The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-07-13
swINDLERS OUTMITTED.
Cases in which the bitter Un. co, m,


up the wrong man, and instead of
swindling him gets the worst of the
game himself, as the few instances
given below will show.
The neighborhood Of the Astor house
and the City Hall park is favorite re-
sort for these crooks" owing to the
proximity of the Jersey ferries. Not
long since gentlemen was noticed by
one of the fraternity of swindlers cross.
ing the park, and, as he stopped to in.
spect the architectural mopstrosities OF
the postoffice, the operator approached
him and said:
"Can be mistaken Is not this Mr..
Edwards, OF Boston p ''No, sir am
not" was the reply" "My name is An.
drews, I'm from Chicago" The opertor
begged his pardon. The likeness to
his friend Mr.. Edwards, of Boston, was
SO remarkable it misled him, and he
withdrew. The gentleman had hardly
gone fifty feet from the spot where he
had been accosted when a we'll dressed
man of perhaps thirty. five slapped him
on the back and said: "Why, An
drews, old boy, how are youp What
IRE you doing SO far East as this How
are all the boys in Chicago? Come in
and have drink and tell me the news p
Mr.. Andrews accepted the invitation,
and bottle after bottle of champagne
was ordered and drunk, always at the
expense of the operator. Mr.. Andrews
explained that he had only about $40
in his pocket and check for So, 500
that he was going TO cash at the bank
the next morning. This he showed his
friend, and the sioht of that and the
diamond studs and gold watch and
chain he wore were enough to make the
''crook" determine to "play" him. Mr..
Andrews diued with his "old friend"
went to the theatre and then on spree
all over the city, the friend paying all
expenses, and at 4 o'clock in the morn.
ing they parted, after Mr.. Andrews had
made an engagement to meet his com.
panion at 9:45 the next morning and go
to the bank, get the check csshe and
then town the town." AS he stepped
into the hack the "crook" called and
paid for, he said feeling in his pockets
" By the way, some one in the last dive
must have picked my pocket of that $40
bill, Lend me $50 till morning, as
haven't cent in my pocket" "Cer-
tainly, here it is. Remember 9:45 to.
morrow. or, rather to-day, sharp. Good.
night"
Mr.. Andrews has not yet shown up
He has probably returned to New Or
leans, where, under his own name, he
runs very popular and well-paying
faro bank.
P. 7. Barnum was picked up n few
weeks ago at the corner of Fifth ave.
nue. and Twenty. third street by gen.
tleman who insisted that he knew him,
and that his name was Robinson and
came from Scranton, Pa. 1t vas not
till Mr.. Barnum had convinced him
that he was from Bridgeport, Conn,
that he was induced to depart.
Not long since a man, loosely put to-
gether, and wearing clothes that didnot
fit him particularly well, so that he
looked like well-to-do farmer, was
saunterirg down the Bowery, when he
was accosted by man who claimed to
know him we'll and treated him to
drink for old acquaintance sake. Then
q visit was proposed to one of the many
side.shows, where a gambling establish.
ment is the "raison d. etre." Both men
joined in game known as the "en-
yelope game" and the countryman won
some four dollars. The dealer thought he
had encouraged him sufficiently, and be
gan to win back from him. The supposed
countryman stopped playing and pock-
eted what was left OF the winnings. The
proprietor tried to persuade him to con-
tipua ,,1avioo, opd ba fpoIlv oopcaoLoJ
saying, Il guess 1 will, but we will ad-
iourn to police headquarters for the
continuation, SO as to give the superin.
tendent and commissioners chance
Then throwing open his coat, he showed
his credentials as central Office de-
tective, and took the implements of the
game as we'll as the dealer, the pro-
prietor aud the "capper " to the station
house.
A we'll known club,man in the city
was approached by one of these opera
tors on Fourth avenue, near Twenty
sixth street, one morning as he got of
the street-car. "My name is not John
son." said the intended victim, and
then added: ats Thompson, aud ]
don't come from Flushing, l.. J., but
from Kingston, Ulster county, n. Y"
The operator of course begged his par.
don and departed But as the gentle,
man from "up the river neared the
fountain in the center of Madison square
on his way to his club contidence-man
No. 2, partner of No. l, met him and
said: Well, Thompson, upon my soul
I'm glad to see you! How's all the
folks up i'll Kingston?"
They're pooty WELL How's your
folks?n
"Good, thank you; what's the news
up in Ulster county?'
Well, there amt much news, 'cept
I've been Citing married lately and
here deep blush and a genial smile
spread over the elderly gentlemsn's
lace.
"You don't mean it; who did you
Little Katy; you know she lived two
houses below the hot"
"Why, certainly knew her; lived
ust below the hotel. So you married
little Katy? ?"
"Do you know my little Katy, my little
girl, my dear little wife ?" said the in
;ended prey, as though delighted at
Meeting some one who knew his be-
owed Katy. Then encirling the opera
or with his arms, and getting grip
With his right hand on his left wrist,
le began to hug the slim figure of the
crook" with the vigor of polar
,ear, at the same time expector-
ting a miniature Niagara of to-
,aoco-juice over the expanse of