Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-20
tFrom The Chicago Tines

/ | tFrom The Chicago Timesl
During the last two years confidence men
have increased alarmingly in numbers and
in proficiency in their dangerous tricks up
on the more unsophisticated and verdant
classes of society. Like all other thieves,
the confidence men have their grades or
marks, from the highly educated, polished
swindler, who seeks his game amongst the
rich merchants of a city, or ningles In
the great thoroughfares of travel and vic
timizes the rich and the verdant ruralst,
down to the common swindler who palms
off worthless brass for gold, or who entices
his victims into dens, drugs them, then robs
and perhaps murders them.
The genteel confidence man Is most to be
dreaded. In order to be an adept in his
business and successful, he must necessari-
ly be man of education, of popular man
ners, and, most important Of all to him, a
first class Judge of human nature on first
sight; must be cool and collected in all his
conduct. From the many cases of swind-
ling by this class on the great thoroughfares
of travel and in the large cities, it is evi :
dent to all, especially to the police, that
there is formidable gang, society, or con-
federation, whose operations are conducted
in the principal cities, and that, so far have
they perfected their system, even the tele-
SIdpulC dIO usCu ny Ontll III
fictitious messages to aid their designs on
unsuspecting victims.
Instances have occurred, and are occur
ring daily almost, where these modern
Thugs, as they might be termed, have de-
parted on the same trains with their intend
ed victims from OUR large eastern cities,
and arriving ut their destination, their con-
federates in villainy were at the depots, in
waiting for the cars, perfectly posted as to
their names and characters, and fully pre-
pared to carry out the plot.
The principal operator is always man
who has Travelled great deal, and is well
posted by personal experience in regard to
all the principal business cities and points,
and has general knowledge of the names
of leading business firms, streets, and local
tiles. His business is to watch hotels, rail-
road depots, steamboat landings, or any
place where strangers are likely to gather
together, and to mingle amongst them and
select his subjects. He is extremely well
dressed, assumes an important business air,
and converses freely with all. His game is
generally from the rural districts, such as
those who have been in small, safe busi-
ness, stock dealers, produce dealers, farmers,
or emigrants, who have come to the city
and are open-hearted, social, unsuspiciOus,
full of cash, generally ready for trip be-
yond the more strict habits of life at thome,
and, when excited, far more liable to be
victimized as the subjects of misplaced con-
fidence than any other classes. Z .l.fr
Thus the emigration to California and the
emigration to Idaho afford this fraternity
of rOgues rich harvests, and many poor
fellow, ere he reaches the outer bounds of
the States, Is victimized, and is obliged to
work, or beg his way back home.
no11 lgo
snap" Is spotted by them, he is followed
from city to city by various members of the
gang. Their process of discovering this
shows that they are well skilled in human
nature. After by what always appears to
be mere act of sociability, fondness for
society while travelling, or perhaps some
incident, the acquaintance is formed, the
operator gently sounds his victim by re-
lating his own professed place of business,
and in fact full professed story of his cir
cumstances in return he is always inform
ed by his victim of his own. His game is
then to find out the weak points of his
character, which he may take advantage of
in his operations-whether his victim is of
convivial turn and addicted to drinking,
moderately or excessively. This is proved
at the first station or stopping place by the
confidence man asking him up to drink. If
he does, and shows an appetite for 1t, then
his card is sure one. If not, he tries him
on some other point, as politics, religion, or
what not, and takes care to agree perfectly
in his views with whatever the victim be-
lievesin, addingas much flattery as possible.
His destination, the amount of money he
has, and all his business affairs are thus
wormed out of him. The confidence man
is.careful to recommend hotel to him;
however, IL he thinks he can choose bet
ter one, he had 'just as leave" go there with
him; is very careful to see to the victims
baggage, and that he pays omnibus fare
for him. 5 ~ f5pts2 utr .g
The tricks of the confidence gentry might
be related at great length, as they have an
almost infinite variety and versatile
genius. Their mode of meeting their con-
federates is well known to all, and the final
victImizing of men, whom every experience
In life should teach better. ----
The police and all railroad conductors
are generally acquainted with these fellows;
but, SO difficult is 1t to catch them in any
of their tricks, that but very few arrests
are made aud very seldom any convictions.
The only remedy to prevent these frequent
impositions on honest people seems to be to.
keep warning them through the press as to.
whom they make eacquaintances with in
travelling, These fellows are far more dam
gerous to society than regular thieves and
pick-pockets, but ordinary care and knowl-
edge of human nature, especially in city
life, or IN travelling, should guard any in
telligent man against their tricks, and, If 1t.
does not, and he is defrauded, he becomes
the butt of public sport-the most mortify1
ing thingof all to a sensitive man. Ifcs 4 1
srgl1se "a tssstas e.. ia q,