A Swindler Abroad
Eau Claire Weekly Telegram | March 8, 1904

Chippewa Falls- The Independent says: C.R. Natt of Menomonie who was in the city recently, said that he believed that a man is operating in Dunn and Chippewa counties is a fraud and is heading north. He dresses in the garb of a minister, and claims to be a state agent of the “National Helping Club,” alleged to be a society of people all over the United States who are banded together for the purpose of extending financial help to people placed in need by great catastrophes. His particular stunt is the solicitation of funds for the Baltimore fire sufferers, when as far as known, no appeal for relief has yet been made in behalf of the stricken city. He claims to be a clergyman from Tomah, Wis. This supposed fakir is a smooth faced man of medium build, fair complexion and has a habit of squinting one eye when he talks.

Chad’s Take – Another Slow News Week
You can breathe a sign of relief this week as I was unable to dig up any reports of UFOs, odd deaths, mysterious creatures, or haunted places filling the pages of the local papers. However I did discover this fun little story of a swindler afoot in the Chippewa Valley. Now swindlers were not uncommon in the area as fake psychics, snake oil salesmen, pickpockets, and other scammers regularly made the headlines of our papers. However, this gentleman created a unique, albeit not convincing, scam to separate residents from their money. I can only imagine that if this guy was alive a few weeks ago he would have certainly tried to capitalize on the Haiti disaster. And as a general rule of thumb you may want to avoid any traveling men who squint one eye while talking to you.

Keep an eye out…