Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1879 — PERVERTED INGENUITY. [ARTICLE]

PERVERTED INGENUITY.

It has often been remarked that the amount of ingenuity applied to worthy purposes might, if directed to honest pursuits, be rewarded with prosperity and happiness, instead of so often reaping a harvest of detection and disgrace. It is not, however, very flattering to our vanity to know that while sharpers and swindlers abound, there is never any lack of ignorance and credulity to keep up tho supply of dupes in whose simplicity imposture and assurance find an easy prey. Continual disclosures of fraud seem to have little etTect in acting as a warning to imprudence, or in bringing about further public safeguards against repetitious of this form of dishonesty, the victim being generally caught by the same much-used but apparently not yet worn-out baits of the unscrupulous. Even the cautious may occasionally be victimized by bubble companies and other cunningly-contrived pitfalls; but tradesmen are constantly being taken in by the same transparent tricks, exposed by police reports every week. A person goes, for instance, into a store and orders goods to be forwarded to a certain address-—that of a respectable householder. Tho things are sent there and left, and in due course somebody calls at the house, saying that he has come from -the shop for tho parcel, as it had been left in mistake. Tho parcel is delivered up to the supposed storekeeper’s messenger, who, of course, decamps With it, and is nevor heard of again. ' In London rccontly quite a number 11 victims to the feathered cheat of a certain bird-fancier before it was found out. In hi* window was exhibited a cage conjtalhing two birds, one an ordinary greenfinch with such plumage as Nature had been pleased to endow it; the other, also a member of the same family of birds, but as pretentious a humbug as its fellow was the reverse. On the head of the unconscious bird was a snowy top-knot, while plumes of brilliant colors branched out from among the ordinary feathers of its tail, glue having unquestionably something to do with the appearance of its borrowed plumes. Yet this palpable burlesque of a tropical bird was palmed off on numerous unsuspecting persons by the vender, who, pretending ignorance of its name and value, trumped up some story about a nautical friend of his having brought it homo from “foreign parts.” Appearingandifferent to its supposed rarity, and not caring to be bothered with the unknown specimen, in a sudden lit of generosity he parts with it to the purchaser for the absurd consideration of a sum ten times its real value. As bright an example of perverted ingenuity was developed in Paris during the time of the Exhibition. Three persons, it seems, are necessary to carry out the trick, the modus operandi of which is as follows: A man, ac-. conlpanied apparently by his wife and daughter, enters a shop in which the articles lie about a little carelossly, and the gentleman at once goes up to the head assistant behind the counter and makes .a confidential communication. “ I must warn you,” he says, “that mv wifo is afflicted with kleptomania, tie so good as to watch her, but not to say anything to her which might make her think you have any suspicions.” The elder lady is consequently watched with great care, all the shop being on the alert. Some articlo is pilfered in due course, the theft noticed, and the gentleman, oq, going otit, quietly and promptly pays for what has been taken. While the store-keeper is congratulating himself on the honesty of the husband, the trio are making off with a valuable booty secured by the younger lady, whose movements had not been watched at all. But the best part of the stratagem remains to be told. In case the disappearance of tho articles really stolen should be perceived a little too soon, and the party he followed by the indignant shop-keepers, nothing is easier than to express regret and surprise that there should have been other mistakes, and to return the articles with profuse apologies. By this ruse a considerable degree of safety is insured even if the swindlers are balked of their booty; the scheme provides for escape as well as for success. A German in Paris lately adopted a plan which’was successful in despoiling shop-keepers of their goods. Provided with a loaf of bread, which he carried unconcernedly under one arm, he would saunter up .and down in front of the shop window's, till, watching his opportunity, ho would seize some small article exposed outside, or otherwise within his reach, and secrete it iu his loaf. Suspeoted, and at last arrested, lie was subjected to a strict search, and was on tho point of being released, when some one thought of the loaf, which the accused had laid unnoticed on a form. On examining it, 41 watch, some rings, and other missing articles wore disclosed to the surprised spectators, and another swindling dodge thus exposed. Equally successful for a time was another system of robbery practiced not very long since in the streets of London. A man dressed like a clergyman would walk about tho crowded thoroughfares carrying a halfopened umbrella in his hand. Innotirat nscfui 'aTttclc appeared; it* was acting all the time as a convenient roceptacle for sundry articles of value dexterously slipped within its folds by two or threq female pickpockets, who were active in their depredations

