Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-03-18
A French Confidence Operation.


Paris Correspondence New York Times.
A gentleman from Boston, who has
recently married second wife, and
come abrosd for tour, was stopping
at the Athenee. One morning he
was coming out of his bankers Of
flee, Rue Scribe, when a well-dressed
man stepped up to him and asked if
he was Mr.. Monroe. On being told
that he was not, the stranger made
his excuses, and said that he wished
to deposit large sum ofmoney. The
two talked for some time, and in the
evening the old gentleman met the
stranger at his hotel. They couvers-
ed for some time, struck up friend
ship, and the stranger was invited to
breakfast. The intimacy went on for
a few days, the two going to the Cafe
de la Paix afterward for coffee.
While there q man came to table
beside them and called for whisky.
When it was brought he said it was
not the kind he wanted, and in a
strong Irish brogue began to talk to
the waiter, who did not understand a
word. Excuse me-" said the Irish
man to the two near him, 81 hear
you speaking English. Will you be
good enough to explain to the waiter
that it is Irish whisky and not
Scotch, that l wantw After this
there was long conversation, and
the Irishman said that he had just
had fortune of several millions left
him by an uncle, who had made it in
oil in Pennsylvania. There was one
condition to his uncle's will. 1t
forced him to give 100000 to the
poor of America, which he was very
glad to do for the old mans sake-a
mere bagatelle in comparison with
the sum left him-and he had already
sent over 100000. He wanted to
find one or two Americans who would
take over and distribute, say $oO,OOO
apiece for him. The stranger mod
estly offered his services, but said
that some guarantees would probably
be required. "Oh! of course" said
the Irishman, II want men of posi-
tion and property" 81 don't know
how to prove that am" replied the
,other, except by showing that have
an equal sum at my bankers" "Oh!
that will do-bring me $4,000 as a
proof, and l shall be satisfied" The
money was brought; the lrishman
took the bundle of bills and began
to count them, walking toward the
door. He stood there rs if for more
light a few moments, then came back
with the money, gave it up, and pro
nounced the guarantee sufficient. 1t
was then the turn of the dupe. His
check-boo was at home, but he could
bring the money in the morning.
''There's no hurry" said the Irish
man; sin fact, this gentleman might
take over the whole 100000, but he
is not going to Boston" The old
man drew out $4,000 in French bills
and with his friend went to meet the
millionaire. He handed over the
money and the Irishman proceeded
to count it in the same fashion, walk
ing toward the door. AS he did not
come back as quickly as on the pre-
vious occasion, the old man went to
the door to look for him. and on COM
ing back to say that he had gone,
found that his friend had also slipped
out of the side door. The old gen.
tleman saw at once that he had been
swindled. His wife wanted him to
say nothing about it, preferring the
loss of the money to the ridicule, but
statement was made to the police,
and thus got into the papers with the
names, which | suppress. Such
swindles as this are of very common
occurrence here, so common, in fact,
that have already noted five in Il
single month without writing OF them,
but as the thing goes on constantly it
may be better to put simple men
upon their guard. Yet what can you
do with men so simple as these.