REMARKABLE GULLIBILITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 21

REMARKABLE GULLIBILITY.

VICTIMISED BY AN AMERICAN

SALESMAN.

The country towns of Victoria have been visited by an enterprising American salesman, and the people have been gulled just as completely as if they were raw country youth of, the period of Goldsmith's " Vicar of Wakefield." This is all the more remarkable when it is considered that the salesman was succe6sful in such places as Bendigo and other townships whose residents pride themselves somewhat on their own smartness. The manner in which the American salesman carried on his business at Bendigo may be giveu as an example cf what took place in many other townships. For eomo days innumerable handbills were distributed announcing that J. J. Newton, '" the great American salesman," would appear at the Rolling Stock Buildings. As the show was free the place was crowded. About 7.30 J. J Newton, attired in the full costume of an officer of the navy, appeared on the stage, and proceeded 'to introduce himself to those assembled. He claimed relationship with Sir kaac Newton, and gave some particu'ars regarding tho high moral principles which had been inculcated into him soiee boyhood. The talesman was interrupted in his narrative, but lie was always ready with an answer, which generally turned the laugh against his adversary, and won applause from the open-mouthed spectators. Newtcm announced hie intention of opening the sale by selling £1 notes for 15s, and he rose much higher in the esteem of the crowd. After disposing of half a dozen notes to those fortunate enough to have the necessary silver in their pockets, he played for lower game, and commenced selling half-crowns for two shillings. He found numbers of ready customers at this price, but, as the crowd were falling over one another in their frantic efforts to reach the stage to participate in Newton's generosity, he ceased selling 6ilver and began the sale of kuivs, the price of which he named at 3s. Having stated that the actual cost price was something about double that amount, he insinuated that, even if they did not require the knives for use, they should purchase one, and cherish it as a memento of his firtt vipit to the Golden City. Needless to say the crowd once more rcse to the occasion, and tho stcok of knives was quickly exhausted. Recognising that the gullibility of the crowd should be further tested, Newton made some extraordinary assertions, to the effect that his 'integrity was undoubted and his record unblemished. Holding up a double Albert chain, which he acknowledged was not worth a few shillings, he intimated that he was determined to sell it for £10, and he cast about for bids. At last a young man in the crowd expressed his willingness to pay the required amount, and so great was thf delight of the salesman at effecting his purpose that he beamed indulgently en the purchaser, and returned to him his own £10, betides gning him an extra sovereign and a rolled-gold chronometer, bearing on either case an enameMcd portrait of the Prince and Priaicefs of Wale€.

Either the young man was a confederate or Newton concluded he was a and 6o he asked for some well-known pubho citizen of Bendigo to step forward and buy a chain at'the price, nuiitioned He averred that the only reason for !n& wishing to have

I a well-known man was that he could use hit : name when advertising his entertainment for the following Thursday night. He blatantly professed that everything would bo square and above board, and his genial so'icitations were at last rewarded when a. well-known young cabman named George ' Buchanan skipped on to the platform and i tendered £10 for the chain. Buchanan had po««ihly never faced co large an audience, and he was quite unnerved when Newton delivered a homily on the trustfulness of human nature. Hv heartily thanked his young friend for the compliment he had paid to his honesty, and partially announced hir, intention of returning him his money with a substantial present to boot. \ Some of . the audience insinuated that there was col- [ lusion between the salesman and Buchanan, ( b\it the former quickly dispelled any lingering doubts they might have in that respect by making a direct appeal to Buchanan, who answered slowly in the negative. The enterprising salesman then asked him if he was quite satisfied in receiving the chain for /the money, and he replied in the affirmative. "Well, now get down; that will b& all right," said Newton, and Buchanan was the happy possessor of a bra.'s chain. The hope ho evidently cherished that his £10 would be returned to him with a present, ao in the first case, was not, however, realised. ' It was surprising that immediately afterwards two other gentlemen handed in their " tenners" and names, together with their addresses, expecting to have the money returned, plus a gift, as in the first case. They received in exchange a couple of bras* I chains. Business for a time was not brisk, and I the hoarseness of the salesman indicated t\\& necessity of his conserving his lung-power. He drew attention to^the strain imposed on i him, and said that ho would now sell similar J chains for £5. This was within the range , of many of the crowd, and several transac-

