THE ARFUL “DROPPER.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 113, 4 July 1911, Page 7

THE ARFUL “DROPPER.”

WITH HAL F-A-PC )U NI) OF TEA. Housewives in Christchurch have frequent experiences of the backdoor vendor of caeap goods, and many \vnmoii have {mi oh as ad spurious articl-s from «_•;Ii 1 > merchants who, l>y ai fl'n! talk, have accompli shod a rode of worthless :u tides. With a limited livid to work upon, and the necessity of securing trade in the midst of boon competition, the confidence merchant of Inin type—a. “dropper” he is termed Ivy tile criminal' clans —has to resort to many artifices, and to appear with novel ideas to induce people to part with their money. One salesman who lias succeeded in victimising many housewives recently has dealt in a brand of “confidence lea” that has given to its purchasers little more than food for reflection. His methods -are simple and alluring. He appears at tno door with a packet of tea less than a- pound, and on the appearance of the housewife he presses this upon her,' following it with a teapot which lie presents to her. He then speaks; of handsome cruets to be given away' with the tea packets, but he does not show the - articles. His victim is then informed that the tea and teapot are presentations, but that if a coupon is found in the packet a fee of 2s Gel must ho paid. He reassures his victim by stating that only one packet in every twenty contains ■ a coupon, and then ho asks her to investigate the packet and learn her fate. The search is made, and the coupon is discovered. In most cases the “lamb” pays the half-crown, and the “dropper” goes on his way rejoicing, and it is only on rare occasions that ho meets with* defeat. Largo numbers of people have been visited by the merchant, and after his departure'-the tea has always been found to’ be worthless, and thel teapot ’to be of very little more worth;