1874: Booby-Trapped Inheritance

"When the father of the present Duke of Richmond died, he left his son a bank-note for $50,000, but it is in a casket, and the casket is so arranged that any person tampering with it would receive six pistol shots. As the secret of opening it without letting off the pistols has been lost, the contents of the casket are not likely to be squandered. There is French authority for saying that this story is strictly true."

~From Intelligencer-Echo (Austin, Tex.), December 28, 1874

1874: "Ten dollars will be given to you to produce a man"

"A gentle, husbandless creature in Illinois writes to a lawyer who advertised that he would provide companions for unmarried persons: 'My Dear Mr. ----- This is to certify that I am a widow with thirteen children born, and have had three husbands, each of whom died in peace in his own way. I have a small farm, and would take another husband yet, if I could find a young one; no old, bull-headed sardine need apply, he will not be taken in. Ten dollars will be given to you to produce the man."

~From Intelligencer-Echo (Austin, Tex.), December 28, 1874