National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-24
CHEEKY CONFIDENCE CHAPS,
They Rob a HAN and then Play . Joke
ON Him.


He came up from South Carolina to
take in the Capital and was himself taken in. The
gentleman referred TO is Mr.. J. W. Copeland, Of
Clinton, S. C. Yesterday he sIrolling about
the city, and when near the Washington Monu-
mentwas addressed by natty looking young man,
| who called him by name and inquired how the
folks in Clinton were. Mr. Copeland could not
remember having seen him before, and expressed
his surprise at meeting any one who knew him.
His new found friend, Mr.. Judd however, appeared
to know him well that he concluded that IL was
some one he had known and forgotten. MI. Judd
was very friendly, and offering to show Mr.. Cope
land about the city, took him in tow. Mr..
Judd conducted Mr.. Copeland 10 house
on Tenth street. north of the Avenue, Just oppo-
site the Fifth Precinct Police Station, embellished
on the outside by card announcing d" Furnished
Rooms for Rent The pair entered and found
little game--a sort of cross between three-card
monte and bEnko over which another natty-look-
| ing young man presided-in progress. The game
consisted of betting on cOlors. There were two
colors, red and blue, and cards bearing these
cOorS were turned out like cards are dealed Ill
| faro. The game was very simple, and the player
appeared 10 have good chance of winning. Mr..
Judd. who seemed familiar with the game, played
and won. Then Mr. Copeland was Induced to
play. Mr.. Judd kept winning and Mr.. Copeland,
who was playing on the blue, kept losing. Mr..
Judd, as he gathered in the greenbacks, thrust
them into large Adams express Office
envelope, which he displayed ostentatiously.
Mr.. Copeland lost all the money he had,
amounting to $500 Then, in desperation, he
staked his gold watch and chain against $50. The
blue lost, the gay gambler raked in the
watch, and Mr.. Copeland rose bluer but wiser
| man. Here Mr.. Judd showed up in the role Of a
| magnanimous friend. al have been winner" he
sell nd fI,a NJ inc
into this game and getting scooped.
Twin return you the money you have lost from
my winnings" Carrying out this kind offer, Mr..
Judd accompanied Mr.. Copeland to his hotel.
Here he handed him the big envelope, supposed
to be filled with Mr.. Copelands greenbacks, and
disappeared. Mr.. Copeland congratulated him
self that the only loss that he had suffered was the
loss of his watch. and as ne ripped open the en-
velope he called down blessings upon the
head of good Mr.. Judd. A glance into the
| envelope showed that he had been grossly
swindled by his good friend. 1t contained what
detectives call doodle "a roll of valuelc:s
paper. Woeful Mr. Copeland took out the several
pieces Of newspaper, and down at the bottom
found sealed note, on the back Of which were
written the words, Ny friend, please read the in
closed slip and profit by it" Mr.. Copeland me-
chemically opened the envelope, and found cut
ting from st. Louis paper. It told of
the misfortunes of green Missouri
preacher who had fallen into the hands of
"bunko" men and left town S124 poorer than he
entered it. This was the comfort that Mr.. Cope
land found in the note. Thus he was informed
that he was not the only man who had suffered,
but even ministers Of the gospel had been en-
trapped just as he had been entrapped Mr.. Cope
land, however, refused to thus be cOmforted, and
applied to Police Headquarters last evening for re-
lief. The det ectives are now giving the matter
their consideration