The New York herald., 1879-07-14
DIAMOND SWINDLERS.

NEW METHOD OF PLAYING AN OLD GAME-Ho"
THE OPERATING RINGS ARE COMPOSED AND
THE EXTENT OF THEIR DEPREDArioNs
According to the detectives there a scattering
or the birds in the nests of the diamond swindlers
yesterday. For several days past they have been
nervous. but yesterday they became thoroughly
frightened because tine pubsh facts proved there
was evidence not only that their operations but
their personality known. Two officers fol.
lowed two of the women and will keep them in view
until their fully prepared. Rogers and
Fay and the officers busy all day.
and consultation held last night
to make arrangements for the struggle in court to-
day. The workings of set of diamond charm
ers. as they are called described by expert
enced detective in the following terms:-
combination is first made, and it will number
all the way from five persons to fifty. depending
tirely on the number of ''sales" they intend to
make together. This coalition must include q good
looking, clever woman, a who up
her movements. dealer in precious stones, land
lord or occupant of handsome house and first
class party to give references il required. The
rangements of the people complete. the jewels by
which the trick is to be played selected, shown
all round and the sum it is intended to charm out
of the pockets OF the money burdened fool agreed
upon.
DONE
An announcement is then made in one of the great
channels of public comm unicaton to the effect that
a lady wants to borrow sum Of money her dia-
monds for certain reasons, which, of course. are
very probable and highly plausible, and the result
awaited. In due course gentleman who has lew
thousands at hand which he wants to employ in
safe and profitable way answers the advertisement.
day or two is allowed to pass. not to seem
to be in a hurry and make him a little anxious and
doubtful as to whether some other applicant tor the
loan the old family gems has not been more
fortunate than he II more than one answer is re-
ceived each will be thoroughly examined and the
richest and sofest pigeon will be selected for pluckng
The lady then gets q friend to answer the note aud
make an appointment at the house which has been
selected tor the meeting. Sometimes very bold
and cool headed woman will select a respectable
house, where the Inhabitants know nothing what
ever 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 imbecle purchaser rarely does
gets into trouble her handwriting cannot convict
her. 1t is always important to keep the gentleman
waiting minute or two before the lady appears
This gives him an opportunity to become impressed
by the elegant fittings in the parlor and opens up an
opportunity for speculation as to what kind of per-
son he is about to met.
A PLAUSIBLE YARN.
Presently there gGes into the room dignifed.
stately woman, thick or thin. as the case may be.
who puts him at with a wave of her hand as
she seats herself opposite him, backing the light.
Apologizng for OBTAINING him, may be for her ap-
pearance and giving touching excuse for the dis
organized condition OF her toilet she allows him to
brooch the business. In reply explains, with q
modestly bending head and graceful arching o
handsome neck. that she has been widow a couple
of years; that she was obliged to hypothecate her
damonds-old family jewels that had be-
longed to her mothers grandma-to arrest
the foreclosure OF mortgage her home.
These priced and ancient relics of an old
family were in the hands of of these soulless
men who knew nothing but despicable money and
who was charging her ut the rate Of ten per cent
month for the accommo odation. or course she knew
nothing Of such matters. But she knew the little in
come she had to live was being swallowed up by
&ha r1 A1 ant ~ut,, h.11 has 1AoN
old grandnna's priceless jewels. and she must do
something rather than lose them. In the hope Of
moderate supply Of compassion in his composition.
who would be willing to draw both
a the wers and utterly
and who would take her property. at say half the
interest-she would be satisfied to pay half; yes.
she could get along with that-she would be rem
dered completely happy. 1t would De only for
short time-as she had note Goldbin & silvereux
OF San Francisco. due in ninety days. tor just the
amount she desired to borrow on the diamonds.
THE TRAP.
Naturally man could be insensible to such
proposal and such q story and an appointment is
made at the place where the diamonds to be
Several days are again allowed to elapse SO that moth
ing may appear precipitate and the dupe be given
little chance to desire to close the bar
gain. The day arrives and SO does the gull. He is
mutters something about their enormous value aud
is much out of temper that they to be taken
from him and given to some outsider. II the gull
should appear to doubt the value of the jewels or
manifest y wish to have them valued he is desired
to do "lou might take this gentlemans clerk
suggests the lady. land 90 somewhere to see how
much they would give you tor them" The stony
hearted growls. but assents. When they gain the
the question arises whore they shall go have
the diamonds estimated. The clerk surely knows the
best place and lie takes the customer to the refer
This latter member of the ring not partic-
ularly anxious to take anything Of such value just
ut that moment, but as the gentleman is persist
ent he offers within couple of hundred dollars OF
what is demanded ut the other end of the line.
Completely convinced the diamonds are more than
worth three times what he is asked the gull hurries
back to the disconsolate widow and the surly stony.
hearted ogre in whose charge she has been left
1t does not take many minutes tor the
transfer of the diamonds and the often
earned thousands. and frequently
far less for the susceptible fool to discover that his
FEELINGS have been worked up and his pockets rifed
by accomplished rogues, whose dupe he readily be-
came. He frequently endeavors to get back some OF
his money, but IL he have family or belong to
some calling profession to which exposure would
add disgrace and ruin, they frighten him. and he
rushes away with heavy heart and hides his folly
from the world. As the operations demand the ring
Is enlarged, and often becomes extensive to
c!ude men prominently before the public, but never
less with the secret strings OF connection with law
less people. Not long since notorious woman wanted
a mans ion in q certain locality and found it diff
cult to get a the landlord because of the reference
wanted. She to the church of . famous
pre-cher in the neighborhood. attended service
regularly, gave generously at collections and to the
clergy man 8 family and became prominent in the
congregation When all was ripe she told them she
wanted house the church; the minister
pointed lout this very residence, took her to the
for term of years, and, like many another good
who has been taken III, has continued to regret
1t since.