Threw the Goods Into a Well

New York, 1895

On Friday night the store of Edward Baldwin at Bayville was broken into and goods worth $15 stolen. On Saturday some of the goods were found under a barn near by Monday morning Officer Monilaws arrived with a search warrant. He went to the house occupied by Harry West to look for the goods. West waited until the officer got inside the house when he threw a lot of goods out of a window and afterward tossed them into an old well. The officer saw him and fished the goods out. West was arrested, charged with burglary.


Poor Overseers in Debt

The town of Newtown met on Friday. Town Clerk Robinson offered a resolution requesting the board of supervisors to authorize the supervisor of Newtown to borrow $5,500 for the purpose of paying that amount of bills now due to grocers and others for the support of the poor. Over $1,100 is due the Temporary Home for Children.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 1, 1895, p. 2.

Unpaid Accounts Drove a Woman to Suicide

1901

Not so very long ago a woman threw herself before a New York elevated train and was instantly killed. Her sister testified afterward that she was a "fashionable" dressmaker and had over $15,000 worth of outstanding accounts which she could not collect. The people from whom she bought her goods were persistently asking for their money, but she could not pay them because her customers did not pay her for her work. It so preyed upon her mind that after weeks of sleepless nights she determined to kill herself. And she did. — Ladies' Home Journal.

Note: If you owe someone money, pay them back today. Tomorrow might be too late.

Trying to Make Forty Dollars

1901

Here is a hard luck story apropos of efforts to make a little sum in Wall street: A young man started with $100 and ran it up to $9,960, or $40 less than an even $10,000. The desire to round out the $10,000 goaded him on. He said to his broker, "If I can make that additional $40 on a quick turn I will draw out my $10,000 and invest it in real estate."

It was a strong bull market, but things appeared sky high, and he picked out an active stock to sell short. I think he landed on T. C. and I., which had a phenomenal rise and was due to drop anywhere from 10 to 50 points. He sold 100 shares at par, intending to close it out at 99. But instead of going down the blamed thing soared to 126. At every three points' gain he sold another 100 until he was carrying all he could tote. In 24 hours he lost nearly every cent it had taken him three months to make.

With what little he had left he bought T. I. on the recession to 116, friends of the Hanover National bank assuring him that it was going to 150. Then came the fireworks and the funeral. The bottom fell out of the specialty and young Dr. Knowall found himself $15,000 in debt. He hasn't been in Wall street since. — New York Press.

There Always Comes a Settling Day

1920

By W. D. Boyce (W. D. Boyce's Talks)

A few days ago leading bankers of the United States were approached by confidential agents representing bankers who had invested in Russian bonds to the amount of $300,000,000. It was a feel-out to determine whether pressure could not be brought upon Congress to recognize one of the factions in Russia which is fighting the Reds, or Bolshevists. I believe they were pretty plainly told that it would be useless to introduce such a bill, that it would get nowhere.

Now a bigger and wider scheme is proposed (no doubt a bill to that effect will be introduced in Congress) to send to "starving" Europe three hundred million dollars and not to collect the interest on European bonds which our Government took during the war. The balance due is going to be $1,500,000,000 (one billion five hundred million), and the Secretary of the Treasury further is quoted as stating that he had not the heart to ask the European Governments to pay what they owe us. That does not sound very good, specially as the United States Government has the heart to ask everybody to pay four times the normal taxes. We spent our money to send our boys to Europe to fight for the freedom of the world, but we never agreed to finance and set on their feet again the countries at war. We had nothing to do with bringing the fight on in the first place, and we should not be punished for the lack of foresight on the part of the Allies in not observing that Germany had been preparing for forty years to establish a Middle Europe, a German country from the North Sea to the Gulf of Persia.

I cannot understand why we should, keep on adding to our taxes in order to quickly establish Europe as our competitor in the markets of the world. If the other countries would go to work like England did they soon would be on their feet again. England exported and imported during the last twelve months $1,000,000,000 more than did the United States, yet England had been at war far more than four years. Talk about "starving Europe" can hardly be true for the war has been over now for fourteen months and Europe has had time to grow a crop. If she could live without starving for four years and at the same time keep millions of men fighting she ought to be able to get enough to eat in times of peace.

