Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-09
From the Columbia Is. C,) Carolinian.
The Southerner at the st. Nicholas
His Experience in the Confidence
Game.

Game.
A friend now at the North, writes us that
he vas lately experimental upon by some
of the experts in the ball game. He says:
.sLet me tell you of my adventure with a
couple of swindlers, and show you how l
was not t'6eeced,' although in the very hands
of the sPhilis,ines.'
Il was standing near the st. Nicholas
Hotelin New York looking at some French
poodles. when quiet, inofensive, and gen.
tlemsPH H-looking man. aged about forty en-
gagged me in conversation, and gave me to
understand that he was merchant of Will
mington, North Carolina, and staying with
his wife at the St. Nicholas, After a while
he proposed that we should 60 down to a
place in Broadway, opposite Barnum's Mu-
scum where dogs of various kinds can usua-
lily be got. He was anxious, he said, TO get
two poodles to carry home with him. Go ing
down he carried me into Trinity Church land
pointed out the beauties of that temple,
which should have rebuked his villainy and
hypocrisy. Not finding the dogs, he men,
toned that there was German over in
Brooklyn who kept dogs of various kinds,
and proposed that we should go over.
Telling him that wanted to see Brooklyn.
l asserted to his proposition. So we went
over, he paying the fare-which, however,
was trifle. After getting over, he said
that the man lived naar the cemetery; ;and, las
l wanted to visit that place. ! concluded
to 60 On with him-not as vet suspecting
anything. We then left the city and walked
on till we got out of sight of men and houses.
We were now joined BY an apparent stran-
ger, who inquired the way to some one, who
he understood, lives near the cemetery, and
had some connection with the Patent Office.
de then went on to say that he was on his
Way to Washington, to secure patent for
new kind of powder magazine. He des-
cribed its use &C., in the most natural way.
My sfriend,' who called himself Hill, was
very inquisitive, desired to see the model. &c.
The patent man, who announced him.
self from Maine, consented to show it. We
were nov in lonely place-in valley hid
from view, and l began to realize my posi-
tion and appreciate my verdancy. My friend
taking the model-a round brass ball-in
his hand, wanted to find out how it opened.
'Oh! excuse me, replied the other, that's
only to be con6ded to purchasers of the pat
ent.' will you allow me to try if can
open it!' said my friend. Certainly re-
piled the other. He then walked off little
way, on some pretence. My friend then
succeeded in opening the ball, and pulled
out slip of paper that was inside. This
he begged me to keep. was now on my
guard. My friend now offered to bet bin
frosa Maine ah,t there was no paper in the
ball. He said he would bet his life that
there was, &c. Finally they agreed to bet,
but unfortunately my friend had not enough
money about him. 1t was true he had a
check for 81 500, but that would not do So
he called me to one side, and asked how
much money l had. saying we will have
some fun out of that Yankee. Ievaded the
question. He then urged me to lend him
the money 1 had, saying he could make it
all right on our return to New York.
1gsin declined. He next offered to let me
have, by way of security, his S1,5o0 check.
| declined 10 take it. He was now getting
excited. I determined if possible, to use
policy myself to get out of the difficulty land
at the same time catch the scoundrel. So
proposed to him that we should have no
bets on the spot, but wait until we got back
to New York, when large bet could be
made, and the Yankee taken in Strange |
to say, he at once assented. He then said
he would 60 on to the Germans, and that
must wait for him at the omnibus station.
He then walked on with his confrere, while |
l proceeded to New York. l walked for
some time before came up with any one, so
l knew it was of no use to try and catch the
Twas altogether unarmed-had
nothing but small cane. So could not
with prudence, exhibit the indignation
which ! felt, and which | will let him
feel, should come across tbevillain again.