From Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper of July 26, 1856 we learn of a fantastic little swindle. It seems that the residents at 73 Hicks Street, Brooklyn rented the house from Mr. John Taylor. Around noon, a man drove up in an express wagon, told the residents that Mr. Taylor had sent him over pick up the window blinds, so that they could be repainted. Much pleased with the generosity of their landlord, the tenants helped load up the wagon with every set of blinds in the house. Neither the blinds nor the wagon driver were seen again.