The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-05

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Qroa The Chaslestoa Standasd, Jan. d
Our city has recently been the scene Of some very
nice operations, played with the usual address OF
such practised rogues a. make i their business TO
take In the unwary and the incautious. On Sunday
afternoon, man named Hicks introduced himself to
a gentleman by the name of Thos. p Moore, T
Lynchburg, Va, protesting TO be the commander of
vessel and invited Moore to take walk on the
wharf, and see the shipping. They afterwards went
to the Pavilion Hotel, and took drink and segars
together Hicks then proposed walk TO the race
track, to see the horses, John Murphy and William
White, accomPlices, being present, but keeping in
down South avenue, White went ahead. Hicks ga
luted White, who replied. Hicks asked his address,
&C.. which White gave, saying that he was from
California, and going to Washington city to secure
a patent right for money case. Hicks desired
to see pattern Of the same, and asked if he had
one about him. White replied in the affirmative
and handed to him. in the presence Of Moore, .
round ball, saying at the same time that he could
advance Hicks took the pattern, and said to
Moore he could open it; Moore said he could not
Hicks opened it, and took from the ball piece Of
paper which Moore took and putt in his pocket BY
White he thought he could open it, Offering to bet
$780, and said that there was no paper in the ball.
White hauled out Eve hundred dollar bill on Chat
ham bank, New York, and said that he would bet
nothing less than that amount. Hicks asked Moore
if he would stand the bet with him; Moore imme-
diately pulled out $500 more Virginia money, and
placed il in the hands Of White. Moore told White
now to open the ball, and produce the paper; he
opened the ball and out came the paper. To use a
cant expression, Moore now found himself sold, and
asked enough to pay his way home, as that was all
the money he had; but White Immediately walked off
to the woods. Hicks then said to Moore, I'll pursue
the rascal and kill him-he grasped MOore's hand,
and asked if he was mason3 Moore replied no!
Hicks then said he would pursue White, kill him,
take the money, and bring it to the hotel, telling
Moore at the same time not to reveal the circum-
4 h. ~t,N1 thn hn,dv load fhnf
he (Hicks) had lost, but thought that Moore was
a poor man. and could not afford to loose the
amount-he then grasped his cane, and went in
the direction of White. Moore then returned to
on Monday morning. Officers Levy, Jowitt and Law
ton kept upon his trail, and on Tuesday, succeeded
in arresting White in his bed They took White to
the guard house searched him, found $1,000 in two
gold, and $50 in paper. They took his key from
him. went to his boarding house. and found the ball.
The matter was compromised, by Whites giving up
to Moore $205 in money and gold watch and chain.
Murphy, one of the accomplices, was arrested that
night by officer Palmer, but was released next
morning. These characters are known at the North
as confidence men, from the skill and address which
they manifest in forming acquaintance.
On Friday last the same party succeeded in Sc
curing another dupe. A gentleman by the name Of
A. G. d. Bryan, who had just arrived on the cars
from Blackville, s. c., was acosted by Hicks who
succeeded by the arts in securing from him $50,
WIN the ASSISTANCE m auOIuer ny tue udue VI ND
tin Wood and William Westall. Mr.. Bryan lodged
information at the police office, and officer
Jowitt Immediately went in pursuit of the
rogues, and passing from Mary street down King,
in the neghborhood of John street, spied and sue
ceeded in arTesting Joe Murphy and Martin Wood.
About one hundred yards further on he discovered
and arrested, also, VIM. Westal, Charles Hicks, and
VIM. White; Hicks, however, succeeded in making
his escape They were placed in an omnibus and
brought down to the guard house. Officer Lawton,
who was present but few moments before had left,
or Hicks would not have succeeded in making his
escape. They were then searched and on White was
found ten 500 bills in bogus money. On Martin
Wood was found $2S in good money. His baggage
was then brought to the guard house and searched,
and in his trunk was discovered twelve finely finished
brass Watches of little no value, intended to de-
ceive strangers, and which are frequently sold at
mock auctions. Mr.. Bryan came over from the po-
lice office to the guard house. and identified Martin
Wood as the one who had won his money, but was
willing to compromise matters by receiving back his
eighty dollars. The money was made up between
them and the rogues were released the condition
of leaving the city Immediately Officer Jowitt took
them in an omnibus to the railroad depot, from
whence they took passage to Hamburg. White hailed
from Ohio; Murphy, Hicks, Westal and Wood from
New York.