Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1890 — Page 6

CITY CONFIDENCE MEN.

SHARPERS WHO THRIVE UPON THE CREDULITY OF OTHERS. Rural People Their Vxnal Victims How Confidence Is Kstabli-heU— Versatility of the Fine Worker—Snide Auction Stores and Their Swindling chemo <—A Strange Coincidence —Catcl.ing a Tarta How a Bookseller Was Sold.

®NE half the world does not know how the other half lives. The above aphorism is used without quotation , marks, not because it is claimed a s original, but because it is of such ESC “fatherly antiqui£7 \ ty” as to render them entirely unj/ necessary. Of the “halT

which obtains it livelihood by means not understood by its complementary section, a respectable portion—in point of numbers —does so through methods extremely doubtful, if not decidedly knavish. In country places, -where each is personally known to every

CONVINCING MR. OLIVER GREEN THAT HE WAS A FRIEND.

other, roguish genius finds a poor field for the display of its powers, and the knave is quickly marked as snch and an embargo placed upon his operations. In consequence of this the rural rascal soon emigrates to the qity, where his identity can be changed as opportunity or necessity requires. From a “sharper” much may be learned of practical value to a thoroughly honest and consciencious man. It is, however, on the theory that evil must be understood that it may be avoided, that an expose of the modus operandi of sharpers, swindlers, confidence men—all the numerous fraternity of rogues who live bv their wits, in fact—is rendered highly desirable. Many readers will no doubt resent the imputation that such information could by any chance prove of service to them, believing that they “know a thing or two—or three,” and, though country born and bred, can “take in” a great city, Chicago, for instance, without employing a personal guide, or carrying printed instructions. As the devil is said to gloat over the prospects presented by those who rely solely upon their own strength and righteousness, so the city sharper lies in wait for countrymen, “wise in their own conceit,” whose arrival in town promises a large and, what is still more gratifying, an easily gathered harvest. Country people are not behind the dwellers in cities, either in intelligence or sagacity; indeed, in both regards they no doubt excel the latter. They are easily victimized by the city “shark,” because of their strange surroundings, the unfamiliar manners and customs of those with whom they come ■ in contact, and their inability to comprehend the depravity to which human nature can descend, while at the same maintaining a decidedly prepossessing appearance and most courtly address. The I lans by which people can be relieved of their money without resorting to the sand-bag or other forms of violence, are as various as the brains of the “con men” are fertile in imagination and invention. It is this great variety of methods which enmeshes and too frequently utterly discomfits the rural visitor. A well-dressed old gentleman will frequently stop him on the street and addiess him by the name of Thompson, learn that he is Oliver Green, of Greenville, apologizes for his mistake and passes on. A few minutes later he is hailed in his own proper name by a smooth confederate of the old gentleman, who, two times out of three, succeeds in convincing him that he has known his son at school, or his brother in Kansas, or even the visitor himself at Greenville. The particular scheme depends upon the circumstances of the case, especially the amount of information that has previously been secured. Confidence once

BOBBED I

established, the sharper adroitly learns the manner of man he haste deal with. This determined, the rest is usually plain sailing. If the proposed victim drinks, which fact must be ascertained without making any "breaks,” his money is as good as won already. A “tongh” saloon is visited, and'when tfcp oight-seei cornea to himself often

enough in a police station, it is to mourn the loss of his money and watch. The “con man” is exceedingly versatile, and can furnish any information or render any sevice that the victim may request. Should the latter desire to “see the town,” he acknowledges

A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.

himself to be a sport aud takes him in tow, npich as a tug-boat does a sailing vessel in the harbor, with the result of wrecking him on some reef, leaving him nothing of value to serve as salvage to whoever may come to his relief. If the stranger proves to be a church deacon, or even a clergyman, the “fine-worker” is not one whit abashed, but knows every preacher in the city, particularly the one his companion wishes to see, who is unfortunately out of town for the day. In the meantime another clergyman is often called on and machinery set in motion by which the visitor is relieved of his “roll.”

Sometimes the smartest “con man” meets his match. Not long ago a veteran in the art of duplicity met a young granger in a Chicago street, apparently convinced him that he was an old friend of his dead brother, and steered him into a snide gambling-house. Once there, he treated the faro-dealer to liquor, with the result of producing his seeming intoxication. Then he won quite a sum from the bank, and induced Mr Verdant to try his luck. As the latter displayed quite a large amount of money, he was allowed to win at first by way of encouraging him to increase his play. In ten minutes he had won twice as many dollars.

