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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
CHICAGO.
THE JURY AT WORK—EXAMINATIONS OF IN-
STRUMENTS BEING MADE—UNPLEASANT
RUMORS ABROAD—TRADE IN THE
WORLD'S FAIR CITY.
is in a ferment, and while, with the data before
me, I am not prepared to accuse any one, nor
yet defend any one, I trust for the good of all
concerned that a ten thousand volt search light
may be turned on the entire thing, first and
last, to the end that the good name of the
trade as a whole may not be besmirched.
Mile. Louise Nikita has been engaged as
soloist for three concerts in Music Hall this
week.
Chas. S. Harris, of George H. Champlin &
Co., of Boston ; Mr. Leasure, of Wilson & Co.,
Oil City, Pa., and Mr. Houghton, of New York,
were among the latest visitors to the Fair.
Trade is fairly good, but the outcome of the
examination of the jury in Section I now over-
shadows all else.
Yours, etc.
MANNING.
CHICAGO,
August 30th, 1893.
EDITOR MUSIC TRADE REVIEW :
TRAD^CHAT,
VICTIMIZED.
f\ piago Swindler Exposed.
5#c[ plausible man of benevolent mien, well
t$hz> dressed, old fashioned, polite as a Chester-
field, wearing a hat such as William Penn once
sported, has worked a new swindling scheme
with success, and his victims may be counted
by the hundreds, says the Herald of September
1st.
He is well acquainted with the piano trade.
He began his crusade last May, when he visited
Harlem and canvassed the houses of working
persons.
In substance his story was that the estate of
the piano manufacturing firm of Weber & Co.
had to be wound up owing to the death of the
elder Weber. He said the children of Mr.
Weber desired their share of the estate, and with
that end in view the Society of Friends, at No.
157 East 14th street, had been appointed trus-
tees, because Mr. Weber had been a member of
the Friends, and so as to dispose of the stock
quickly agents had been commissioned to sell
Weber pianos at $200 each, payable in monthly
instalments of $2. The piano was to be shipped
from Astoria, L. I., and the expressage would
The jury on pianos and musical instruments
has almost completed its examination in Section
THE piano stool manufactory at Peterborough,
I at the World's Fair. Two more firms to go N. H., has been shut down for an indefinite
over to-morrow and the time will be ripe for period.
footing up the results and awarding the much
WM. F. MANNING, second son of Rev. E. A.
coveted prizes. The examinations have been
Manning, Boston, Mass., died in Reading at
made in a most thorough manner, but if the re-
the age of 38 years. He was long connected
ports openly made by some and stealthily whis-
with the Estey Piano and Organ Co., until fail-
pered by others are to be believed, the matter
ing health drove him down South.
be $2.
was practically settled long ago. Wild charges
This story was so well told that in nearly
MR. C. W. WADSWORTH, piano and organ
of the corrupt use of money are in the air,
while there are some who do not hesitate openly dealer, Peekskill, N. Y., will have a large ex- every instance the man succeeded in getting a
to charge that money has been paid and circum- hibit of musical instruments at the County Fair. victim, and either $2 for express charges or $2
or more for the first instalment.
stantially give sums, dates and persons.
EDWARD LISTMAN, piano maker, of 174
I have been at some pains to try to trace the Broome street, New York City, made a charge
HIS BUSINESS METHODS.
foundation of such rumors and learn the truth of assault against John Dougherty, of 395 Cherry
To these victims he gave this receipt:
if possible. After an indefatigable search going street, in the Essex Market Police Court, and
NEW YORK CITY, 14, 6, '93.
over several days I confess myself incompetent Dougherty was held in $300 bail.
Received from
, $2, as the first deposit on
to judge pro or con.
the Weber upright piano, style B, mahogany
J. W. STEERE & SON have been awarded a case, 7^4 octaves, four months' trial free of
Of course, Blumenberg had a finger in the
contract
to furnish the St. James M. E. Church, charge. Price $200, at $2 monthly. Balance
muddle, and some of his former best friends
charge that his plottings brought about much of of Kingston, N. Y., with a $5,500 organ for due, $198. Delivery free of charge (in this in-
stance).
