New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-14
Local Intelligence.

AN OLD CONFIDENCE GAME REVIVED
Many OF the .rascals who for wears past
worked confidence games in the larger cities
OF this country played themselves out. and
now seek pastures new, probably having
learned that change of fields fattens
calves, A pair OF the tribe anchored them
selves here last month, opened a mythical
Office, hired real pOstOtlice box and began
operations. Their style was 10 send off a
letter like the following:
NEW ORLEANS, March 80, 1871!
). Wadswerth, Esq, Austin, Texas
As 1t is now almost one year since we
have heard from you, and az we have writ
ten twice in the meantime, we have co.,
GUIDED TO address you upon the subject once
more, and should we not hear from you
within twenty days we VIII consider the
watch forfeited, and dispose Of it to the
best advantage. We would not hurry Won
IN the matter, but times are hard land
although the watch is ample security for
the amount due). yet we wish to get all our
accounts straight SO as to settle I'd our
books. Ii you wish now to settle the mat
Ter, you can send the money to our address
oy mail, glass postotice box No. 237, and
we will forward the watch as per your or
der. The amount due, as you will remem-
Der, is vs. tor repairing watch, $40 loan on
same, and seventy cents inteIest-in all,
sl3 20 due.
Yours, respectfully.
HENRY, s. ROBERTS.
p. S.-We could have sold the watch last
December for $50. at which time we notified
you, but received no answer.
1t Is likely that letters containing money
have been sent, but if such is the case the
fellows secured them before Detective
Pearson secured the manipulators. The
police OF this department were first made
aware Of the existence Of this liberal bureau
INF Of GIL
srom some one who reads the newspapers
carefully:
AUSTIN, Texas, April 5, 1874
Chief of Police, New Orleans:
DEAR SIR-InclOsed YOU will find letter
IRON some pseudo firm in your city who are
apparently flush with valuable watches.
You are at liberty to demand and receipt
FOR my ninety dollar watch and to sell the
same, applying the proceeds to paying OF
Sour State debt. Very respectfully.
j. w. WADSWORTH.
As q specimen OF TIE answers received
tere, the following is offered:
SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas. April 6, 1871.
Hessrr Henry Roberts:
manifestations of March 50 is Just to
aand, and | should have responded long
ago, in regard to what owe You on my
watch, and now l am quite at a loss 20 say
what is best for me to do. | am unable TO
pay you for my watch now, and you will
please sell my watch at the best advantage,
gay yourself out of the proceeds. and for
ward me draft on st. Louis or Galveston
sor the remainder. l shall be compelled to
sell it anyway, and your city is better
market than this country. Please let me
hear from you soon.
Very respectfully.
II. a. GARRISON.
All the rascally circulars which are re-
surned are written in the same hand and
words, except the words New Orleans
at the head, which takes the place of some
thing neatly erased by acid. Further down
Che words 'gIass box No. 237" have been
Glled in. Evidently where New Orleans is
written the name Galveston stood orig inally. |
Perhaps Henry g. Roberts considered The |
climate OF Texas uucomfortably warm for |
such as they. SO came to this city to operate. |
Detective Pearson was instructed to hunt |
the fellows, and he succeeded last Satur- |
day at the Postotiice They were locked up !
IN the first precinct stati0nhouse, but on de- |
liberation were permitted to go on promis- |
ing to leave this part of the country for |
ever. Had they been held there would |
have been great difficulty in convicting |
them.
With this exposure it is hoped that TIE
villains will hereafter find considera bic |
trouble in trapping the unwary. Reponses
10 the trick which came to this PostoIiice |
viii be returned to tne writers by SUperin-
tendent Badger.