New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-17
LIVING BY THEIR WITS.
METHODS or CITY swINDLEEs.


neiebhorhool, and many persons have ex
messed hopes that the publicity given to
fine operations OF tho thieves would hc
the means OF driving them to other places.
81 know the gang very weli," said Coroner Knox in
talking with a TRIBUNE rcpor or On SATURDAY ANA
don't see why they are rot broken up. SEE them
about here every day. WHY. there hey are now"
The Coroner put On his god-rimmed spectaccs
and eazcd across the street. Leaning on the IRON
chains that lrround tbs grass plots Of the City han
Park were four men. Two OF the carried
silk umbrellas to protect them from tho
RAYS of the sun From their po-ition.
which was just ia front Of tho REGISTERS
Office the men could watch the crowds that moved
along the sidewalk before the Coroners OLico or
gathered abont the bulletin boards Of the nows-
papers They wero well dressed. One was well
built about forty years Of age. with heavy brown
chin-whiskcrs. Another was bout siAty years old,
and wore thick gray moustachc and carried a
cane He limpcd SLIGHTLY. Another was dapper
Young man of ahou twenty years Of age, with
raki.h look. The fourth member Of tho gang vas
tall and Greet. with dark moustaoho aud mole on
the left side Of his face.
,aptair Learv, of The City Fan Police, was asked
if he knew the men.
II don't know their names" sa'd The captain
"but their faces are familiar TO me. They are
new gang vho have come in here and axe the
park and Printing House Square their base Of op-
erations We cart catch them nj their tricks: and
we can't stop them coming here. But we know
their faces well"
Further inquiry showed that tho men were
kn 1wn TO many pei about the City Hall. There
are six Of them and every Gav they can be seen sit
ting on the ron chains in front Of the R"giSters
Office That hey have .2ood room 70 onr.,i or
bu just where it is the police Of the Fourth Pr;
cinci profess not to know. Between CITY Hall
square and the East River are many lgrge buildings
and lodging hons 5. hOneycombed with litlo rooms
ana olces where can &c carried sa On IN IN
winch ms system OF s"lhNhg Is ctIItu IN l i lo
city can he formed from the fact that about 100
men, the most OF whom are well known 10 the
police, make their living at it. From man
who is we'll Informed the ways and
methods of these t.iicves the reporter gained
many interesting facts. Thev operate along Broad
way from Ihrty-fourih-st. to CITY Ball Square.
The latter place was al one time the favorlte ron
devious Tor these men. Ahoui year ago the poHce
succeeded III breaking up the gang there and driving
hem away. Some went mp town, ana Others moVci
to distant cities, where they were rot 20 well
known. City Hall Square was temporarily re-
lieved of them. This year, however. there have
moved into il the new gang who are men
toned above They had bad lack at The start,
and their leader, Ike" Vail, one Of the
cevcresU "banco sreerer," In the country, was
caught IN April and brought to trial. Vail pleaded
guilty Of petty larceny, aud the Justice gave hlm
the extreme penalty, one year III tue Penlentary
on backweipss Island. But the thieves were
not discouraged and they did not leave the square
a
been success III there.
Another noIed resort for these thieves is the bar
room OF "Shdngp Draper the bank bur%ar, IN
SIXtl-aVe., near Twcnty-slXth-st. Here are 10 be
seen not only the Oid-timcrs," but many new
faces as well. Among the fraternity are - Joe
Bond, alias Paper Collar joe" Cap - Taylor
- George" Warren, IIbDitts and Ihompson the
gold bar swindlers and Grand Central Pete" So
called from the station which he most h0norS with
A Ual fyom pistol broke up a band of three OF
these luen, no, making broadway, between the
4 istr fI-Ef hHr
headquarters, Operated win tlSha success
ana dced tine efforts OF the pO-
ice to arrest tn IN. The 'ealer OF this gang was
Charley" Miller. Last winter he WAS hot and
killed IN Dick " Darlmg's bar-ro IN. ~ Broadway,
By lracy, the gambler This broke uD the gang,
and MIXERS tWo pals" the Doctor amt
tney are working" saratoga, Another
noted monte swindier was zoe" Howe The
civ Hal Square his place OF
business and here NJ drove "A thrifty trade lie had
an office ia COR, andt-s. and pretended 70 be real
estate broker. lie kept III ia, employment three
professional stcerrrs," whose duty 1t Vas to rope
III the unsophI III .lred coultryman who mignt
have farm to sell or buy and 10 steer him
into "JOGs" oIice. one face that Is
missed from his o.d haunt about ,hIng
IL lapers IL that of " Ed Fitzgerald.
