Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-08
A Confidence Mans Sketch OF his Opera.
tiona

i shoald at any time have so far forgot
ten myself as to have been guilty of petty
larceny from the person. II is sad tc
remember, moreover, that, this being my
third mistake of that nature, was con
demned for 1t to FIVE years penal servi-
tude. Doubly humiliating it was when
after being liberated on ticket ofleave
for good conduct, discovered how many
professions were opened to me of far
more lucrative character than my former
calling, and altogether beyond the reach
of the law.
1t occurred to me that with small
capital say fifteen pounds-I might be
able in short time to realize almost an
independence for one in my position, by
very simple means, and quite honestly
that is to say, when viewed in coHnec
ton with some successful business ope-
rations in the highest walks of commerce
which have come within my notice
Accordingly, on my release | went to
an acquaintance Of mine-a pawnbroker
with whom | had formerly done business
in another way-and stated my intention
of turning over new leaf. | limited il
was possible he might have in his pos
session number of valuable articles,
such as watches, rings, and so forth,
which, for certain reasons, it would be
inadvisable to offer for sale; but for
which he might, nevertheless, be glad to
find market. Singularly enough, he
had. profered my services to assist
in disposing OF these articles for the very
reasonable commission of FIVE, per cent.
My overtures being accepted, | requested
my friend to make me out pawntickets
for all the trinkets, priced at their full
value-thirty pounds Having done so
| he then intrusted the tickets to my
charge, and handed me in advance the
commission of thirty shillings.
With portion Of this money paid
for the following advertisement in a daily
paper:
"Fyfteen Pounds Sterling Wanted for
Ten Days-Bya professional gentleman.
Eight pounds will be paid for the
accommodation, and property deposited
worth double the amount Address, ETC. F"
From about twenty replies | selected
one with a country postmark, and in
female handwriting. After some CORE
spondence with this lady-a lodging
house keeper in a seaside town-she was
prevailed upon to advance the money on
my terms, which were - Item, my
acceptance at ten days for twenty.three
pounds. Item, the deposit of the pawn
tickets for thirty pounds worth OF valuable
| jewelry.
When the acceptance became due l
was unavoidably called out of town on
| important business, and did not return
for some days, in fact not until the
estimable matron, finding the acceptance
dishonored, had endeavored to recover
her money by redeeming some of the
pledges. She had taken out goods to
the amount of ten pounds, but consider
ing they were not worth the money,
refused to redeem any more. The
pawnbroker, however, knew as well as
did that the tickets, being actually in
circulation, would be sure to come back
again some day, and to result in his
getting rid Of the property at very good
profit. This in course of time actually
occurred, FOR the worthy lady, on discov-
ering that the goods were pledged for
more than they were worth, was quite
sharp enough to dispose of the tickets
one by one, for small premium, among
her continually changing constituency
of dodgers. By this means she partially
recuperated the amount she had lost,
and carried out my truly fraternal prin
cfple of sharing our losses as we'll as our
joys and sorrows among our brethren in
the world. Agonizing reflection to
we'll balanced mind like mine, it cost her
four pounds fifteen. / would have made
money by it
During the hours of my retirement
from the busy scenes of life (at the ex-
pense of my country, had possessed
ample opportunities for rejecting on the
inestimable blessings of free press to
an enlightened community | now pro-
ceed to embody the result Of those re.
hections.
irst of all made friends, at some
trouble and not little expense for
liquor, with a porter in the employ OF
Messrs. Dantou & Birch, the celebrated
auctioneers, aud l ultimately succeeded
on prevailing on that porter, for hand
some consideration, to take charge of
some letters that would be addressed TO
me, but to his care" at his masters
office. impressed upon his mind the
necessity of watchfulness, lest any of
these letters should miscarry into his
employers hands.
Having thus secured one of the most
respectable addresses in London, / next
purchased ten pounds worth of post
age stamps, and then sent the subjoined
advertisement to three daily newspapers,
directing it TO be inserted every other
day-three in each paper only;
THE advertiser being in the enjoy
ment of A GOOD THING is willing to i'm
part it to select number of subscribers.
This is bona fde Send thirteen post
age stamps and directed envelope to
IN" Esq, care of H. W., at Messrs.
Danton & Birch's Moon street, city"
This sort of advertisement being rather |
a stale article in itself, / depended Tor
its success, first, on the unimpeachable |
of the address; and next, |
on the manner in which ] intended to /
work it.
At the end ofth week my nine adver-
tisements had brought me one hundred |
aud eighty.four replies Each reply |
the addressed envelope aud
thirteen stamps. If you think stole the |
postage stamps, and bolted, you wrong
me-you entirely mistake the Christening
of meditation and retirement on
3 Just aud sensitive mind. What ! did
was this In each of the directed en-
yelopes ] folded up the thirteen stamps
had received, together with thirteen more,
in a neat piece Of fpaper containing these
words and figures:
See Geneses xiii. IS.