I get tired, too, of hearing and reading about the debt we owe to France. During the American Revolutionary period France sided with us, it is true, when we revolted against England. But it was because France was having trouble with both England and Germany at that time and England had a German King on her throne. The only reason France sided with us was because she wished to help rob England and Germany of prospective colonies and thus weaken her own enemies. Some of the educated French may have sincerely wished us well, but ninety out of every hundred of them didn't even know there was such a thing as the United States. Few of them could read or write and their minds were taken up with the sole objective of earning their daily bread and sour wine. France at that time was a monarchy and as a political unit had no love for republics.

Today France is the richest country in Europe, but she is hollering so loud about conditions and whining so much that the yelp of the Daschund can hardly be heard. The United States has set herself back forty years to prevent France from being subjugated by the Boche and if any debt is due now it is a debt of France to the United States.

Always there comes a settling day, and until the United States demands that Europe pay at least the interest on the money we have loaned the different countries over there they will not go to work, either to raise food enough to feed themselves or to make money enough to pay us off. If we extend any further credit we will "bust" Europe.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 6.

Notice

1902

I hereby give notice that I will not be responsible for any debts contracted in the future by my wife, Mrs. Mamie Samueles. — JAMES SAMUELES.

—Waterloo Daily Reporter, Waterloo, Iowa, March 6, 1902, p. 3.

Uncle Sam Pays Old Debt

1909

SHERIDAN, Wyo., Oct. 6. — Uncle Sam has finally settled the forty-four-year-old claim of $4.26 of James Baker. The money was owed to Baker for service in the Sixteenth Iowa Infantry during the Civil War, and his claim had to await its turn in Washington for adjustment.

Baker says he will not cash the check from Uncle Sam, but will have it framed as a relic of his soldier days.

"Bread Upon the Waters"

1900

The reward of a generous deed seldom comes more opportunely than it did in an instance reported by the Cleveland Leader. It appears that a prominent Clevelander named Cole, who has recently died, was forced to leave Cornell University at the close of his sophomore year, for lack of funds.

He went to New York, and began a canvass of mercantile houses and offices, in search of a position. Among many others, he visited the office of a produce merchant, who seemed greatly taken with his personality. The result of the interview was that the merchant said to Mr. Cole:

"Young man, go back and finish your college course, and I will foot the bill."

Mr. Cole accepted the offer, completed his course with credit to himself and his strangely found friend, and at once entered upon a business career. It was not long before he prospered in a business venture, and found himself able to repay the sum advanced for his education. He went to New York, sought out the office of his friend, and stepping up to his desk, laid down seven hundred dollars.

"Mr. Cole," said the old merchant, "if it were not for this money my credit would have been dishonored to-day. Maturing obligations would have gone to protest. You have saved me!" — Youth's Companion.

Substitutes Mustard for Electricity

1900

A street faker in Kenton, Kansas, had a thriving business selling electric belts until someone examined one of them. Then it was found that beneath a strip of gauze was a layer of dry mustard. When the wearer perspired a little the mustard was moistened and set up a burning sensation and the deluded victim believed a current of electricity was passing through him. Before all this was discovered, however, the faker had smelled danger and was on his way to another gullible neighborhood.


Debts Make Life Bitter

Ex-King Milan finds it more difficult every day to borrow money. His debts and his difficulties make his life very bitter. He has arrived at that stage of his continental career when he is looked on with suspicion and is placed on the ominous black list of Carlsbad's business people, who warn all their friends against "a certain Milan, formerly king of Servia," and announce that no goods should be sold to him except on a cash basis. — James Gordon, in Chicago Record.

Fake Beard Lands Gary Man in Cell

March 1920

Merchant-Sleuth Finally Released by Detroit Cops

DETROIT, Michigan — Wearing a false goatee and mustache, Isidor Vila, a well-to-do business man of Gary, Indiana, was arrested here.