tions were effected at that highly satisfactory • figure. Quick to recognise that the spirits i of his audience required a further tonic, I Newton bellowed out his .determination, to provide everybody with chains, whatever the cost, and he dropped his price to £1. Once more there was a surge towards the platform, and sovereigns were passed over for braes chains. The generosity of the entertainer appeared to be unbounded, and thin thoroughly touched a responsive chord in j "the hearts of the audience, who were new j inclined to believe anything he said. Gradually the prices of the chains were lowered until purchasers at 6d were supplied Ito their heart's content. Immediately afterwards chains were below par, and the generous spirit of the entertainer was evinced when he- threw several among the crowd 1 . These were picked up by many of the bystanders, who this morning were exhibiting them as trophies of the fight. Those who had paid big prices for their chains gathered round the platform, and Newton seemed to give them his attention, for his conversation, although addressed to the crowd, consisted mainly of eulogistio

references to his friends on the platform. As the hour was getting late the salesman announced the commencement of a oomio singing competition, and the efforts of several of the competitors were of such a character as to draw cat-calls from the more noisy section of the audience. Meanwhile Newton," anxious to preserve the friendly feeling with thcee on the platform, invited fhem to have a drink, and he sent his attendant to the adjoining hotel. Tho drinks were brought in, and the popular hero of the evening announced the conclusion of the entertainment, after which he called for throe jheers for himself. These were lustily given (the gentlemen on the platform assisting), and the band striking up " For he's a jolly good fellow" gave Newton, his chance to escape into a cab which was waiting for him, and in which he proceeded' to his hotel. The unsuspecting individuals on the platform waited a few minutes for his rtturn, but only discovered that that event was likely to be indefinitely postponed. The more irate of those who had been gulled were about the etreets until 2 o'clock in the morning, making anxious inquiries as to Newton's whereabouts, but they unfortu nately got on the wrong Boent, and they went to bed wiser but sadder men. Next morning a number of the victims interviewed the police, but Newton had dieappeared. The victims had to put up with a great amount of "chaff." One of those who bought a chain for £5 is a commercial traveller from Melbourne, and he was so thoroughly satisfied with the bona fides 6£ the transaction that he gave Newton another £5 after getting on the platform. A local sharebroker also bought a chain for £1. It is estimated that Newton took away some thing over £80 as a reeulfc of the evening's transactions. Two men, named Henrj Barton, 30 yeara of age, ventriloquist, and John M'Cabe, 29, olerk, who were staying at the hotel with, Newton, were arrested, but whem brought up in court the charge against them was dismissed for want of evidence in support. Since then Newton was proceeded against at Worribee for using the word "auctioneer" on his handbills without being licensed. Nowton, of course, did not appear, and he was fined £20. As it is quite probable that the enterprising and plausible American may make hie way to this colony, our country readers will know how that they should fight shy of tha Yankee salesman.

A junior clerk attached to a local body ! in Christchurch " respectfully made application " for an increase in salary, on the ground that while banking the council's money, some sneak-thief stole his bicycle, valued at £22, which he had only left outside the bank for a few minutes. ' Tho sympathetic body raised the sufferer's salary sfl per week. — Christchurch Prei=s. The premises of Mr John Meagher and Co , at Temora (N.S.W.), were entered during the early hours of the morning recently, and a safe, was blown open and completely cleared. The cashboxes had been wrenched open, and wore lying on tht office floor in. tlip insert of glass, splinters, portions of locks, brass, iron, and woodwork. Tho window^ were shattered. A fuse about 6in lone;, two new axes, a. brace, bit, and other tools v/ere found, having been brought from the ironmongery department. Ahont £260 iin gold, notes, and silver was taVm Tho cheques were left scattered r.,i ,' «• irir,-,-.