“I guess I'll be going,” said he, as he pocketed the ca>h and rose to his feet. “Don’t think of it,” remonstrated the “steerer.” “You can make a thousand. It’s as easy as lying.” “Then you’ll be a sure winner. I’m not mean enough te* beat my dead brother's friend out of the chance to make a fortune. Look out for him, though, for he might sober up any minute. I never saw such a rum-nosed fellow get so drunk on two drinks before. Go in and win. Twenty dollars will pay for my trip. I don’t want the earth. Ta, ta.” Not long ago a wealthy lowa farmer visited Chicago, and stopped at a Clark street hotel The day as er his arrival he spent an hour writings business letter. He noticed a sleepy-looking individual who sat next to him, but had no idea that that individual had succeeded in reading every word he had written. Half an hour later he stopped before a street mail box to deposit his epistle. As he raised it to the orifice his hand encountered that of a well-dressed man who was engaged in a similar undertaking. Then the farmer uttered a little exclamation of surprise, the name and address on the two envelopes being identical. “Excuse me,” said he, “but this is a strange coincidence. You seem to know Prof. Orville Hartshorn, of Denver.” “Intimately,” responded the stranger. “I have just arrived from the West to represent him in the negotiation of a block of mining stock which a friend of his, Mr. John Newton, thought of buying.” “I’m the very man! Give me your hand! Strangest coincidence I ever saw! The Professor wrote me that a friend would represent him here.” The identification seemed complete, and before night the farmer had exchanged ss,Out) in money for entirely worthless stock. In these days swindling has been reduced to a fine art, confidence men often making elaborate preparations, and that at no small expense, to discover and properly receive rural visitors. ’Last spring a well-to-do druggist, located ih a thriving town of central Illinois, started for Chicago. On the train he fell into conversation with a very gentlemanly appearing man—in reality a sharper—who soon learned that he was going to the city at the call of Blank & Smith, a prominent and reputable real estate firm. He j wished to invest a few thousands in i real estate, and so take advantage of j the World’s Fair boom in prices, and

the firm had advised him that they had a rare opening for cash. The “gentlemanly stranger” soon left the train, and lost no time in sending a long dispatch to his partner in the city. Upon his arrival there the druggist was met at the depot by a young man who had no difficulty in convincing him that he was the confidential clerk of Messrs. Blank & Smith, whose card he presented, together with a forged note on one of their letter heads, informing him that they had sent their clerk to meet him, as the matter must be closed immediately, or the best chance in Chicago be lost.

The unsuspecting dispenser of drugs entered a hack with the false clerk and was driven to a handsome piece of acre property, where he met the supposed owner. Satisfied with the price and that the title was good, he signed the contract on the spot, advancing SI,OOO to secure the purchase. The above instance is only one of many which might be cited, where schrewd men, familiar with business transactions, have been duped by sharpers.

Mock or fraudulent actions have always been a prolific source of revenue to the city sharper. A room is secured on a business street, and a

“I DON'T WANT THE EARTH."

loud-voiced auctioneer placed in command of the situation. Seemingly fine watches and jewelry are sold at various prices. It is unnecessary to state that these goods are “snide,” or, if genuine, are knocked down to a confederate.

SNIDE AUCTION-ROOM.

Often fine goods are offered for inspection, put up even for sale; a base imitation substituted when they are wrapped up for delivery. Many an unsuspecting countryman, having made a bid, has goods struck off to him and several times the amount of his offer demanded. Upon demurring and protesting he is threatened with

PRESENTING BILL FOR CIGARS.

arrest, and is often brought to terms. Of course the swindlers use judgment in selecting the victim of such a highhanded proceeding. “This rascal stole the razors. I suppose. No matter if the fellow be a knave, Provided that the razors shave.” These lines, from Dr. Wolcott’s “Razor Seller,” will serve to largely explain the success of the, fraudulent auctioneer. The buyer generally supposes that the seller has come dishonestly by the goods he is slaughtering, and is hence eager to share in the profits, without incurring either the odium or legal consequences of the theft. Sometimes the information is given out by the confederates that a descent of the police is feared, and that sales are being rushed on that account. Then business becomes rushing, and no end of fraud is perpetrated in the confusion. Cigars are often sold in this way. Six or seven boxes are put up at a time and knocked down at about one-half their real value. As the goods cannot be delivered during the sale, a liberal deposit is required on each lot. When the entire stock has been disposed of the purchasers, who have been felicitating themselves on their rare good fortune, are astonished and discomfited at receiving a bill in which the price bid is charged at so much a box, instead of for the entire lot, as hey had understood. That being the established rule of such sales and the cigars not being worth the amount, they simply lose their deposit money and resolve to eschew snide anutiwu'-

