The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-12-03

A New svvindle-How Lizzie schmidt
Played 1t On the st. Louis Jewellers.
From the St. Louis Republican, Nov. 1871
A novel and strikingly ingenious
game of swindling has been played with
eminent success upon number of our
jewelers. during the past week. each of
the victims paying quite handsomely
for his experience. On last Wednesday
evening handsome young woman,
whose age is probably about "a wears,
and whose address and apparel suggest
refinement and excellent taste, as we'll
as means to crafty it, arrived in this
city by tram from Indianapolis. 1t
is quite certain that she was accompa-
inied by an escort, but what's his name
or how he looks cannot now be told-in
fact, those are little items which the DO
lice are anxious to discover. Nor can
it be said where the lady boarded. The
interest attaching to this seemingly un-
important arrival develops hereafter.
On Thursday-or possibly it was on
Friday-the lady called at the jewelry
store of Joseph NJ. ELMER, No. 1902
Carondelet avenue, and stated that she
desired to procure her husbands gold
hunting case watch, which had been
left there for repairs, and which was to
be finished at this time. Mr.. ELMER
had no recollection of ha1 ing seen the
lady before, but there certainly was a
gold hunting case watch in his posses.
sion which had been left for repair, and
which was to be finished, and. in fact,
was finished at that time. The de-
scription of the watch which she called
for was that of the article in his pos
session, the lady appeared to be all
that lady should be, and there was
no ground for refusing to de-
liver the valuable, even had
Mr.. ELMER felt so disposed, which he
did not. The lady paid the cost of re-
pairing and took the watch with her.
Mr.. ELMER was stunned a short time
afterwards when the gentleman who had
left the watch called to take possession
of it, and denied having ever received
1t. As the gentleman could not be
doubted, it was quite in order to doubt
the lady; in fact, that was the least Mr..
ELMER could do, and he did it-proba-
bly, more.
Henry German, jeweler, No. 1892
Market street, took in an open faced
gold watch on Friday for repairs, and
agreed to have it done on Saturday. On
Saturday an interesting lady called,
proved property, and walked off with
the open faced gold watch, leaving Mr..
German to experience an exasperating
surprise, such as stirred up Mr.. ELMER.
But what could he do to remedy the
troubled Nothing.
On Friday Mr.. D. A. Winters, jewel
er, No. lib Franklin avenue, received
a very valuable hunting case gold
watch from negro named Peterson,
agreeing to repair it by Saturday noon
or thereabouts. He gave a ticket to
Peterson rs kind Of a receipt. On
morning an elegantly dressed
lady entered Mr.. Winters store, and,
stating that she had left a watch for
repair, but had lost her ticket, she pro.
ceeded to describe Peterson's ticket,
and gave the hour at which it was to
be finished. Mr.. Winters is accommo-
dating; he had forgotten that a negro
brought the watch in,-or perhaps he
never saw it.--and Peterson's valuable
was freely and unsuspiciously turned
over to the lady without requiring q
ticket. Peterson called and presented
his ticket in the afternoon, and then
Mr.. Winters began to figure on the
probable extent Of the loss, and to hold
with the police.
Two other cases of . like nature-a
gold watch being sacrificed each time
were reported to the police, and it be-
came very plain that an adept in swim
ding was among US.
Mr.. Winters watch was found in a
pawn shop on Locust street, where
young lady had pawned it,
and another watch was recovered in
another establishment Of like business.
Getting an accurate description Of
the gay deceiver from the numerous
gentlemen who were competent and
willing to give it. the detectives began
to look for her.
Yesterday afternoon about 5 O'Clock
Dan O'Connor, Chief OF Detectives. was
Juggling his broad shoulders along Fifth
street, and when near Hilton's restaCr-
ant he saw pretty girl come out and
cross the sidewalk towards . carriage
which was in waiting. She took his
eye, as all who know him would guess.
But this time Dan meant business. The
face, the size, the complexion. the color
of dress-Eureka! 1t was worth the
risk, anyhow-and before the carriage
door could be closed, Dan stepped
composedly into the vehicle and took a
seat opposite the other occupant. He
cody asked her to take . drive ND to
the Four Courts, and the manner in
which she received the invitation prov
ed to him that he was not mistaken.
To the Four Courts they went, and the
young lady Was taken to the Chefs
Office, where it Was found that
her name is Lizzie Schmidt; her
home which she left on Tuesday last, il
in Indianapolis; she came here to play it
sharp on our jewelers., and had done 30;
she had confederate who compelled
her to act her part in the interesting
games BY Threatening to shoot her II
she failed him; the trick was for the
confederate to watch . jeweler shop,
spot any articles left for repair. listen
to the agreement. make . note Of it. give
/ to her. and she to play the rest she
would not give her confederate name.
she always pawned the witches IS soon