The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-04-20
THE NEITHER SIDE OF NEW
YORK.

IdE NEITHER SLIDE OF NEW
YORK.
When q sharper proves himself mas
ter of his art, always ready to adapt him
self to any exigency however suddenly
presented, and constantly intriguing
with success for illegal gains, without in
curing the penaltis of any statute of
frauds yet devised, he rises to the digni-
ty of skinner, who is the rankest
growth of that rare roguery which lodges
the law at every turn, and is nowhere
produced in such perfection as in the f.
nancial hot-bed of the continent.
+ = =
Not long since skinner, scattering up
town after day of i'll luckin Wall street
managed to bring down two birds with
one stone in o manner that greatly in
creased the credit of his tribe. Stepping
into leading furnishing store in Broad
way, he bought cravats, collars, gloves,
and other articles to the amount of $65,
and taking out his pocket-book display
ed large roll of bills. But he sudden
ly remembered that he desired to make
other purchases on his way, especially of
cigars at prominent uptown Broadway
grocery, and proposed to give check
for $10O for his purchases, as he wished
to use that evening little more money
than he had with him. The check was
readily accepted, and with his goods and
$35. he walked leisurely away. Getting
to the grocery, he purchased cigars and
liquors to the amount OF $75, and desired
to pay for them with check, as he had
just paid out all the money he had with
him at the furnishing store. which estab-
lishment he boldly gave as a reference. He
had the goods with the label of the house
upon the parcels, his statement was be-
ieved and he walked way with another
$25 added to his store. In this case he
desired the goods sent to his residence,
which was done, and being received at
the house he had named, they were nev-
er afterwards recovered, although upon
subsequent investigation, when the checks
proved worthless, it was found that he
was utterly unknown on the premeses
A little shrewder game was played by the
fellow who paid for his purchase with a
check which was taken without question,
as the dealer saw that it was certified.
But when it came back bearing the dis
tressing words "No funds" the dealer
opened his eyes wide to see that the GER
was one of the most shallow de-
vices by which q fool and his money had
ever been parted. The check purported
to be drawn by the secretary ofa compa-
ny, and the certiGcation was by the CASH
ier of the same company, with the word
cashier made prominent in large round
hand, while the initials of the company,
under meath at hasty glance looked like
q mere flourish of the pen. These are
only two illustrations out Of thousands
which might be given showing how the
SINNERS operate in worthless checks.
Another method which the skinner has |
adopted for making his way in the world.
Willie creditable to his ingenuity, is q
great annoyance to the mercantile COM
munity. Keeping ON eye constantly open
Ior the main chance, he discovers that
,ome quiet firm which is doing snug
business without making any fuss about
{, has thereby, and by virtue of years Of
,robity, secured the confidence Of . large
ircleof customers Thesear advantages
which the skinner could never acquire for
himself, and he is therefore forced to ap.
,ropriate those gathered by others. He
PRINTS business cards and circulars bearing
he name of the respectable firm, and, al
hough never giving the same location,
generally selects the same street. This
lone, he has his immdiate future secured; Il
or he goes boldly and buys goods on
hort time in the name. say. of Smith L
o., Water street Inquiries are of course
made by the saller Of the mercantile Agen-
y, where the firm Is declared to be, as it