and stolen or smuggled goods in thi future. “Partner wanted in well-established real estate and brokerage business; SB,OOO profits last year. Bare chance for an energetic man. Z r 59." Such advertisements may be seen

“MY MONEY OR YOUR LIFE I”

any day and every day in the Chicago {tapers. Some of them are no doubt egitimate, but for the most part they are decidedly “snide.” A tolerably well-furnished office, a formidable set of in which are entered the description and terms of sale of a large amount of city and country real estate, which has been picked up here and there without the smallest authority from the owners or agents, and numerous equally delusive applications for large loans and “gilt-edged” security; these, together with a respectablelooking, smooth-talking old man and two or three “stool pigeons,” who dart in at critical points during the negotiation with a “sucker” to accept imaginary offers and make imaginary loans, constitute the “well-established business” offered for sale. , This scheme has been so frequently exposed by the daily press that native game has become “timid” and difficult to “bag.” Hence most of the victims are now secured from the country, where the Chicago papers have a very general circulation. The price for an interest varies with the ability to pay of the party to be swindled. Once secured, the new “partner” is systematically “frozen out,” that is, after various schemes have been played upon him and all his surplus cash secured. One man in Madison street “takes in,” on an average, a partner a month. Frequently the swindled parties join the enterprise and get even by finding a new man with money to buy them out, or take a third interest in the “rapidly growing business.” Sometimes a “tartar” is caught. *Not long ago a prominent “operator” in this line of swindling “took in” a young man from Western Illinois. The latter found out his “mistake” the very next day. Having locked the door he rested a revolver across a pile of the firm’s “books,” the better to insure his aim, and made the following demand upon his urbane partner: “My money or your life!” This variation from the stereotyped request of the typical highwayman produced the desired effect. His SSOO was returned and a new victim sought. As before stated, business men, thoro tghly “up to snuff,” are often taken in by slick confidence operators. One of the leading publishers and booksellers of New York was once swindled in the following unique manner: A clerical-looking old gentleman called one day, and presented a card which designated him as the President ot a Western college. He stated that he desired to purchase several thousand volumes for the college library, and a complete set of text-books for a new department of theology. After spending a week in examining books, he made out a large order. The one thing he lacked was a particular Hebrew grammar which he had studied in his youth, and upon which he had set his heart. The firm did not have it, but sent out a clerk who found, in a rival establishment, an edition of several hundred volumes and the plates from which they had been printed. The old gentleman was delighted, and ordered the entire lot. This so pleased the publisher that he bought not only the books but the plates, at rather ■ high price. As the reverend gentleman did not again put in an appearance, he called upon his rival and learned, to his intense mortification, that the former, in reality a confidence man, had left the books and plates, purchased by him no doubt in a junk shop as old paper and metal, to be sold on commission. Thetsharper had collected the proceeds of the sale, over SBOO, and decamped. Returning, the purchaser sadly contemplated his worthless purchase. For three years and more, Chicago will be the Mecca for country pilgrims. The best advice that can be given them is to avoid not only strangers but “friends” who introduce and

"THE PUBLISHER SADLY CONTEMPLATED HU WORTHLESS PURCHASE.”

identify themselves in strange and unexpected ways. Dwight Baldwin. CftICAGO, IIL “O, mamma!” shuddered a little girl, as she was being bathed one morning, and shrank from the water on her chest. “Don’t put water there. It hurts mj *ront back so I”

AFF AIRS IN INDIANA.

