Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1901 — BARELY ESCAPED A BUNKO. [ARTICLE]

BARELY ESCAPED A BUNKO.

Boaton Woman's Suspicion Aroused in Time to save a SS:X) Loss. “Beware of the ‘hello’ man,” say the Boston and Newton police, "for the wily bunko man's latest scheme will ‘get you if you don’t watch out.’” It is a telephone "dodge” and one of the cleverest and most original confidence tricks now in use, say the police, and It came very nearly "getting” in all probability the wife of a prominent West Newton citizen who is also one of Boston’s leading bankers to the extent of SSOO worth of diamonds on Friday. Only her quick wit and readiness of mind saved her diamonds. Her name is closely held by the police on account of the lady's wish to avoid all undue notoriety. It was about noontime when the telephone bell rang in her residence. “Hello!” called a strange voice. “Is that Mrs. ?” “Yes. Who is speaking?” “This is Mr. , your husband’s partner, you know. Yes, ha! ha! my voice is strange sounding to-day. I've got a cold. “We all have ’em this weather, you know. Oh, thank you, I expect It will be better to-morrow. But what I wanted to do is to deliver a message from your husband, who has gone out to attend a directors’ meeting. “Close friend of his lias imported a large number of diamonds of large size and extraordinary beauty ami your husband wants you to bring to him or send a few of your best jewels, as he thinks he can manage to exchange them for some finer ones perhaps.” Such was the message. For a moment the lady pondered it, a trifle doubtfully, and yet not altogether with suspicion yet. “Hay many should I bring?” she asked. “About SSOO worth, your husband says, and he thinks It would save you botlifr if you sent them in by a messenger.” Tills did stir the lady’s suspicion. “I really think I’d better bring them In myself,” she said. “Oh, very well,” said the other voice pleasantly, and lioth telephones rang off. Then the lady, after pondering the matter over, called up her husband's office and was answered by himself. The whole affair, the police think, who wore notified at once, was the clever plan of an original crook, and the drag nets were spread for him.— Boston Post.