River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-06-29
A scheme That WouIdn't Work

The Newburyport Herald contains an
account of how prominent merchant
and bank director of Georgetown, whom
it designated as Mr.. K, successfully
"did" a couple of confidence men and
hlacklegs who attempted to "do" him
in Boston recently. Mr.. K. was in the
city on business, and made the ac-
quaintance of blackleg No. / through
the old game of pretended knowledge
of Mr.. K. and his friends, the would
be-swindler representing himself to be
a nephew of the cashier of the bank in
which the Georgetown gentleman is a
director. 1t was further stated by the
stranger that he was an agent of the
Florida Tea Company, and would al
low Mr.. *. a certain number of pounds
of tea if the latter would distribute a
quantity in Georgetown as samples.
The tea was kept, according to the
story, in large warehouse at the south
end. but, fortunately, the agent had a
few pounds in valise at saloon on
Beach street, whittier Mr.. X. consented
to 60, being hungry and about to pro-
cure his dinner. At the saloon, while
waiting for the dinner. they were ac-
costed by rough-looking man, who
asked about the tea in the storehouse,
and whom No. l introduced as one of
his employees.
Blackleg No. 2 Immediately began to
tell how he had been swindled out of
$50 by some frauds with whom he had
been playing "the old gall" "What do
you mean by that?" asked Mr.. K. "pll
show you what the game ISL said the
employee; 1--WE learned it well, al
though psidsS90 to do it," and pulling
three cards from his pocket, he exhib-
tied them to Mr.. K and the tea agent.
A floral bouquet was stamped on two
Of the cards, and on the other was en-
graved the picture of the cold gall"
"There, gentlemen, have bought the
stock in trade of those fellows, and
now I'll wager that can play the trick
as well as they did, will now shuttle
those cards and wager SO that neither
of you can pick out the sold gall" Mr..
K. stated that he was not in the habit
of betting. The tea agent, however,
said that he felt sure that he could Sc
lect the cold ga" and so he staked his
money three times in succession and
each time won, The employee then
arose and left them for few minutes,
during which time the tea agent urged
Mr.. K. very strongly to bet with the
man. Mr.. K. declined, however. and
now began to smell a rat. The en-
ploye returned, and again the tea
agent bet and won. He repeatedly
urged Mr.. X. to play, and Mr.. X. re-
~ao4oI1xx xoE.aoJ =, . II ~, 49, -, .,
he arose to depart. But the tea agent
interfered and said: "One moment,
Mr.. K, / have not shown you the tea
yet" and turning to his employee he
said: "James, bring out the largest can
of tea" James went into rear room
and brought out tin can and placed
it on the table. "Now Mr.. K, i want
you to smell of that tea, as it has the
finest flavor of any | have ever seen"
Mr.. X. began to smell ether, and
| thought the time for action had come,
and placing his hand in his pocket he
brought out seven shooter, and, run
ming it under the tea agents nose, said
Nov, sir, before | smell of the sponge
in that can you will be obliged to smell
the contents of this revolver, and
now propose to leave this place with
out interference. Good day, SIR" AS
he backed out of the door the tea
agent and his confederate sat as still as
the chairs they were in, well knowing
that Mr.. K. held better hand than
they. 1t is very evident that the black
legs had met Mr.. K. before, as the tea
agent talked Familiarity of the George.
town bank and bank officers.