INTERESTING ITEMS GATHERED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. What Our Neighbors Are Doing—Matters of General and Local Interest—Marriages'and Deaths—Accidents and Crimes —Personal Pointers. —Seymour is to have a new operahouse to cost $25,000. —Fred Grandori, aged 13, of LaPorte County, was kicked to death by a horse. —Geo. Enoch, of near Crawfordsville, had thirty bushels of seed-wheat stolen from him. —A pocket of gas, at a depth of sev-enty-five feet, was struck at Newmarket, Montgomery County. —Herbert Fry, aged 18, was fatally injured at Utica, Floyd County, by falling off a load of fodder. —A daughter of Walker Smith, aged 8 years, was fatally kicked by a horse at her home near Fayetteville. —W. T. McKinley was crushed between saw-logs in a mill at New Providence, and seriously injured. —The annual reunion of the Eightyeight Indiana Volunteers will be held at Lagrange on Tuesday, Oct. 7. —Mrs. Calvin Green, residing at Kempton, Tipton County, fell dead from her chair, while preparing supper. —Charles Cook, of Defiance, 0., a B. & O. fireman, struck a bridge with his head seven miles east of Albion and was instantly killed. —Goshen’s artesian wells have proven insufficient, and there is a scheme on foot to pipe water from Wolf Lake at a cost of §20,000. —John Dermack, a stranger, was killed while standing on a railway track at Lafayette. The initials of the Johnstown Fire Company were tattooed upon his arm. —The eighth annual reunion of the Seventh Indiana Cavalry Association will be held in the G. A. R. Hall, at Marion, on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 1, and 2. —A base-ball club, the smallest member of which weighs 225 pounds, has been organized at Jeffersonville. The aggregate weight of the team is a little under three thousand pounds. —ln a runaway, Otha, the 8-year-old daughter of Walker Smith, of Lebanon, in the buggy with her father, was kicked in the head by the horse, crushing her skull, from which the brain oozed out. —Bertie, the 7-year-old son of Henry J. Candle, residing two miles east of Fortville, was kicked on the head by a horse, producing concussion of the brain. The physicians report the injuries as fatal. —David Yount, aged 80 years, died at his home, near Crawfordsville. He was one of the pioneer woolen manufacturers of the State, and was the owner of a large factory at Pountsville. He was also a largo buyer and shipper of wool. —Mrs. W. B. Schwartz, wife of a prominent attorney at Brazil, has been declared insane. She labors under the hallucination that her devoted husband and father, Mr. A. B. Wheeler,a wealthy real estate man,' are trying to poison her. —“Sassafras George” Adams, an eccentric character who was always dressed in rags, and who sold sassafras root and herbs for a livelihood, was found dead at the side of a country road in Brown County. On his person was found §3OO. —Joe Isaacs, a well-known citizen of Evansville, was run over and killed a Mount Vernon by a freight train. He was visiting relatives at that place, and it is supposed that he was under the influence of liquor and laid down across the track to take a sleep. His body was horribly mangled. —Willie Rysor, aged 16, while assisting Andy Van Skoik to unload some sills at the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis depot at Shelbyville, was crushed internally, his shoulders mashed and his arms dislocated by the unexpected fall of two of the largest beams. His condition is extremely critical, —A young son of J. F. Scott, a farmer living near Warsaw, while driving a colt into a stable, was kicked in the head by the animal,'and his face mashed into a pulp. His recovery is doubtful. In the event he should survive his injuries he will be horribly scarred for life, and it is feared his eyesight will be destroyed. —At Evansville, while unloading a wagon of oats, John Becket, the driver, made a mistep and fell off the wagon between the mules, which ran away, the heavily-loaded wagon passing over Becket’s neck and body, crushing him so badly that he lived but a few minutes. He leaves a wife and eight children. —Mrs. DePauw and daughter have donated §7,000, and the Board of Trustees has .added §3,000 more to the erection of a new and more commodious home for the accommodation of the theological students of DePauw University. The site, selected is immediately north of the present building, better known as the Larrabee Homestead, Plans are in process of preparation, and another handsome three-story building will be erected with as little delay as possible. —Samuel Donenham, proprietor of the Logansport sprinkling wagons, was run over by one of his wagons and horribly mangled. His back was broken by the horses, and while he is conscious, he cannot live. —Mrs. William Jones, of Richmond, was strangled to death by getting a watermelon seed in her windpipe. She leaves a 3-months-old babe, twins between two and three years old, and two other children the oldest about six years of ago.

