Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1890 — CITY CONFIDENCE MEN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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”

BOBBED I

A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.

“I DON'T WANT THE EARTH."

SNIDE AUCTION-ROOM.

PRESENTING BILL FOR CIGARS.

“MY MONEY OR YOUR LIFE I”

"THE PUBLISHER SADLY CONTEMPLATED HU WORTHLESS PURCHASE.”