The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-05-26
FEMALE sWINDLERs.

The Philadelphia Bulletin gives the fol-
lowing account ofthe operations of party
of young female swindlers in that city:
ut is fact worthy Of recording that the
most adroit and accomplished swindlers
who played their criminal tricks at the ex.
peDse of our tradesmen, house-keepers
and others. during the past winter, were
young females. Two or three Of them
were the smartest and most expert scamps
OF the gentler sex ever known in Philadel.
pbia; and what is more, they completely
generated the police, defying either
surprise or capture. The coolest and
most bare.faced fraud was that success
fully practiced by one Of them upon a
daughter Of Mr.. Daniel Monier, watch
maker, No. 24O south Second street. On
pretence that she had been sent for it by
the owner. she succeeded in obtaining a
handsome gold watch, belonging to Gus.
toner of Mr.. Moiner. Mr.. Tack So well
was she booked up that she not only de.
signated and pointed out the watch, but
even knew the price that was to be paid
for repairing it. which sum she had in her
hand, and rendered.
Another girl attempted to play the same
trick upon Mr.. Moiner himself, but failed.
1t was rather bunglingly done, and Mr.. M.
was too shrewd for her.
She tried to run out. when detected, but
was arrested in her progress by the sudden
application of simple, though effectual
contrivance. Mr.. Moiner has mode Of
securing the door Of his store against
thieves or swindlers making hurried bolt
for the street. The young impostor was
taken into custody by Mr.. Moiner, when
her screams and struggles to get free, soon
brought crowd from the market opposite.
The people not understanding what was
the matter, ofcourse there was any amount
Of tales and misplaced sympathy. Before
Mr.. Moiner could explain the nature Of fthe
case, his prisoner broke away from him,
and was allowed by the spectators to es-
cape.
Another and more recent case was this:
A girl abou, sixteen years Of age Of very
specious address, called at the stores and
shops of number Of persons in the centre
Of the city. for the purpose Of fraudulently
obtaining goods. She succeeded in sew
eral instances, but failed in most of her
attempts. Wherever she went, she repre-
sented herself as domestic in the mploy
of Mr.. w. H. Smith, who keeps boarding
house at No. Al south Sixth street, place
at which she was believed to be entirely
unknown. Her plan was to enter store,
and say that she had been sent by one of
the lady boarders at Mr.. Smiths, to fetch
samples of a certain description of articles
which she would name. to make selections
from, and that after such things as suited
the lady had been chosen, the rest would
be returned by her, with the money for
what was purchased. If the storekeeper
was unsuspecting enough to trust her with
the goods, it would be the last seen or
heard Of them. Ifcaution was observed,
and the goods sent by one Of the employ
ers of the store, instead Of the girl herself,
it would invariably be discovered that no
such female was known to Mr.. Smith
Mr.. S. was frequently compelled to make
explanatio to clerks and salesmen at his
door. Some days he was literally run
down with goods brought to his house -
One day there would come a lot Of combs
and another something else. Once 60.
cart full Of demijohns came from grocery
store. Some of the scenes at Mr.. Smiths
were really amusing.
Among the sufferers by this female i'm.
poster was Mrs. Edwards, Chestnut street,
and others. Mrs. Edwards was swindled
out OF $17 worth of infants embroidered
cloaks, which were never recovered. A
hat store, in North Sixth street, suffered to
the value of several children's caps. In a
large majority OF her attempts, this young
female was foiled