National Republican., 1873-01-30
NIPPED IN THE BUD.
CONFIDENCE MAN CAPTURED.

The stock In Trade Of n Fine GcniIcmnn-
How lie Wanted to Buy Dlnmouds--
How lie Didn't Gct Them A Race
with the DricciiYcs-O -Overhnuicd and
Marched Down,
Occasionally there appears In the columns Of
the newspapers throughout the county notices
Of the operations Of confidence men, by which
dealers are "beat" out Of large sums, by some
hlgh-toned well-drcssed fellow, who makes a
business Of trading on the crcduty Of the mer-
chants In the various sections, and who does II
In such manner that before his game has been
discovered he has departed for parts unknown.
Just such a case as this was about TO take place
In this city yesterday, and but for the inter
ference Of couple Of our wide awake detectives
one or more Of the city merchants would have
suffered considerably by the loss Of goods, and 1t
may be some OF the sojOurners at a weil.known
hotel would have woke up this morning minus
many yaluablcs.
rnE CASE REFERRgp TO
was Just about Rs follows; On Tuesday night the
prUpfietOTs Of the Ebbtt house received tele.
gram, Of which the following Is II copy!
. baltimore, January -, ts1a
ilGye parlor with adjoining bedroom pre-.
pared for self and wife by tonight.
H. D. GossLER.
There was nothing unusual In thIs, and m obe-
| dlence TO the or,ler the proprietor set apart one
/ Of the finest suites on the second moor for the
| expected guest, who made his appearance on the
arrival Of the afternoon train alone, and regis
tered,
u.R. GossrER, MILWAUKEE.
lie at once stated 10 the clerk that his wife had
been delayed In Baltimore on account OF sick
ness but would he on In few days, and that he
would take possession Of the rooms teegraphed
for and wait for her, requesting at the same time
| TO be shown up. The gentleman was exceed
ingly good looking young, well dressed, and had
| the "a n m Ia fFa all nd
money, and without question q servant was
detailed to take him to his rooms. on entering
tory, and after calling for a bottle Of wine 10
clean the dust out Of his throat. and feeling the
waiter, he pToceeded to the once, ordered car
| rage and went at once
TO THE DEror ron His BAGGAGE,
with which he soon returned, said baggage con-
sistlng Of two large trunks each snspiciously
heavy. AT his request they were sent TO the
rooms, and our gbod.lookng friend made his
| appearance In the lobby, where, by his pleasing
manner, he succeeded Ia forming the acqualnt-
| ance OF gentleman, who was so well pleased
that he concluded TO sup with him, and when
that little business was concluded the twain re-
paired to the elegant apartments and
| MORE WINE WAS ORDERED.
After the departure Of the guest the host re-
tired and nothing more was seen Of him until
yesterday morning, when he appeared at the
hotel ONCE, In all the glory OF clean shirt and
asked for the best carriage to he had. This was
pseedily furnished and the order was given to
drive TO the best Jewelry store In town. The
gentleman was landed In front Of the well-known
establishment Of N. W. Gait, Bro. a Co., on en-
tering which hS was met by Mr.. Chas. shaffer, Of
| the nfm.
was all he wanted 10 look at, and they were
shown In profusion by the obliglng "Charley."
Tray after tray, case alter case OF the precious
stones were exposed TO his HdmrinE gaze; and
after descanting upon the various prices, he
selected about 5000 worth, all for ladies' wear
as Just what he wanted. lie felt satisfied that
his selection would suit; but then, you know,
women are queer, and before concluding the
bargain he would like his wife to sec aud ap-
prove OF his choice. Couldn't the clerk obllge
him by going TO the hotel and securing her ap-
prOval7 There was nothing wrong In the re-
quest, but Just at that moment II couldn't be
compiled with, aud the gentleman left, agreeing
10 meet "Charlcy" At his parlOr about O'Clock
when the jewels would be shown to the lady
and the purchase consummated. Promptly al
the appointed time Mr.. Shafer packed up the
5000 worth and itnt'd toward the hotel, and
on the way met
TO whom he mentioned the occasion OF his visit
and the value Of the goods then Ia his posses
sion. These gentlemen thought II would not he
a bad Idea for them TO accompany him, and he
agreeing, the trio proceeded together, each, how
ever, entering the hotel by different doors. Walk
Ing up to the ONCE Mr.. Shaner recognized his
customer leaning against the counter, and ac-
costed him, the detectives at the time Carelessly
looking him over. That look satisfied them that
u the gentleman wasn't thief they didn't know
their business, and while shaiier was conyerslng
with him they had ascertalned the position OF the
parlOrs and "planted" themselves In opposite d.
rections, but commanding a view Of the exits
from the rooms. moment later Mr.. Shafer
aud his customer entered, and the latter bandiy
called for bottle of wine and cigars, which he
pressed upon the diamond clerk, but Charley did
not drink worth cent lie had gone there to
sell goods, not to drink wine, and so Informed
his friend.