Vila conducts a grocery store in Gary. During the strike there last summer a large number of the strikers opened charge accounts at his store. Many of them disappeared without paying their bills, some of them coming to Detroit. Vila decided to go on a collecting trip. He provided himself with false scenery, as he figured he would have a better opportunity of locating his debtors.

Detroit was the first city he visited, and five minutes after he left his hotel adorned with the camouflage he was spotted and arrested, despite his strenuous objections. The Gary authorities wired the Detroit police that Vila was a law abiding citizen and he was then released.


Weds Girl To Whom He Restored Beauty

PEORIA, Illinois — Two years ago Miss Ruth Wheeler, a Peoria school teacher, went to the offices here of Dr. Raymond C. Willett, orthodonist. An otherwise beautiful face was slightly marred by teeth which had grown crooked. She appealed to Dr. Willett to perform an operation to straighten them. Recently, in Chicago, the couple married. Miss Wheeler is the daughter of one of Peoria's prominent families. Dr. Willett is one of the best known practitioners in Peoria.

Spring Specimens (poetry)

1878

Spring Specimens

'Tis now the gentle hopper-grass
Arises from his winter snooze
And whets his bill upon his leg
Preparatory to its use.

'Tis now the festive yellow jacket
And hornet ope their eyes for aye,
And strive to make a pretty fuss
By stinging cows upon the thigh.

The Paragraphers now awake
And rummage over musty files,
Wherewith to gain their daily bread,
And also gain the public's smiles.

'Tis now the festive door-bell rings
And duns walk through the open door,
And still present the same old bills
As long as in the days of yore.

—National Union.

Lincoln Helps Man Settle A Debt, Guy Screwed Twice

1914

ONE WAY TO PAY A DEBT.

A Suit That Lincoln Settled In His Own Peculiar Manner.

A crack brained attorney who lived in Springfield, supported mainly by the other lawyers of the place, became indebted in the sum of $2.50 to a wealthy citizen of the county. The creditor, failing after repeated efforts to collect the amount due him, came to Mr. Lincoln and asked him to bring suit. Lincoln explained the man's condition and circumstances and advised his client to let the matter rest, but the creditor's temper was up, and he insisted on bringing suit. Again Lincoln urged him to let the matter drop, adding, "You can make nothing out of him, and it will cost you a good deal more than the debt to bring suit."

The creditor was still determined to have his way and threatened to seek some other attorney who would be more willing to take charge of the matter than Lincoln appeared to be. Lincoln then said, "Well, if you are determined that suit shall be brought I will bring it, but my charge will be $10." The creditor paid over the money and gave peremptory orders that the suit should be brought that very day.

After his client's departure Lincoln went out of the office. He returned in about an hour with an amused look on his face. I asked what pleased him, and he replied: "I brought suit against ——— and then hunted him up, told him what I had done, handed him half of the $10, and we went over to the squire's office. He confessed judgment and paid the bill." Lincoln added that be did not see any other way to make things so generally satisfactory. — "The Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln."

Wife Serving in Hotel After Husband Left Without Paying

1901

Wife Shoulders the Burden

Waterloo, Dec. 28.—A man registering at one of the hotels as Dr. L. D. Caswell of La Crosse. Wis., has departed from the city and his whereabouts are unknown. His wife, who was left without funds, has assumed the role of a servant girl in the hotel in order to meet the board bill. The doctor advertised extensively as a specialist, catarrh being his specialty.


Passed Forged Checks

Adair, Dec. 28—A stranger passed four forged checks of $9 each on the business men of Adair, claiming to be a farm hand working for a rich stock man near town and receiving the checks in payments. His description is: About 6 feet tall; weight, about 165 pounds; smooth, pale face; light brown hair; age, about 25 years; extra smooth hands; wore a dark ulster, light colored neck scarf, fedora hat; had the appearance of being an indoor worker.


