Daily Republican., 1881-11-30
Clever Swine dies.

The professional swindler banks upol
the average credality Of mankind, ant
to that extent he is close student o
human nature. The average credul'tJ
of mankind constitutes bank accouD
that cannot be overdrawn. But tht
Professional swndler is also a mar
OF great re,ources, the weaknesses OF
human nature being his capital in trade
H. some lines makes a mistake, but
not otleo. II the subject happens tc
be an opulent farmer, the swipdier nev-
er appeals to him with art triumpbs to
induce him to relax his purse strings or
to leud his check. He either invites
him to inspect horses or wagons Cn sale,
gains his confidence by appearing to
defend him against sharpers, aud If the
countryman is net in a buying mood,
induces him to cash worthless check.
1t is not every contiiing ,couutryman
who can be thus deluded to his own
damage, but the number who can b.
"pulled in" in this way is by no means
small.
Most men of the world are acquainted
with the tricks of professional swind-
lers, and at first glance such men would
not appear to afford a promising deld
for swindling operations. 1t is a fac
however that some Of the mott clever
tricks of the miserable business ere
done in that field as some Whining
tcnians can testify. 1t is not perhaps to
the discredit of any man that be is dis
posed at first sight to take a man for
what he appears 30 be. 1t goes to prove
that he himself intends to pass for
what he is, and not for what he might
pretend t, be. But it sometimes puts
gentlemen of a Contiding disposition 20
great il conv nience 10 accept strangers
at their own valuation. Some things
conform to tie proprieties while others
do not. For example, were the Sons of
well known business men to 60 about
offering their services as chaperons,
such vocation would hardly conform
to the proprieries, and such fact would
at once arouse suspicion. 1t may be
assumed that gentlemen Of respectable
leisure do not engage In tina; sort OF
business.
The robbery of a passenger On WeS-
tern train the other day is another il
lustration Of clever swinding. The
victim had several thousands of dol
lars Sewed up in a belt secured around
his body. Two "fashy" young men
sat near him. They had bottle of
wine of which the innocent traveller
was invited 10 partake, an invitation
which he foolishly accepted aud soon
became drowsy. One of the good ma
ttured young men then saturated a
handkerchief with chloroform and ap.
piled it to his nose. The victim became
duly insensihle and there was nothing
in the world more natural than tha'
the young men should take their friend
out on the platform to revive him. The
drugged victim was brought back to
his seat, but when he came to himself,
his telt and cash were missing. As a
coincidence he found that the young
men We're also missing, their journey
having terminated two or three stations
farther back On the road. Now what is
the supposition? Certainly not that
host. The wine was a mere matter Of
experiment and wa. offered to the man
OF cash as a feeler. Even if he refuse!
it he could take no offence and the
young men could have made polite
and ample apology. The man of cash
took he wine and the robbers at once
knew their man and knew they had
hl1n safe. The rest Was very easy, A
man who drinks with strangers must
take the consequences. He cannot eX-
pect sympathy if his foolish couduct is
known, from men who observe the pro
prietie,. There can be no raj way car
intimacias with strangers. There may
be free conversation, brt nothing more.
The lesson is principally to men who
travel. Keep yourselves TO yonr,elve 5
is the la Of the road and cf the hotel