

THE SHODDY SWINDLE.

It will be remembered that some time ago an ingenious dodge, known as the "carpet and shoddy swindle," was exposed. It is managed in this way. A well-dressed person of good address calls upon a small storekeeper, representing himself as a traveller for some commercial housej and, producing samples, engages to execute a large order for valuable carpet at a ruinously low price, while he is paid at an exorbitant rate for parcels of shoddy goods which he happens to have in his buggy. Of course the commercial house with which he is connected is a myth, and the retail dealer never reaps the advantage of the fine bargain he thinks he has made in the carpet transaction; Lately two men in a buggy, representing themselves as travelling for "Morris, Peebles, and Co., of Flinders lane,' 1 called upon Mr Robert Trail, storekeeper at Cheltenham, and stated that the firm they represented being in great difficulties were prepared to sell goods at a tremendous sacrifice. They wished to sell him a quantity of carpet worth 4s 6d a yard at la 7d per yard, and some flannel worth 2s a yard at 6d a yard, offering to take cash or draw upon the buyer. They also gave him a parcel of shoddy goods from the buggy worth L 6 to LB, demanding LlB as the price. Mr Trail having read in the newspapers of the carpet swindle, detained these goods, and told the travellers he would neither pay for them nor return them until a large order he save for the carpet had been executed, ana the time named for the carpet to be forwarded w« that evening. Next day Mr Trail received a lawyer's letter on behalf of "Abraham Bensabott " threatening legal, proceedings unless he paid the Lid immediately. Mr Trail does not intend to pay until he gets the carpet, and if that is delivered he will clear about L30Q., . The case if taken into court will be an interesting one. Of course it remains to be seen whether tho course pursued by Mr Trail can be supported by