Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-19
A PIECE OF DECEPTION.
From Cassells Magazine.
,hff BY AN EX-DETECTIvE.

Many years ago Alexandria was a re
fuge for half the runaway swindlers, rob
bers and assassins of Europe. 1t was
in fact, (the viceroy will pardon the
strength of the expression) J, the sink ol
all the rascality Of the Eastern and
Western Worlds. f#enN3
Among the rogues aud escrocs who
made Egypt the land Of their adoption
two scoundrels especially attracted my
attention. These persons (the one oi
Prussian, the other of French extrac.
toni, we're both gentlemen in appear
ance and conversation--chevaliers din.
dustrie by trade. The former, James
Vauler, was a converted Prussian Jew;
the latter, NJ. Ernest, had lived several
years in Paris, and claimed French pro-
lection. What the project of police in
Paris thought Of these two worthy men
never heard; bat | strongly suspected
that change of climate had secome
necessary for their health. 1t soon be.
came certain to me that they had taken
high degrees in the black-leg school Of
Paris, Berlin and Vienna. Vauler was
pink and white man, with glossy,
black, scented whiskers, and large, dark
eyes, full of smiling and false frankness;
Ernest, a sallow, little man, had keen,
sharp glance, and a smart. alert, busi-
ness.like manner. They were both great
takers, and sang in fervid, semi-ope-
ratio way. ARNA
They arrived from Paris, via Mar
seiIIes. The first glitter Of their dia-
mond rings secured them credit and pro-
duced a general impression that CON-
mercial magnates of enormous wealth
aud immaculate honesty had arrived to
give a new impetus to the trade of Alex
andria. They, Arcades ambo, got in
vited to one or two places, their shallow
accomplishment, and the auency with
which they spoke French and Italian,
soon making them the talk of all the
manageable young ladies in the town;
and many a cap was set ut them. In q
month, M. Vauler was ooRFing at the
same time at least a half dozen of the
daughters of the richest merchants of
the place. The rascals were daring in
their plans. The small sum they had
with them they deposited for few days,
bv turns, in every bank in alexandria.
So on the stage few supers" march
round and round, and appear and re-
appear, and pass for large and almost
innumerable army. They began by q few
real purchases, which they paid for in
ready cash, in order to spread belief
that all their transactions were 10 be
bona 6de and prompt. Five or six con-
federates, several of whom resided in
Paris, sent them constantly very large
orders, never TO be executed, andLsham
notes for payment drawn on other con-
federates. They then received from
,NarseilIes with much solemnity several
boxes of old iron, which they pretended
to be specie, and on which they paid the
usual freight. They also showed every
one sham invoices from Paris, Vienna,
and other places; and talked largely Of
their extensive transactions in Manches-
ter, Liege, aud Paris goods. In this
way they got hold of various consign-
ments Of whisky. brandy and beer, Or
dered by their European confedeIates,
and gave them away to the friends who
visited their Offices. A. rre
They began to show the sham orders
from their confederstes to everybody in
their own way of business, to see who
would execute them cheapest, snd to
prove the bona fde nature of their trans
actions. Their gulls regarded them as
In the meantime they
we're most hospitable to their dupes and
business men of all classes. They gave
a ceaseless round of breakfasts, balls,
and soirees. The choicest wines and
he most exquisite French dishes seemed
always ready at their ofioGs. Their
Of wine became, indeed, so |
notorious, that the agents OF leading |
vine merchants of France and the |
Rhine forced wines upon them at two
years credit; and they gave the orders
With such evident reluctance, that the 1
jewellers, hearing it, came next, and
pressed upon them from time 10 time
diamonds Of great value, on the same
terms. Both these imp0Ftunste classes
Of persons our two friends at last con
sented to patronize, never condescend-
ing to give orders for less than two or
.hree thousand pounds worth Of any
at a time. They alo re-
used to give bills, obiecting 70. all
with bill-brekers, In their
own halfpleasant, halfeontemPtuoqs
way II it was possible to rise IN
public favor, Messrs. Vauler and
Ernest, the fascinating millionaireS did
sO riss when they one day started bank,
IN which the poor Of Alexandria migR de-
post their savings. y Patriots, ~ hsne-
factors" no words we're too good for
hem. Wherever they went there vas
an ovation: the donkey-boys eheeted
them in the streets; the gOurmanis
praised their eeekirgi diners ont ip-