The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-30

Exposure ss se.d Du.t Rssnsrsss-cs Caution
70 Rssu, ned OalifornBsns.
TO THE EDITOR o. rHs NEW YORK HERALD.
In your paper Of tbis da, ! real an article
bessed +" Extraordinary Case Of Swindlins-PracsL
cal Legerasmain," copied from the San Francisco
Hrald Of July ], and must express my snrprise
that the investigations in that gold dust" robbery
did not ing TO light the nsod,As cperGndi Of that
class Of gold dust swndIers who have been robbing
returned Gallo, ni.ns bots here and in San Fran
cisco, ever since the first gold discoveries. AS
Al exposure Of some Of their devices may lead 10
their Detection now give sou detail Of them, ac-
cordine to certain chss,dca,ions Of means -
/. The robbery by introducing saDd into the gold
dust, which Ia Effected in this wise Tho bag of
gold dust containing sand 10 empsied mo the scales
and accurately weighed. then ,s poured on sheet
Of ncwrpapsr and the magnet 10 run through It to
draw out the sand which saDd 10 put into the scales
sSd accurately weighed; tha weisht Of the sand Is
then subtracssd from the gross weight Of the gold
dust AID rand as first weighed, leaving the differ
enes Of weight al the weight Of the gold dust. All
this is zone before the EYES u the seller; oe - salts
fed as to the tness OF the weightsin fact, ne
weighs the articles himself he Y a-t0nshed at the
qusntify Of ssEd taken from his gold dust, and well
De may De-, for tho adruis purchaser had pre-
pared his newspapers BY having . Large quantity OF
sand between toe dfIersns shes's Of paper, and be
tOoA Gaze 70 cut the pager vito the sharp edge Of
his magnet, end thereby draw ont the sand which
he had placed between toe folds of the paper, repre-
sensiDg tina: all the saod taken out from the
gold dust Just weighed: BY this mssh d the pu..
sand % be thinks the quantity OF gold dust or the
.verdsncy Of bis customer will permit.
2. False Weiahts.-Chese are varions 10 form.
Some are In form OF cap and 1t one within -an0th-
az he tnrO1 i0nt Ia
wbole neat being sixteen ounces, accurate Waisht
but the purchas tr has pieces OF metal ~ at INTO to
inside . each one Of these hollow cups, weig ,in
ON one to two ca, according ~ the size Of rh
cup and there sups do nor at into cash other 80 as
to touch the bottom, there u room enough Tor
liece Of metal IN the bottom Of each rup The oper
asor clears the dust from sand, and puts the Gust
into bis scales be has his weights the oouoter,
under the very VI the seilsr; fact, he plays
with the weights, examines the marks as to the
number Of ounces ON each weight, s,ows it TO the
sell.r, asks hie opinion about the marks on the
weIghta--be then begins To put tt weights into
the scales, and he noes So IL very careful -
drop into each weigbt one Of ths pieces Of metal
which 6ta II, or sxtscn ounces. The purchaser, by
tina means, generally makes swo ounces. T0ese gold
dus. swDdk rs yer largo Weights, their object
beiDa TO have as many chances AZ possible TO use
the extra piece Of metal The Californian expresses
his surprise ct the diminished weight Of his gold
duss-ths purchaser. offended at his suspicious, at
once takes ny his weights see arates them one by
one, examines each, and hands 90 b one to the Ga
Wo,nian. carefully removing the piece OF metal from
the b,ttom OF each one; and, after examining eaoa
one, lie insists upon the Californian going into the
nearest brpkers to have the weights tested; the
weights sted and found all Ygut, the Cahfoe-
plan is Satisfied sells his gold dust ut about twenty
cents per ounce more than il h actually worth, bot
loses one eighth in weight.
Another Style Of false weights, sometimes used by
these swindlvrs, Is the box weight-being hollow.
They keep two sets Of weights, one correct, the
other Glltd with sand or shot,
3. Punching the bag 10 another method. When
the Californian has handed over 10 the gold dust
purchaser hs bag Of gold dust the latter con.vea to
pun1h two or three holes ino the leather bsg, and
while he IL hooking for his weights, or mag1et,
tin pans, which are never close q hand, be turns
about, andsqueeses the bag, and causes considerable
soon - be has got enough he prepares his scales,
and 70 seem TO be very caut0ue be bands toe bag OF
dust back to the Californian, for him TO open and
pour the guh dust into the Bcaies; the weights are
oanors Short but the whole operation was 50 fair,
thst the Californian u satisfied and sels his dust;
or it may be that be II dissatisded and refuses 70
sell; the dust 10 then put into bis bag again; aud
ter, when lol the bag u discovered 70 have hols or
two In IT, and the Californian Is told that u che way
he has lost his god dust.
4. Bosl changing il another method. These me
win have . dozen china bowls all exactly alik
Some they win have with gold dust sand in, other
With gold dust. They win then empty bag o
gold dust into four or Ave empty DO wis., for the pur
pose Of fae ilta,iDg the cleaning IT. aud y the pro
Gers. especially If they can get the Californian t
will change bowl Of gold dust for one Of sand
for another bowl having less quantity Of gold dus
in IL.
Let all Californians beware of gold dust shop
With large sisnr1"Highest price paid S for gol
and crowd OF hangers on. FACTS.
NEW YORK, July "a, 1854.