That was all right, and he turned to the bed
room door to call out his wife, but (of course) she
was not there. Then he apolOgized, and asked
for the Jewels while he went In search OF her.
Charley began TO be suspicious, and as much as
told him, u the madam wanted the jewels she
must come TO the room. There was nothing
wrong about this, and OF started Mr.. Gossler TO
look for his lady, but he did not ind her, and re-
turning so informed Mr.. g., and that gentleman
a. once walked down stairs, followed at safe
distance by the Officers
when the once was reached pressing InvI-
tatlon was again extended
THE BEARER or TIIB TREASURES
to take drink, request which was firmly de-
{. ined.
This was followed by a second urgent invita-
tion to go up stairs, while he took good look
through the place for his wife. Mr. Shaffer was
now convinced that there was something wrong,
but concluded to comply with the request, and
Tor second time went up. When the landing
was reached, however, he said that he preferred
TO transact his business In the parlor, and Mr.. q.
agreeing, the couple entered, the latter gentle
man throwing on his OyerCOat and again start
Ing TO look for the sharer OF his Joys The de-
tectyes noticed that he took queer route, going
In the direction OF the once, and thlther they
to look for his wife, he went to the bar-rooni,
called for drink, swallowed II down, paid the
bill, and passing out 10 the street,
STARTED TO RUN
At full speed In the direction Of Thirteenth street.
This satisfied the ofiicers, and they made up their
minds that u he wanted foot race instead OF
diamonds they would accommodate him, and
both Messrs. Sargent and McElfresh started after
him. The race, though short, was an exciting
one. The passers-by stopped to look on; the
residents heard the noise and raised their win
dOws, and In the brief time required TO make the
TIP TO Thirteenth street, at which point he was
oyerhauled-fully two hundred people had con-
When Overhauled Mr.. q. got on his dignity,
and wanted to know why and by whom he was
arrested. The answer was simple-"Come with
US to headquarters and you will be informed. :"
Notwithstanding his earnest protest he was
marched down and
INTRODUCED TO cIIIEP DETECTIVE cIARvoE.
Here agaln he became indignant. lie COnsld-
cred his arrest and detention most outrageous
and would make them suffer for II. lie wanted
70 Know why ne was arrested and called for
lawyer Immediately. This little game Of ''bun"
wasn't Just the thing, and each Of his questions
were answered promptly.
He had been arrested as a thief attempting to
play the coincidence game,n and II he wanted q
lawyer he could get one; In the meantime they
would send for his trunks and hold him at head
quarters, This news had the effect Of making
him weak indeed, and he changed his tone OF de-
nance To one OF pleading. but the officers were
tnexorabe. They knew he was q thief; and
although there was no law In this District under
TO show him up and the trunks were sent for
and Mr.. Schafer notified that his customer would
probably not make purchase that afternoon
His pockets were searched, and sixteen dollars
In money and set Of false keys found 10 consti-
tute their entire contents.
HEAVY BAGGAGE.
When the trunks arrived he begged pite0usly
that they be not searched, but his prayers avalled
not, and they were opened, and one OF them
found to contain an old pair Of pants, an empty
hat-bOx, u pair of slippers, half dozen paper
collars an old vallse illed with coal and pair OF
dirty stockings. The other one had small-sized
marble tombstone wrapped In bed-quilt ami q
lot OF sawlust.
This showing was proof positive that he was
Just what was suspected: but satisfied that he
had not committed any offence. and determined
that he should not, he was allowed TO de part on
giving his promise that be would leave the city
on the next train, pfSmlse the Oncers took
good care to see was fulfilled. Thus was the
city rid Of 4 man who, had he been allowed to
remain few days, might, by his acts, have sue
ceedsd IN getting away with a considerable
amount Of yaluahles, the prevention Of which Is
due entirely to Messrs. McElfresh and Sargent.
Odds and Ends.
sp-r These goods are all nrst-class articles, a .
| sE-anU are sold ut the reduced nFiga a nFp. :