The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-14

OF Common Dvvindlers and Robbers.
The finished specimens of rascality and fraud,
exhibited for the past few years in our financial
circles, the authors Of which have, in most in
stances, escaped legal punishment, has prompted
others, standing in less prominent situations, TO
initiate in less degree, the daring examples thus
set before them. For several years many of these
common swindlers followed in the trail of the
paper bubble mlonaires, defrauding the public by
false and fraudulent issues of debased shinpasters
but the storm that swept the United States Bank
and other like institutions TO oblivion, left them in
an atmosphere too purified for a continuance of
their nefarious transactions. Some of them, like
their betters who had fallen in the wreck, besought
honorable employment-oth whose minds had
become diseased and cancered with corruption,
cast their eyes about for some new pursuit. some
new scheme whereby they could rob the public
and evade justice. A few of the more desperate
spirits thus entered into combination to cheat,
detraud, rob, swindle and plumber the COM
munity, on the same principle that had previously
governed their operations-that is, to endeavor in
all their transactions to keep within the pale of the
criminal law but naught for the operations of
civil tribunals. Without money, without means,
without character or friends save of their own
caste, this combination was easily formed The
name OF a fictitious firm was selected, and refe-
rences chosen from their own associates who were
TO rent offices IN prominent situations, or obtain
desks in old established firms if possible, and thus
armed and equipped, like band of public robbers,
the gang were made nearly ready for their depre-
dations. To render it more complete one or two
broken winded and dishonored members of the le-
gal profession taken into the association The
criminal law governing the offence OF obtaining
goods by false pretences, was carefully dgesed land
every vantage point carefully noted The char
fhn .NT tl,,
point, We're obtained and dssected and entered
in their book of records, and swearing ALI
ance to each other the operations were then COM
menced.
The second loft of a store in one of our business
streets was selected a counting house, carpenter
was called in to aid in putting up the fixtures;
painter to put on the finish; an upholserer to car
pet the counting room; a stationer to make out
complete supply Of necessary writing materials, and
finally, printer to prepare splendid card, contain
ing the fictitious names of the firm, with the real,
though. fraudulent addition of references, all of
whom in the end We're cheated out of their labor.
An elderly man of the gang was selected as clerk
OF the counting house, whose business alone was
to receive the packages of goods and merchandise
fectly ignorant of the character of the firm, and
whose answer to all enquiries was, the proprletors
will be IN soon," you can leave what you have,
and call again Tomorrow"
Thus prepared for action, the principal manager
sallies, forth in search of some new firm, anxious
to sell, and not over keen at bargain, when the
following colloquy generally ensues:-
SHARPER-Good morning, sir.
MERCHANT-Good morning, SRA very fine day
fine weather, sir.
SHARPER-Yes, sir-but business is business, sir
we have an order from the south to-day for
twenty barrels of sal soda, which we must fill up at
once-have you got the article-how much, and
what are your terms!
MERcMANr-Yes, sir-we have it, prime and
cheap. How much will you have-.terms cash, or
good approved paper at three months
SHARPER-'That'll do sir-the terms are salts
factory-send twenty barrels to our store mme-
diately. Here is our card, with the best of refer
ences.
The sharper than makes his exit, chuckling at
his success, while the merchant rubs his fingers
with satisfaction at a ready sale for his produce.
A clerk is despatched to the places where reference
is to be obtained; the partners Of the sharper give
that they have sold the firm hundreds and
hundreds on credit and cash, all of which
were ,punctually paid, and that they are ready
to sell again to any amount they want. The
clerk returns, informs his employer-all right
carts are ordered, the sal soda is delivered forth
with, but settlement Is not made, as the gentle.
man doing the business Of the firm is out, but will
be in in the morning. AS the cartmen and
clerk are fairly out of sight, another set of cart
men are engaged by one of the sharper's accom-
plices, and the merchandise is removed to an auc-
ton store, or TO dealer where it is turned into
cash, which is then divided among the party, who
meet at place selected for that purpose. All at
iempts afterwards TO obtain pay. for the merchan-
cts his loss, to learn wisdom by experience. The
same swindling transaction is played off dozen
times during the day, the parties buy either for
| cash on delivery, or IN any other manner that will
enable them 10 obtain possession of the goods
Once in their possession they are Immediately re-
moved, and all trace is thus prevented, naugh
but civil suit for debt, or criminal one for false
pretences will be of any avail The former will
only add to the profit and loss, while the latter has
failed in almost every instance where these rogues
have been crlminalIy arragned. Thus are the
community dailv swindled to enormous extent,
and still our District Attorney tells us he cannot
convict
| The habits of these rogues, sharpers and rob-
bers, are of the most depraved character. Many
of them are the swell coves and midnight DULLES
of houses of i'll fame in various parts of cur city
making these places of their only residence,
and dividing their plumber with the inmates. with
whom they tarry. When successful, or if cal
culations demand it, one of the gang is placed in
some respectable boarding house, in order to OBJ
tain information to effect certain arrangements
and oftentimes, not only the clerks of response
bic merchants thus seduced from the path of duty,
but innocent and unsuspectng females of the faml-
| ly are basely ruined and destroyed by their COM
| blned arts and practices
We have thus given brief outline of the ope-
ratons of one of the many gangs thus organised,
but abstain for the present from making full expo
stion of names Of the parties, although they all
| IN our possession. The following are among the
many who have recently suffered by this gang of
rogues and swinders -
woodruff Minturn 3 bbls porter. S45 90
Ramon de Zaldo cigars. ........ 95 90
A. Ramsay, perfumery,. ............. 10 90
b. Miller, cartman. ................ ] So
Rose Smith, carpenters. .......... Is 90
James f. Lee, sal soda ............ 40 90
Gerding Kunkelman Is Broad st. 10 90
| The following in small amounts, from So to $50:
| Morew ood & Co., salts, Sarah O. Dugan, washing,
| Allison, Trinity Place, board Warning Son, rent,
| Mrs. Graham, widow, 81 Peter Casack bootblack
| Fulton street, board, J.& b. pelnonce silk dyer,
B. +. Cragn painter, DR.. N. g. McVickar, books
C;rossette < Co. Sarah b. Ripley, widow
| Chasteain Convert, board,
Valentine Hamilton, j. Riphemburg fancy goods
Samuel Thompson, II. Kirst, band Of music ball
Mrs. B. Baxter, widow, in Church st.
board Charles n. Ritch, brewer
Charles Peterson dry goods Samuel d. Bernard bother
Abram d. Delany, groce- Charles Martin, tailor,
ries, Cafe Tortoni, elegant sup
! Edward ". Blair, cartman per,
A. e. Delacroix, cigars, John Dougherty, carriage
| j. b. Thomson, drugs hire,
Samuel G. Mott, dentist, Peter Riley Church street,