THOMAS RICHARDSON.
the crimination and recrimination now evident. their new edifice.
Friends' Supply Company, No. 157 East 14th
In view of what has been said, I would best
street, New York city, administrators.
A SUIT in replevin has been begun by the
give the statements of both sides. A prominent Chase Piano Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., against
After thoroughly working Harlem the swin-
manufacturer and dealer on Wabash avenue Saml. A. Coon.
dler turned up in Flatbush, L. L, where he
says that the intimacy between a certain Chi-
THE Addison Y. M. C. A. band, Addison, N. found more lambs to fleece, offering a Steinway
cago house and the National Commissioners Y., has been organized with S. C. Welch, Presi-
piano this time, and receipting for all moneys
from Kansas and Missouri, begun during the dent, Geo. De Groff, Vice-President.
under the title of '' Thomas Cooper.'' Then he
Stein way imbroglio, and their subsequent action,
went to Yonkers, where the Steinways' name
THE
International
Piano
Makers'Union,
New
when the jur}' nominations came before them,
was again used with success.
York,
reports
a
steady
increase
in
the
number
gave rise to rumors that were prejudicial to
VICTIMS IN CONNECTICUT.
both. This man goes so far as to give it as his of unemployed in the trade. A general meeting
belief that money was used. Mr. R. S. Howard, of the new organization is to be held at the
'' Mr. Cooper '' next crossed over to Connec-
of J. & C. Fischer, told Mr. Ambuhl, of Chicker- West Side Labor Lyceum on Sunday, September ticut, and operated in Bridgeport, Hartford, New
ing & Sons, that money had been used, and 10th.
Haven, Norwich, New London and Danbury.
that if the interested parties would raise a
In all these towns he has left a trail of victims
sufficient amount, its influence could be offset.
who were swindled out of sums ranging from
Telegrams were sent to Mr. Foster, of the
$2 to $10. He next took a flyer across to New
Chickering house, but he, like Mr. Ambuhl,
Jersey, and the way he fooled the natives of
Sweet Clarinda, blithe and fair,
declined to contribute a cent. The above I got
Newark, Elizabeth, Paterson and Jersey City is
At her tinkling spinnet,
from Mr. Ambuhl, who says he does not believe
terrible to contemplate.
Sat and sang some olden air
any money has been used except in a legiti-
He always selected a woman as the softest
Like a sweet voiced linnet.
mate way. Others seen are equally strong in
medium of the swindle and made the irresistible
Strangely thin the tones, and quaint
their expressions of faith in the jury, and be-
announcement that the buyer of one of these in-
Now would seem the spinnet:
lieve that no money has passed hands. Yet
struments would receive twenty-four lessons
But Clarinda, like some saint,
several who, like the man first quoted, do not
free.
Wooed the muse within it.
care to have their identity revealed, charge
I saw Mr. Stetson, of the firm of Steinway &
fraud, loud and long.
Sons,
yesterday. He said complaints of this
Now Clarinda's daughter plays,
swindler had been pouring in to the firm for
I think it would be a good scheme to get up
But the old time spinnet
months.
a purse to pay for such an investigation as
Is a thing of other days
'' The fellow even had his letters directed to
would at once and for all set at rest these ugly
And no longer " i n it."
our offices," he remarked. "This Society of
rumors—for they are ugly and hurtful and are
For the new " Crown " instrument
Friends, at No. 157 East 14th street, does not
well calculated to do great harm. All sides
Supersedes the spinnet,
exist. It would not be a very difficult matter
should be ready and willing to have a showing,
And is made by Geo. P. Bent.
to trap this fellow, because he has only two
the first to prove what they charge or withdraw
Fame, takes worth to win it.
fingers on his right hand. If anything can run
the same, the last to disprove said aspersions,
him to earth the Herald can by publishing this
or failing to do so with prompt and telling re-
So the " Crown " make stands confessed,
statement."
buttal, then they should be duly humiliated if
Not a cheap thing in it;
guilty.
Mr. Stetson produced a basketful of letters he
Long live '' Crowns ! '' they 're the best,
had received from victims of the swindler.
Certain it is, the music trade world hereabouts
Farewell, old time spinnet.
THEN AND NOW.