Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-01
The shawl sWindio.


Phi!adelnhia Times.
A swindle which was successfully
practiced here q few years ago has
made its appearance in New York,
and before long the police authorities
of this city will doubtless receive the
complaints of victimized citizens. 1t
is known as the ''bogus sailor" or
'"shawl swindle," and as it appeals di-
rectly to the cupidity of human nat
ure it has generally proved highly re-
munerative to the operators and, just
the reverse to those who swallowed
the tempting bait. The manner in
which it is worked is rs follows Dur
ing the morning, when the male
members Of the family are generally
engaged in business and away from
home, the lady of the house receives,
word that there is strange man, who
looks like sailor, wishes to see her
and will tell his errand to no one else.
She goes down stairs and finds q
stranger, dressed in blue clothes, with
q sailor shirt and a glazed cap, who
bears in his arms bundle wrapped III
tarpaulin.
He gazes around mysteriously, as if
to make sure that no one can overhear
him. and finally says that he has just
arrived off of lorg voyage from
India and has a couple of cashmere
shaWls that he bought IN Calcutta for
his wife. The latter thinks they are
too fine for her humble circumstances
and as they never paid any duty he
Will dispose of them "dirt cheap"
The rascal is generally man with
an extremely glib tongue, and his
seni-contidential manner of stating
that he smuggled the goods nearly
always deceives his hearer. He rap
idly unrolls his bundle and discloses
the shawls, which, sure enough, look
like genuine cashmeres. AS he sees
that they have produced an impression
upon the lady, he grows more volublc
and confidential, "Them shaWls," he
observes, s'is worth a cool 925, or 1925,
apiece, at any first-class store in Lon
don, for they amt never brought to
this country Of that ERE fine quality.
They're sight too fine fur my old
woman, and as it's no object to me to
keep 'em, you can have 'em fur $25
apiece, mum. Now to make sure [
amt cheating you, here's the little
tab with the makers name on i'll fur
rim letters. amt no scholar myself,
mum, Pm only poor sailor; but Pve
no doubt lady like you kin read it."
This little fattery frequently has
the desired effect, and the lady gazes
at the little card attached to the shawl
upon which are the supposititious
Ilindustanee characteristics giving the
name of the maker as if she could read
it. If she is of all economical turn of
mind she will haggle over the price
and offer $40 for the two, knowing
that sister Jane or cousin Sue is just
diving to get real cashmere, and
thinking that she can easily dispose
of one of them to her for the price she
paid for both. She hesitates the
''sailor," who is watching her keenly
out of one corner of his eye, observes
it and redoubles his persuasion with
affected frankness. Then he goes Oh
to say:
"Well, mum, if you don't want the
shaWls l won't take up your time no
more. If them wasn't Struggled goods
| could go right down to Chestnut
street and sell 'em at any store for So
each. But of course L can't do that
ere, so if you say no think I'll try
the lady in the big brownstone house
across the street."
That generally settles the matter;
the idea of the odious Mrs. Smith get
tinr possession of one of those fire
s..awIs. while she throws away the
opportunity is too much for her. 1t
seems like good deal Of money TO be
sure, but then if her husband objects
she comforts herself with the assur-
ance that she can sell them for more
than she paid Tor them. The bargain
is quickly struck and she takes beth
shawls, while the humble ''saiior"
backs out of the house and makes oil
very rapidly, $1,000 ahead on his ILL.,
tie trade.