I‘m continually amazed at how easily “suckers” fell for the hook, line, and sinker scammers threw out to entrap the unsuspecting. This article covers a few short newspaper reports of circumstances wherein the honest fell for scams and ultimately paid plenty.
Note: amateur historians will enjoy documentation of the term “sucker” as in ‘fool’ or ‘gullible’ has been in use for at least 116 years. Likewise, the law in place at the time wherein fraudulent use of the postal service, including posting mail in anything other than one’s legal name was forbidden by law. Another interesting turn of phrase when referring to a ‘child born on the wrong side of the blanket’ is used in this article, a most upper-class carefully worded turn of phrase (as pregnancy outside marriage was such a scandal in those days)– a lady of wealth embarrassed by an infant not properly accounted for on the paternal side (newspaper article 2, below). You may also find the definition of “hymeneal” interesting. Nope–not referring to hymen, also known as maidenhead or dubious ‘proof’ of virginity.
Use of the term “sucker” over time pre-1800 through 2010. https://www.google.com/search?q=define+sucker&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
Boys run scam. Suppressed by PostOffice Dept. Part 1. The Evening Bulletin. Maysville KY. 25 Mar 1901, Monday. Pg 4.
Boys run scam. Suppressed by PostOffice Dept. Part 2. The Evening Bulletin. Maysville KY. 25 March 1901, Monday. Pg 4.
Duped People. Part 1. The Plain Speaker. Hazelton, Pennsylvania. 7 July, 1890.
Duped People. Part 2. The Plain Speaker. Hazelton PA. 7 July 1890
Duped People. Part 3. The Plain Speaker. Hazelton PA. 7 July 1890
Define: Hymenial. When was it used? Source: Google
Inflation Calculator: http://www.davemanuel.com/inflation-calculator.php
The Lima News. Lima OH. 25 October 1902. Part 1.
The Lima News. Lima OH. 25 October 1902. Part 2.
The Lima News. Lima OH. 25 October 1902. Part 3.
Up Next: Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, part 8
Wherein a murderer finds his victims through a matrimonial bureau; and two wealthy (and married) women entrap unsuspecting swains into expensive courtships, engagements, marriage– or close enough, broken hearts and shattered illusions.
Definition of Swain. source: google
Matrimonial Fool and his Money (on Sweet Americana Sweethearts) Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 1 Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 2 Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 3 Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 4 Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 5 Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 6 Newspaper Brides Vs. Mail-Order Brides (contains advertisement for Chicago’s Standard Corresponding Club) Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Brides SCAMS, Part 8 Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 9 Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 10 Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11 Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 12
Did you miss the two-part (actually three–with my post on Sweet Americana Sweethearts) about Victoria Leap Year Traditions?
Victorian Leap Year Traditions, Part 1
Victorian Leap Year Traditions, Part 2
Leap Into Love–The Victorian Way (Sweet Americana Sweethearts)
Copyright © 2016 Kristin Holt, LC