The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-02-20
A swINpLER IN SILKS.

Philadelphia Record.


An sdroit feinse sh arper, with negro &C
complete, has been practicing decidedly
taking fraud, with considerable success, on
storekeepers in the city during tina past
three weeks. To what oxtent the couple
have carried their crimes is not known, but
three cases, showing the plan of operation,
have been made public. The woman dresses
ia the costliess attire, is rather small, slighlly
built and has the manners and carriage Of
one well bred. Her accomplish is q quiet,
we'll fed negro, who passes current rs her
ccachmsn, and plays his part with aattering
success.
The first reported appearance ofthis tricky
couple was two weeks ago, when the woman =
unaccompanied, entered the children's car,
rage store of M. d. Shill, No. 1929 Chest
nut street. She asked to be shown a coach,
and while looking over the stock gave the
proprietor TO understand that she Was Mrs
| Norris" and that her husband was engaged
| 10 the iron business in Richmond. She Sc
lected carriage, the price of which was $685.
and said she would call or eend for it the
next day, when the bill would be paid. Two
days after the colored man put Ia an appear
ance with note bearing tho printed aead:
-. p. Morris Company, Port Richmol4 Iron
Works, and read
M. ID. bIIlLL,
DELR SIE-Plesse give the bearer carriage
ordered by Mrs. Morris. Enclosed lind check
for $85. Acknowledge and oblige. Res.
pectfully, MRS. }. 2. MORRIS, JR.
The colored man said no had come to town.
in the Germantown carriage, but that the
axle had broken and that be was compelled
o come for the COaCh On foot. The article
was turned over to him, and the next day the
check was returned as worthless. When tho
letter head wss shown to Mr.. Morris Of Port
Rich mend, tina; gentleman satisfied Me- Sbill
th.t avery sharp female had s@indled him
The leter-bgad was nearly ~ fac smile Of
tina! in ule by tho firm, but the ililiala of Mr..
Morris are 81. T., and the trokster had en-
ployod the letters 80. T."
Some days later the came woman had on
leayofed TO obtain fur cape at store on
Arch street, above Eighth, bat failed.
On Saturday morning las. che trip d
| lightly up 10 tho velvet counter Of lie Boutil-
| Ter Br0lhers' store, $40 Chestnut street, and
selected several samples Of black silk velvet
and departed, saying she would make Sc
lection and return in the afternoon. AT
about o'clock the Lrusty negro put in an
appearance With letter, stating the sample
of goods required, and a check for
Sl65 80 TO moAt the cost The or
der was filed and the check
turned over TO Mr.. Robert Boutillier,
who, observing tbatil bora the signature of a
thoroughly reliable customer, took it for
granted that it Was all right and accepted it,
On reflection, however, he conrluded to do
liver the goods by one of his men, and so
Informed the negro, who departed. The
address given was house on Broad street,
below spruce. When the store attendant
reached the residence he found tho coored
man waiting for him, and apparently about
entering tina house. He told the porter he
would relieve him of the package, and the
goods were TUNED over TO him. That Night
lhe check VAS found TO be worthless, and
inquiry at the house on Broad street dis
closed the fact that no such woman lived
| there