amongst th? foot-passengers, but were] captured together with their respecta-ble-looking accomplice. But such petty attempts at fraud are far eclipsed both in audacity and ingenuity by tho dwindling transaction revealed some little time ago in Italy, and which might well deceive the sharpest tradesmen. The method of its proceeding is not without interest A gentlemanly-looking man, accompanied by his daughter, a prepossessing young lady not out of her teens, put up at the chief hotel of the town. They gave themselves out to be English, ana among their luggage had four large boxes containing two complete sets of drawers like those used by officers in camp. A salon and two bedrooms, one of which opened into the salon, were chosen by them. Whon these drawers were unpacked, one set was placed against tne door in the salon, and the other on t(j,e other sido of the door in the gentleman’s bed-chamber, tho door in question being a very thin one. Tho gentleman was liberal, and most particular in paying his hotel expenses weekly. Before no had been long in tho town he paid a visit to the principal jeweler, made some small purchases, paid for them in cash, and let it be seen that 110 was not short of bank-notes. Anxious to please his new customer, the jeweler brought out many beautiful articles to tempt him; but at first his purchases were moderate, though liberally paid for. In a few weeks the pentleman came alone, and while making another purchase observed that his daughter was about to be married, and that he tliought of sending to Paris for a set of diamonds. On this tho jeweler declared that he had the most beautiful set in Europe, the property of a Princess, which ho was sure only a “Milord Inglese” could buy, and begged his customer just to inspect them. The inspection was made, but no decision arrived at that day. Another inspection followed on the next day, and milord agreed to take them, the price being four hundred thousand francs. The delighted jeweler thought It would be best if he should send them round that evening, but the straightforward answer was: “I do not keep so much money about me; I must draw upon my bankers in London.” About a week after he was requested to call one morning at eleven, and bring the for which ho would be paid. .The jeweler was punctual, and found his customer in his dressing-gown, sitting alone at tho set of drawers referred to, a front llap of which turned down so as to form a writing-table. Advancing respectfully, the jeweler laid the casket, open, on the flap in question. Merely examining the gems, milord remarked that of course he did not wish his daughter to know anything of the transaction at present, and then proceeded to take out a bundle of crisp notes. The door at that moment opened, and in bounded thp young lady in question, graceful as a young fawn. Nothing was more natural than that milord should close up the flap of the desk and ask the young lady to go away, as he wished to be alone. But she was a willful young lady, and must have her own way. She had come to tell “papa” that,the tailor was waiting for him in the next room, and he must go; and she was quite sure that the jeweler would like her company better than his; beside, she had a locket she could not open, and the jeweler must help her. The jeweler was not proof against the playful charms of the young lady; his goods were safe, as he thought,-so lie begged her father to go, and he would wait. Milord left the room, and the poor dupe enjoyed half an hour of delightful flirtation with the young lady. She was very winning; the time sassed like a dream, till at last the lady erself passed away, and hurried to join her father. The jeweler sat in meditation, his thoughts engrossed with the young bride who had just left. Then he began to wonder how long his customer would be, and presently tried the flap of the drawer. It was “all right;” it was locked. So he sat down and mused again. When an hour or so had elapsed he began to think that he must have been forgotten, so he rang for the waiter, and was told that milord and the signorina had gone out a considerable time ago. After another long interval he consulted the lariiftord, but was assured that his guest was a perfect gentleman, whose only fault was forgetfulness. Hours passed, and at early evening tho landlord again returnedi beginning now to grow suspicious himself. The jeweler became furious, made a dash at the drawers, and with tho aid of a poker broke open the flap and made an attempt to take the casket He thrust his head into the compartment, and sank back into his arm-chair. He saw nothing before him but a square open void that had been cut out of the door, and which led into tho set of drawers in the next room. The landlord had a look, and so had the waiters. They thon sat and looked at each other, and at last ordered restoratives for the jeweler, who had fainted. Thefts by means of any kind of ruse are bad enough, but when they are committed under tho cloak of religion they are immeasurably worse. A Sister of Charity called on a family in Paris to enlist their sympathies for the poor; she was most pleasant and attractive in her manner. Eventually she inducod those present to join with her in an act of devotion, and the party knelt sido by side in the drawing-room while the Sister offered a prayer. From the time of her entering the house and during this act sho had kept her hands crossed upon her bosom. When, therefore, in the middle of the prayer, a lady felt somebody’s hand in her pocket, it required some nerve to seize the Sister and accuse her of tho theft. This she nevertheless did, and thon the mystery was revealed. The crossed arms were of wax, and being partially hidden under the sleeves, seemed real, whilo the actual hands were at liberty to enable the Sister to pursue her fraudulent calling. Tho Bill Sykes fraternity, in following out their profession of house-break-joraetimes give evidence of an amount of ingenuity worthy of a better oause. A burglar, concealed under the bed of a married couple, by some incautious movement almost betrayed his presence, the noise he made being sufficient to make the wife call her husband's attention, to the sound. “It’s only one of the dogs,” was the sleepy answer; and snapping his fingers, be called by its name one of his favorites which was supposed to be present. The thief 8 presence of mind did not desert him, though on the brink of discovery; for divining tho situation at once.be • Immediatelylicked the extended hand, in the hope of confirming the gfentleman’s surmise. This clever ruse was not) however, wd believe, successful, though one might saj it deserved to be for its boldness and ingenuity.

