Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-09-20
The Sharpest Confidence Trick Yet.

A Baltimore woman did it-a "yOung,
beautiful, accomplished, and lady-like
woman" And the way she accomplished
it was as follows: She went into jewel
nv store to make some purchases, but be-
ing at a loss what to select, she begged the
jeweler to send clerk with her to her
home with quantity of fine goods. Her
request was acceded to. and the woman
and clerk and jewelry drove to a large
mansion I'm the outskirts of the city. The
clerk was not acquainted with the locality,
but the house and gardens and graveled
walks and door-plate, with doctors name
on it, looked highly respectable, and the
two went into the house. They were met
by an elderly gentleman, the doctor, and
the lady took him aside and had some very
earnest confidential conversation with him.
The clerk supposed 1t was In reference to
completing the purchase Of the jeweiry,
which was deposited on center-taDie III
the room. 1t happened that the conslllta-
| ton was of a very different character, ~
will presently appear. The conversation
ended and the doctor invited the clerk into
an adjoining room to look at some curios-
tiles for a moment. The surroundings
were so very respectable that the clerk
went unsuspecting of any trap. The lady
remained In the reception room, but there
was nothing suspicious about that. The
| jewelry was left there, too. but the open
and above-board respectability youched for
its safety. Presently the clerk became un-
easy and expressed a desire to re-
turn to the other room. The doctor
told him to be i'm no haste, and then the
clerk got IN a hurry and went to the door.
II was locked. He began to talk about
the jewelry he had left In the next room.
The doctor assured him that II was perfect
ly safe. The clerk next found that he was
d prisoner, and insinuated that the purpose
was to rob him. The doctor appeared 10
be prepared for the raging that ensued, and
at the tap Of bell three or four men ap-
peared who seized the unfortunate clerk,
and had straight jacket on him In q
twinkling. He tried TO explain who he
was, and his business at the house, but the
doctor only told him to be calm, and thai
the jewelry was all right. He charged the
woman with being thief, and the doctor
as an accomplice, but the doctor was not al
all rufiied. The clerk was locked and
barred In a room that was evidently intend
ed for prison purposes. The next day ths
prisoner put ON the calmness Of despera
ton, and got an interview with the doctor
The latter finally agreed to send to the jew
elry store to ascertain II there was an,
truth I'm the young mans story. The pro
prietors were lamenting the absconding o
their clerk, and had already offered re
ward for his arrest. They went to the doc
, tors house and found their man safel,
locked In private lunatic asylum.
Now for the conversation between th,
beautiful lady and the doctor, which will
unravel the plot and exonerate the docto
from any suspicion of completely. Tn
woman told him, confidentfally, that tn
young man before him was her brother
and insane. His principal mad fancy wa
that she had taken from him q lot Of jewel
ry. Sometimes ne was very troublesome
She was visiting Baltimore with him for
few days. and his madness had broken on
afresh that morning. She did not know
: what to do with him, and begged the doc
tor to take care of him, if only for twenty
four hours, until she could make arrange
Iments to have him legally placed In som
proper institution. The doctor finally cor
, sented to the arrangement, and the resul
: was that both he and the clerk were sadl
e yictimized. Neither the confidence womal
nor the jewclry have been heard Of since
1t is considered very good trick for
] woman.