Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-07-25
DIAMOND SWINDLERS.
New Method of Playing an Old Cameo
How the Operating Rings are Com.
posed, and the Extent of Their Dep.
radatians
New York Herald. July Il.


According to the detectives, there
was scattering of the birds in the
nests of the diamond swindlers yester-
day. For several days past they have
been nervous, but yesterday they be-
came thoroughly frightened, because
the published facts proved that there
was evidence not only that their opera
tons but their personality was known.
Two officers followed two of the women,
and will keep them in view until their
cases are fully prepared. Rogers and
Fay and the officers were busy all day,
and a consultation was held last night
to make arrangements for the struggle
in court to-day. The workings OF set
of diamond charmers," as they are
called, are described by an experienced
detective in the following terms:
A combination is first made, and it
will number all the way from five per-
sons to fifty, depending entirely on the
number of 'sales" they intend to make
together. This coalition must include
a good-looking, clever woman, man
who can cover up her movements, a
dealer in precious stones, landlord or
occupant of handsome house, and g
first-class party to give references if re-
quired. The arrangements of the peo-
pie complete, the Jewels by which the
trick is to be played are selected, shown
all round, and the sum It is intended to
charm out of the pockets of the mon
ey-burdened fool is agreed upon.
An announcement is then made in
one of the great channels ofpublic COM
munication to the effect that a lady
wants to borrow a sum Of money on Ter
diamonds for certain reasons, which, of,
course, are very probable and highly
plausible, and the result awaited. In
due course gentleman who has few
thousand at hand which he wants to
employ in safe and profitable way an
swers the advertisement. A day or two
is allowed to pass, so as not to seem to
be in hurry and make him little
anxious and doubtful as to whether
some other applicant for the loan on
the old family gems has not been more
fortunate than he. If more than one
answer is received each will be thor
oughly examined and the richest and
softest pigeon will be selected for pluck
ing. The lady then gets friend to an
swer the note and make an appoint
ment at the house which has been select
ed for the meeting. Sometimes a
very bold and cool-headed woman will
select respectable house, where the
inhabitants know nothing whatever Of
her, and, under some pretence, use the
place and escape, leaving wonderment
and mystery behind her, The woman
who transacts the transfer of the goods
to the imbecile purchaser rarely does
any of the writing, for fear of danger.
Then if she gets into trouble her hand
writing cannot convince her. 1t is al
ways important to keep the gentleman
waiting minute or two before the lady
appears. This gives him an opportun-
ity to become impressed by the elegant
fittings in the parlor and opens up an
opportunity for speculation rs to what
kind of person he is about to meet.
Presently there glides into the room
dignifed, stately woman, thick or
thin, as the case may be, who puts him
at ease with IL wave of her hand as she
seats herself opposite him, backing the
light Apologlzing for OBTAINING him,
or may be for her appearance, and Civ
ing touching excuse for the disorgan-
lied condition of her toilet she allows
him to breach the buiness. In reply
she explains, with notwithstanding
head and graceful arching of hand
some neck, that she has been widow a
couple Of years; that she was obliged to
hypothecate her diamond-old family
Jewels that had belonged to her mothers
grandma-to arrest the foreclosure of n
mortgage on her home. These priced
and ancient relics Of an old family were
in the hands of one of these soulless
men who knew nothing but despicable
money and who was charging her at
the rate Of 10 per cent. month for the
accommodation OF course she knew
nothing of such matters. But she
knew the little income Sue had to live
on was being swallowed up by the hard
hearted cormorant who held her dear
old grandma's priceless jewels, and she
must do something rather than lose
them. In the hope of finding n man
with balance at his bankers and n
moderate supply Of compassion in his
composition, who would be willing to
draw on both for an interesting widow,
left alone in the world and utterly un-
sophisticated, and who would take her
property, say ut half the interest-she
would be satisfied to pay half; yes. she
could get along with that-she would
be rendered completely happy. 1t
would be only for short time as she
had note on Goldbin a Silvereux, of
San Francisco, due in ninety days, for
Just the amount she desired to borrow
on the diamonds.
Naturally no man could be insensi-
bic to such proposal and such a story.
and an appointment is made at the
place where the diamonds,are to be.seen
Several days are again allowed to elapse
so that nothing may appear precipitate
and the dupe be given little chance TO
desire to close the bargain. The day
arrives and so does the gull. He is
shown the goods; the stony,souled re-
tainer Of them mutters something about
their enormous value and is very much
out of temper that they are to be taken
from him and given to some outsider.
If the gull should appear to doubt the
z A u. y.