The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-02-12
A THIN SWINDLE.
How the GuIlible are ROped in.
Confidential Letters from New
York Sharpers.

establishments are broken NJ, but ike Ban
quos ghost they rise again in some other
place as fresh and vigorous az ever. The
mos, popular and successful dodge prac-
tised by the sharpers is the sending Of circu-
lars and printed letters to their intended vic
tins. These communications are very neat
Iy worded and well calculated TO entrap
these sangIine individuals who are always
on the look out for the ''short cut 10 wealth.
Within the last two or three days certain in
diyiduals in this city have received letters
bearing the postmark Of New York and con-
tanning the following circular:
STINT IL CONFIDENCE AND 10 Re STRICTLY
PRIVATE.
Ny DEAR SRI take the liberty Of
sending you a circular that Is printed by
myself in my own printing Office, in order
that its contents may be known only TO the
few that conclude TO let into my secret.
/ hope that after have placed confidence
enough in you 10 send TO you a circular OF
this kind relating the nature Of my bust
mesa, that you would not he SO treacherous
a. 10 even breathe the contents of this docu-
ment 10 living being; should you betray
me | will find means to be avenged In
way, perhaps, you would little dream OF. II
vou do not wish TO enter into this conliden-
tial business with Inc, all ask il, that you
burn this circular, and let the secret die with
the flame. On The other hand, if YOU con-
clude 10 enter into this speculation, that will
in a few weeks make you a wealthy man, |
would also advise you TO burn the circular
and preserve the secret, a. when II IL de-
,troyed, all evidence against you and me is
ob!itersted.
A person in business of this character
must lie true to themselves and as true "a
steel 10 the person they are doing business
with. You should always abtain from the
use of strong drink, for in that there is great
danger, az a person knows not what he
might say when drunk. You should also
keep the secret of the business as still as
the grave, not even hint it to your relations
or breathe il TO your second self. Now,
with all the warning l have given you that
il most necessary TO adhere 10 without sin
gle exception, l will proceed TO state facts in
reference to the business, which, if managed
with care and sbrewdness, will lead you to
fortune, without any one dreaming from
whence your wealth came.
In the first place, | wish TO state that
am an engraver, and said TO be, by those
who are competent Of Judging, the most ex-
pert one in America. l was in the employ of
the United States Government for ten YEAR,.
superintendent the engraving OF all the
plates for the United States money. When
the Government ceased to Issue greenbacks
my services were no longer required, and az
soon "a found that my time was my own
the idea OF engraving a few plates
for myself and my benefit, as | am well
aware that a man can never become wealthy
working for a salary. | have only recently
finished the work that L began almost two
years since, that is, the engraving OF six
plates which are the exact duplicates of the
Mine are the Fifty Cents.
the One, Two, Five, Ten and Twenty Dol
lar plates. | have taken the greatest care
in engraving these plates. and | defy the
best experts 10 detect the counterfeit from
the genuine. | deposited few days since
large amount OF my money IN six different
banks in New York; they all accepted il
without a word; my money being all new
thought II would not be advisable To deposit
any more for fear they might think some
thing wrong. When it is deposited in banks
there should he other money that mas been
in Use mixed with il, then there will be no
suspicion, j now need only few true men
to assI.t me for six months, then
We will secure fortune that will
enable Us 10 enjoy all the pleasures
that money Can procure ON earth. My bills
are printed q exactly the same kind of pa
per "a the United States, so that there is no
possible chance 10 detect the difference only
in one way, which il this: the Government
bills are numbered from one up so are mine;
If you should come across two of the same
number, one will certainly be genuine and
the other counterfeit. Ii il is convenient for
you to come, / wish you would; then you
could see the money, and | will give you
few dollars TO pass, then You would see that
every body would take ii just the same as if
it was genuine.
In order TO prevent danger of detection to
the parties | send money to, always pack ii
in a small wooden box, sewed up in old
clothing or put between the leaves Of some
old books, then nail it up perfectly tight
and mark il in such way that not even the
express agent would suspect anything wrong
even if the lid was taken off the box.
The price OF my money is ten cents on
dollar, the smallest sum will send any one
is Three Hundred Dollars, Twelve Dollars
of this must be paid TO the Express Agent
when the box is received, the balance Eigh-
teen Dollars must he paid when you have
passed the money, l will send One thousand
Dollars and you can pay Twenty Dollars
to the Express Agent and Seventy-five Dol
lars when the money has been passed. Ii you
wish Three Thousand Dollars you can pay
Fifty dollars when you get the money at the
Express Office, and Two Hundred and Fifty
Dollars after you pass it, Three thousand
Dollars is the largest amount that | viii send
II one time ID any person ,pt parties l
Am personally acquainted with.
Important instructions that there must be
no deviation from:
lst. l will not receive any money that is
tent TO me in Letter or by Draft, or by Post
Office Money Order, for the reason that there
IS great danger OF detection when money is
received or sent by Mail.
81. The only way that l will send my
money is by express, and the parties that or
der il must pay the express agent. When
he money ia sent that way there can be no
race so then there will be no fear of deiec-
your nearest express office, also how many
bills of each kind you wish.
Sd. Always pay the express agent with
bills that have been worn, then l can mix
hem with my own money. SO that when |
iepe-it it in the bank they will not notice IT
as much as they would if the money was all
new.
n. B.-Important instructions Sign
your name in full TO the letter, with your
uil address and nearest express office, then
zee that the envelope il tightly sealed, Their
1irect it exactly as follows:
Plata GONZALES.
Aiken, Bsrnwell Co, $. c.
p. ST. am absolutely sure 10 get the let
er you write,as call at the post Office every
lay for my letters.
We have come in possession OF several Of
!hese mysterious letters and find them 10 be
#orded exactly alike, but signed differently,
md giving different directions as to the di-
.ection of the return communications. For
Instance, instead Of the signature given above
We find affixed 10 the same circular the name
# Piata Gonzales, Aiken, Barnwell county,
). c., with explicit instructions TO forward
Ill letters 10 his address. Thus il will be |
een that there is a regular organized band
If these sharners who tirst flood the country
Ti,h their villainous trash. as bait, and then
,almly rake in the proceeds. Sensible peo-
pie will scofi at the idea of this superficial