—A Lak? .Shore and Michigan Southern switchman, Phineas Dwell, was killed at Elkbart. One of his feet got caught in a frog, and he could not extricate it. He was a printer by trade, came from Tecumseh, Mich, lately and leaves a wife'and two children. —While William Mahaffey was running a planer at the ship-yard at Madison, the pujley broke, throwing a piece of timber across his left leg, mashing and breaking his hip. His collar-bone was also broken and he complains of internal injuries in his left side. His recovery is doubtful. He is aged about fifty, and has a wife and three grown children. —Charles Cook, a fireman on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was instantly killed, near Ripley’s Station, Noble County. Cook had got a brakeman to do his work, and had crawled on top of a box car to enjoy the cool breeze, as he was not feeling well. He was struck by an overhead bridge and his brains dashed out. He resides at Hicksville, 0., where he leaves a family, —Dr. J. F. Maddox, late United States Pension Examiner and Secretary of the City Board of Health, went out riding with his wife at Shelbyville. When about three miles from the city his horse became frightened, turned the buggy over and then kicked it to pieces. Dr. Maddox was considerably bruised up, but his wife escaped with but little injury and a severe scare. —Lewis B. Burdick, of Fort Wayne, a carpenter, and his two nieces, who reside near Hamilton, Steuben County, have received news from Glasgow that they have fallen heirs to the sum of §210,000 by the death of Mrs. Carlton, the grandmother of Burdick, The latter is an old soldier, and has been an invalid for a long time. Ho expects, within a short time, §4,500 back pension from the Government. This double stroke of good luck will bring happiness to a deserving family. •—W. H. Davis, telegraph operator at the junction near Crawfordsville found in the room what he supposed to be an old empty and rusty revolver, and pointing it at Mary Roach, who was washing one of the Junction House windows, he pulled the trigger. The weapon was discharged, and the ball struck the girl in the small of the back, near the spinal column and ranged upward. A doctor was summoned and pronounced the wound fatal, and was unable to locate the ball. Davis is almost crazy over the unfortunate affair. —Charles Hay, a popular young man residing with his parents near St. Endal, committed suicide. He was engaged to be married to a young lady, Miss Heath, of the same locality, but his family objected to the match so strenuously that life became a burden to him. He took his gun, saying he was going out hunting, and went into the woods a short distance. There he placed the muzzle of the gun against his chest, directly over the heart, and snapped the trigger with a long stick. The charge passed clear through his body, killing him instantly. —lnformation has reached Brazil that a very rich vein of silver ore had just been discovered near Art Postoffice, fourteen miles northwest of there, on the farm of William Barber. It was discovered by William Bobo, a western prospector, and he declares the find to be one of the richest and most promising that he has ever seen, not excepting the Rocky Mountain silver-mining districts. A company has been organized with a capital stock of §IOO,OOO, and a shaft will be sunk at once and a smelting furnace put in. From fifty to one hundred men will be employed to begin with, and the most sanguine hopes are indulged in by all. —Mrs. Charles Graham was frightened to death, at her home, a short distance from New Albany, by the violent actions of a drunken neighbor, George Blast, who threatened her life. Medical aid was summoned, bnt the woman camo out of convulsions only a few minutes before death came. The last words she uttered were: “He has frightened me to death!” Blust killed an unoffending German nearly seven years ago, on Main street, while drunk, and was sent to State prison for two years for the crime. He shouldered a gun, shortly after the death of the woman, and fled to the woods 1 west of the city, where he is in hiding to escape the vengeance of the neighbors. —Oliver E. Hawkins and Richard Hance, of Kokomo, were each engaged to young ladies of that place. It seems that on the night of May 17, 1887, Hance took Hawkins’ sweetheart out riding and attempted a criminal assault on her. The news of the outrage coming to the ears of Hawkins he met Hance on the following night and shot and killed him. He was tried for manslaughter, the principal evidence against him being his own admission, after he had surrendered himself to the authorities, though claiming that he had acted in self-defense. He was only 18 years old and was sentenced to the penitentiary for seven He was of good family and had been engaged as book-keeper in the seed store of his father. He has served about half his sentence and now goes out a free man, Gov. Hovey having pardoned him at the solicitation of all who took part in the trial. —Moses Joseph, a merchant of Shelbyville, mislaid §360 some ddys ago and intimated that it was stolen by Aetna Richardson. The money was found and Moses is now made defendant in a suit for $5,000 damages. —Daviess County farmers have suffered great damage this year from barn-bttrn-ers. The favorite method of the incendiaries is to put a piece of cheese in a box of matches and then to conceal it in a hay-loft, leaving the rats to start the fire.