he was the pride of the banco msn and could dis
cuss paintings like cOnuolsseur. TN an uAlucky
moment, lac " stored the distinguished Sia'sd-
Chusrtts statesman, na1l,S Francs oddlhs mo
Boston ga ue," and Ia consequence now lodges
aud Is boarded al 10 cost to himself IN 'hr > ate
Prison at Concord. Ihls Is the most famous eN-
poit OF the banco men on record and VIII doubtless
20 "tluuucrIng down the ages year ago noted
game was carried on Ia Ann-st. near broadway.
Inc police assert confidently trdt thoy have
brOkcn MS up, aud also one thlL hodrlshcd III Cly
lial.-placc.
30 numerous aid tins class uf thieves become and
50 many people were robbed by then that at one
time Il detective was aoslgned from Police Head
quarters 10 do 10. mnS out Waich Tie conn
ucnce Tins detective was Tor some
reason Withdrawn FROM tins work last VIII er,
and IT is conceded that the recent lnndX OF steer
ers iutO tho cay Is the Jesuit OF this relaxed vigil
lance the part OF the police. J IA dcy ceS mi
PIC, ed 10 rope III" tnelr victims are nunOeIless
Ine wOr. IN gang. Stcercr No. NEE t. his
HAD III the street, giasps hIs hand anu eAcainlS:
why, Mt jenkins, now are youF
" Ny name Is nOt jenkins"
" Are SOd not Nj. JcnAins, OF ChautauquaT
" No, am Nh. Jones, Oi Rochester"
The thief Degs a Thousand pardons ana hastens to
communicate to Stecrer No. the victims uame
No. = meets the ana says Win much cordially.
why, Alr. Jones, how aIe you how are the
FOLKS i'll ROcAoster
name OF a OaIa president OF casnlef Iii Rochester,
passes himself OF ~ MS son just returned IRON
Europe. He invites Jones 10 take Il drnA IA neigh-
boIiug bar-iCOnl. hl!c the two ar hoDhoDblng
sieeIeT' No. 3 enteTs upon The scene, Talk ing
loudly of having been swlndIed out ol hundreds ol
dollars.
Inns is che way it was DONE" h eXclaims, and
throws down th,ce cards and explains the game
Two the cards are blank, ana one las the picture
OF BABY Oh 1t. ,,,
says.
Jones, through curiosity picks out the baby
several times. lie inlnks he Is III luck,
ana Is easily inyeiged INTO deh where
he marriages To lose Ills ready cash
and III Instances an amount IN checks Ia
vain cnucaVOr to PICK out the DaDy. Ihls ~ the
- monte game" bdnco cOtn has gilt squares AZ
on II NUMBERED, and different figures upon each
number. one square is blank. 1t Is call No. IS.
nc victim draws the nun Ocfs from pack VI Us,
and wncn, by varying success, he has been lu-
GuccQ to place ali ns money upon the table,
he Is sure 10 draw No. -, and thereby
hal ri # I'M In 4uI In Ipg
lmInIg grants often swlnded by these men under
the gulse of money cha ayers. Ih"y worm them
serves INTO the confidence OF rural merchants as
urunmerS They have IN their employ iaWl els WHO
nrgO. late their checks Tor them. a threat Ol eX-
pOsuIe generally does the worn on the nerves OF "a
country lyman Of family aud st4nding. a lew years
Ll..D