Spanish Needle

[jeff of pa]

Harrisburg Telegraph​

Fri, Dec 16, 1910 ·Page 1

 

[robertk]

The forerunners of PT Barnum?

 

[robertk]

Some people use Crayons to keep entertained, some use Dowsing devices, that deal with Frequencies and resonation!

And some read way too much into things.

 

[Red-Coat]

What a bunch of shysters. Abram G. Stauffer, Oscar A. Stauffer and Abram S. Stauffer of Palmyra, Lebanon county, PA were charged in December 1910 with selling [fraudulent] instruments to locate hidden wealth, one of the articles being the “Spanish needle.” They were reportedly sold at between $10 to $15 each and about 1,500 were alleged to have been sold in the previous year across several states. Charges of selling obscene literature by mail were also made. Abram G. and Oscar A. were reported to have been doing business under the names of Prospectors and Miners’ Agency, Hall Company, Electric Motor Company, Diamond Publishing Company, Gem Novelty Company, Franklin Drug Company, Smith Remedy Company and Stauffer & Company. Abram B. Stauffer was also said to have interests in a business called the Miners’ Supply Company.

I’m not sure exactly what this means, but it was reported on 22 December that Abram G. Stauffer and Oscar A. Stauffer each “paid $5,500 for court” and Abram S. Stauffer “paid $4,500 for court.” Presumably that’s what they were fined.