Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-01-29
TRICKS OF CITY SWIM
Oilers.


Greenhorns are Fleeced----The
Thousand and One Traps and Pit
falls Set by the Rogues' Guild.
New York Star.
"Who is that affabIe young
stranger?" inquired a gentleman
who was leaning against the bar
of a saloon in Union Square,
pointing to the vanishing figure
of a customer.
"Oh, that's Jim Winter, alias
Snug a professional swindler," :"
replied the bar tender.
"Why, Pve been drinking
with him two hours, and | never
met more gentlemanly fellow
in my life. You must be mista-
ken!"
The dispenser of liquors as
sured his customer that he was
not; that the youth never did an
honest days work, and that he
never would so long as he could
supply his pocket-book with
plenty of cash by fleeing other
people.
A reporter, happening TO be
present, inquired the particular
nature of the young mans oper-
ations. II must refer you," said
the chef de potu, ''to yonder
gentleman in the corner. He is
Detective Bissett, and 1 Judge
from his presence here that he
has the glib stranger in tow"
Detective Bissett expressed his
willingness to enlighten the
public about "Snug's" exploits.
"The last swindle in which this
man and confederate were en-
gagged" he began, "was carried
out only a few days ago. The
police have no evidence upon
which to base an arrest just
now, but Snug is morally cer.H
tain to put his foot in it in time
to come, when this will all tell
against him."
"What is his game?"
"The upper grade of conf
dence business, but he is equal
ly at home selling bogus mining
shares on Wall street or drug
ging countrymen whom he picks
up in the hotels. Last week he
appears to have been pushed for
money. lie dressed up as
well-to-do German immigrant,
strapped a belt around his wool
en- blouse, and wore a bright
wig which shone with true Teu-
tonic lustcr beneath soft black
hat. A pal named Williams
dressed up as gentleman of
leisure and accompanied him to
the East Side. Their game was
what is known as German rack
et,' a difficult undertaking at
best, and one requiring an inti-
mate knowledge Of the German
language. At the head Of Riv-
ington street they separated.
Williams proceeded to a lager
beer saloon, called for a drink
and engaged the proprietor in
conversation. His perfect dia-
lect delighted the beer eender.
An interchange of confi1cnces
followed, Williams taking pains
to inform his friend that he was
a jeweler by occupation.
"Afler treating several times
the affable jeweler rose to takel
his leave, when the Immigrant
just then rushed in, and with
an anxious face inquired for
certain Herr Schmitt. The pro-
prietor declared that no such
person lived there. 'He must
live somewhere about here,' de-
clared the German, for he is
mein uncle, and | must see him
to get my tings out of the Gus
tom house. Can't you tell me
where | may find him?" Fail
ing to ascertain his uncle's
whereabouts, he begged the two
gentlemen to suggest some
means of getting his trunks and
the money contained in them
ont of the hands of the revenue
officers. 1t was approaching
three o'clock, he added, after
which hour his belongings
would be removed to the ware
house.
"'Oh, get out of here! ex-
claimed the assumed jeweler,
impatiently; do you expect us
to give yor money to get you
ont of your troubles. Here's
quarter and begoneP
J. "This was apparently too
much for the dignity of the
'greenie,' for he flung the coin
and uttered an angry exclamation
to the effect that he was no beg
gar. When it came to that, he
said, turning to the proprietor
and displaying a handsome gold
watch, he could raise money in
an honorable, independent way.
| The proprietor took the gem in
hand, while the immigrant de-
, clared that nothing but the
: pressing circumstances under
which he found himself would
. induce him, &c. The jeweler
stepped up, with an exclamation