y When Moore Carew, the •• king of The beggars,” among his numberless impostures had a well-peppered raw beefsteak placed around nis leg to sim-, ulato disease, he only used oneof many clover dodges to impose.on the charitable. Fever has been imitated by swallowing tobacoo, the tongue whitened by chalk and the cheeks heated by rubbing. The appearance of nlcers is obtained by gluing a bit of spleen or the skin of a frog tothe parts supposed to be affected, and keeping them moist with blood and water. They are created by the use ot corrosives, and their healing prevented by the application of irritants. An obstinate sore limb haA before now heen cured by looking it up in a box. Pricking the gums ter show aotual spitting of blood, eating roughlyEowdered glass to produce internal emorrhage, making soap “pills for epileptic frothing at tho mouth, feigning insanity, and lying rigid to simulate catalepsy, are all tricks familiar to prison officials. Even doctors may sometimes bo deceived by impostors who display so much ingenuity in the art of deception. .Those who gorge shell-fish for the sake of getting nettlerash, who put lime in their eyes to inflame them, and even thrust a needle down to the lens of the eye to get a cataract, furnish a few of the forms of imposition resorted to at times either to evade punishment or escape military service. The methods resorted to for evading the law are very numerous, and the devices of smugglers for concealing contraband articles are sometimes specially ingenious. One of tho most amusing of these attempts to defraud the revenue was exposed by some vigilant French authorities. The heavy duties on spirits made the smuggling sisterhood (most of the smuggling nowadays is by women) doubly eager to bring into Paris an extra quantity of the precious liquors, and this they' accomplished in an ingenious manner, namely, wearing full-bodied zinc corsets which could easily contain four or five gallons of brandy. For a time the trick succeeded admirably; but at length*tho officers began to be suspicious of the unusual embonpoint, which contrasted oddly in some of the ladies with their inadequate necks and faces; so a staff of femalo searchers was enrolled, and the cheat discovered. It is not long since Unhappy little poodles were systematically employed in smuggling foreign lace into England, by being passed to and fro across the Channel with two curly coats upon their backs and a layer of tho fragile commodity between them. More recently pigeons have been employed for the purpose of diverting attention from consignments of tobacco, over which sat the innocent-looking birds, while the Cifstom-House officers were in quest of contraband goods, concealed in the double-bottomed boxes in which the pigeons came*over from the Continent. Quite lately have the services of these birds been required in carrying out smuggling operations on rather an extensive scale. An enterprising proprietor of about eighty of them was charged, in one of the Fiynch frontier towns, with having repeatedly evaded the duty on imported tobacco by flying them across the boundary, each with a packet of the weed, varying in weight from a third to half an ounce, tied carefully on its body. This practice might have continued for some time but lor an accident to one of the birds, which brought it toppling down with its burden into the hands of somebody, who drew the attention of the authorities to this novel mode of smuggling. Seldom do we hear an instance of so successful an imposture in evading the sentence of the law as was revealed at the Wiltshire assizes in England recently. A man apprehended for stealing a mare was lodged in Malmesbury lock-up previous tp his transmission to the assizes. When the police visited his cell next morning they found him lying oh the floor unable to move. His statement /was that he had got up to look out of the window, and that he had fallen backward across the corner of the bedstead and injured his spine. Medical aid was obtained, and his sad condition duly commiserated. He appeared to be almost irretrievably injured, and in the greatest agony; and as it would have been extreme cruelty to remove a man in his condition, he accordingly remained at Malmesbury for nine weeks. During this time everything which humanity could suggest to mitigate his sufferings was resorted to, and his comfort was studied in every particular. At tho end of nine weeks he was removed with great care to the infirmary in Devizes, where two men wpre appointed to attend him, the medical officer there being likewise of the opinion that the poor fellow’s spine was seriously injured. In this pitiable state he was brought before tho Judge, a murmur of sympathy running through the court a 8 they beheld the pallet with the injured man lying helplessly upon it. “Itis a dreadful thing to pass sentence upon a man in such a state,” said the Judge. “The infliction you are suffering under surpasses any punishment I can give yoil.” Had the culprit been in ordinary health, he would have had penal servitude, for it was not his first act of felony; but the Judge, pitying his condition, sentenced him, amidst a breathless silence, to twelve months’ imprisonment, and the pallet with its occupant was carried away. But now came the sequel. To prove a former conviction, the Deputy-Gov-ernor of Gloucester Jail had been summoned to Devizes; addon going over the jail, a close inspection enabled him to recognize in the culprit an old “ invalid” with whom he formerly had to deal. “What! at your old game?” exclaimed the Deputy-Governor, scanning the prisoner’s countenance. “ That follow is an impostor. There is no more the matter with his spine than there is with mine.” This was thought to be irbpossicle; and several doctors put the littValid through a severe examination; but he protested that his injuries were real, and seemed unable to move. To put the matter to a further test, a galvanfb battery was introduced, and shocks were turned on pretty strong, but without the expected results. The doctors went away; but tho suspected impostor was threatened with severer tests on the morrow if he was not found sitting up when visited. On the next day, as ne was still found in the same position, the electric machine was again set to work, and so sharp was tho effect that the leg which appeared most affected by the spinal injury began to move, until at last, unable to stand the shocks any longer, the fellow jumped out of bed, and In a lew minutes afterward was walking across the court-yard as agile on his limbs as any other prisoner.— Chambers' Journal.

JE correspondent frojH a “ summer resort” says the spying chickens they serve there seem to be irailt on the same principles as their spring-beds.