The business, which seems to have been invented by one McNally, commonly called "King McNally," was so ingenious that some account of it may be given here. Seven principal actors were needed, and they were: (i.) The "Backer," or capitalist, who was wanted to supply genuine notes to a large amount, which had to be produced when the swindle was started and the fish was on the hook. (ii.) The "Writer," who sent out the circulars which constituted the bait. (iii.) The "Bunco Steerer," who was despatched, often to a considerable distance, to get the nibbling victim in tow. (iv.) The "Old Man," a personage of benign and most respectable aspect, who had to sit in the room when the fraud was being carried out. (v.) The "Turner," who did the bargaining and sold the bogus notes. (vi.) The "Ringer," a sleight-of-hand artist who effected the exchange, at a given moment, between the genuine notes displayed and the shams palmed off on the fool. (vii.) The "Tailer," a species of bully employed to get rid of any dupe who, having discovered the swindle, returned to expose it. A first step was to procure directories and lists of addresses, by which means vast numbers of circulars were distributed through the country. It was the business of No. 2, the "writer," a mere clerk, to send these out, enclosing in each envelope forged cuttings from newspapers (printed, of course) which set forth the extraordinary advantages offered by those who had "green goods" for sale. At the same time a slip was inserted giving an address to which anyone might telegraph so as to secure the offer before it was too late. The address was always bogus, some number in a street of a house that did not exist, or an entirely vacant lot of ground. The telegrams were, however, delivered by the telegraph companies to the swindlers in person, a service for which a substantial fee was paid.