Struck With Coal Shovel

Muscatine, Dec. 28.—Walter Kaiser, by his next friend, R. J. Kaiser, has begun a damage suit against M. O. Stanwood, defendant. Walter Kaiser is a minor of the age of 12 years, who sues by his next friend, R. J. Kaiser, and for cause of action against the defendant states that Stanwood struck him with a coal shovel, severely cutting his face. He wants $5,000 damages.

—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, December 29, 1901, page 3.

Locked His Man in Ice Box to Force Payment of Bill

1911

LOCKED HIS MAN IN ICE BOX

Unusual Way of Collecting Bill. But It Didn't Work.

Washington, June.—Frank L. Averill, president of the Arcade Market company, decided a day or two ago to use moral suasion on Samuel Boxwell, a stand keeper in the market in the collection of rent for cold storage which Boxwell owes and when Boxwell entered one of the cold storage rooms to get some meat Averill locked the door on him and informed him through a speaking tube that he could come out when he settled. Boxwell refused to come to terms.

Averill kept him in the cold storage room for thirty minutes and then let him out, and Boxwell was nearly frozen. He swore out a warrant for Averill and the latter was fined $25 in the police court for assault. Judge Pugh in assessing the fine remarked that imprisonment for debt had been abolished in the District of Columbia a century ago.

—Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1911, page 3.

"Saving Our Bacon" - The Expression's Origin

1919--

SAVING OUR BACON

Origin of an Ancient Colloquialism in Connecticut

Expression Used When Debtor Gets Best of Creditors by Questionable Methods in Business Deals

Distribution and sale of the government supply of bacon brought to the minds of many who are acquainted with old sayings the ancient colloquialism, "Saving one's bacon." The thrifty housewife, laying in a store of the smoked meat, assures her near neighbors that she is "saving her bacon." The housewife, of course, is telling the truth, but as she repeats the ancient colloquialism she fails to use it in its proper sense.

The housewife who is so gay over "saving her bacon" would be horrified and justly provoked if her neighbors would reply: "What! You cheating your creditors?" And that is just what she means if she employs the term properly. The story of the origin of the colloquialism is credited to Connecticut, according to the Hartford Times.

In the days when the Charter Oak was green and Sir Edmund Andrews was more green, new London boasted of a citizen of the name of Fitz John Winthrop. He was a sailor, and moreover of literary tastes. These tastes were more distinctly commercial. That is, while he was quite a bibliophile on his own account, and had a goodly store of books, he was in the business of collecting books for others. Probably because he was something of a connoisseur, the colonist who coveted foreign published books engaged him to obtain them when he was in port on the other side; or, knowing their fads, he would, of his own account, make the purchases, and bring them over, disposing of them at a fair profit.

Among the customers was a lawyer who was also interested in shipping, politics and several other things which in our later day might go by the name of speculations. At the time when he was flush with money he would invest in books, and depute Capt. Fitz John to obtain them abroad. Among other works for which he had something of a penchant were those of Lord Bacon. He managed to have quite a sizable importation at different times. On one occasion,when the captain came into port and brought him a bale of books, he found the lawyer in financial difficulties of a shady character. On the following day the property was to be "distrained."

Under the colonial law among other things exempt from the claws of the creditor was meat of various descriptions and quantities. Bewailing the fact that his books must go under the hammer, he was disconsolate when the captain came with the additional volumes. He had a decent supply of wits and he and the lawyer, working industriously by night, managed to stow away a good deal of the library in meat barrels in the cellar. On top of each was a layer of bacon in coarse salt. The following day, when the sheriff's clerk came with his red chalk, he scrawled his "X" on each of the barrels, and the contents were exempted.

It must have been some time later when Capt. Fitz John related the story, and managed to add, "Leave it to any one if them bar'ls didn't hold Bacon!" And so when a debtor got the best of his creditors by questionable methods, the proceedings got to be known as "saving one's bacon."

--The Hamilton Daily News, Hamilton, Ohio, October 6, 1919, page 10.