Classicly

They were also sent to other places where his name was known, and they told all about the wonderful discovery of oil. Friends of the clergyman were to be allowed to invest in the company, if they wanted a sure thing. The letters did not state that the money was needed for digging the wells or building a refinery.

Oh, no! Persons who received the letters were given to understand that this was their chance to get rich quickly. And the Reverend Elijah Judson’s name as president of the oil company was enough to make everybody sure that it was all right. For, of course, the clergyman would not go into any business that was not perfectly straight and sure.