Morning journal and courier., 1884-04-14
The Work of a swindler.

l Grocery AIerchants Cashing Bogus Checks-A New Game AdrOftIy Played. On Saturday about 2:3O p. Alexander Jacobs. young lad employed in the CoUR- TER office, was passing the corner of George and College streets when he was accosted by l . well dressed man who asked him if he would do an errand for him. Young Jacobs told 1 him he would and asked him what he wanted 1 him to do. The stranger said: 1T want you | to take this note to Hurlburt's grocery, cor | ner of Chapel and High streets, and say that Mrs. Fl. Mason, of 14 College street, sent you | with it. "The boy went as directed and handed ! the letter to Mir. Hurlburt. The envelope contained check drawn on the National Broadway bank of New York for $50, paya- 1 bIe to Mrs. H. Mason, and was signed Ed ward Morgan. The note purporting to be | from Mrs. Mason, and which was written in 1 lady's hand, was as follows:
 14 COLLEGE STREET.
 Win you please obligs me by cashIng enclosed check as should like to use the money this after Mir. Hurlburt opened the letter and promptly told his bookkeeper to cash the check. The money wac placed in an envelope
 
 Hurlburt says, to hand 1t te Mrs. Mason The boy says that he described the man to Mir. Hurlburt, who thought the man was Mr. Mason and he said that is all right The young man says that he surmised something was wrong aad went directly to Mrs. Ma l sons residence. She informed him that she had sent no check 10 MT. Hurlburt's to be cashed and was greatly Surprised. She then went to the store with Jacobs when nasty explanations were made. Jacobs thea went back and found the man, who was waiting, and told him the money would be sent to him. The fellow turned red in the face walked rapidly down College street to George street. up George to Broad where he was lost sight of.
 Last evening similar swindle came to light and 1t vas perpetrated by the same party. L. D. Chidsey of the firm of l., D. Chidsey & Co.,, grocers at No. Church street, was the victim. MT. Chidsey was more un- fortunate than Mir. EHurlburt. He was behind his counter on Saturday afternoon busiIy engaged in waiting upon customers, when 8 small boy entered and handed the proprietor a sealed envelope. He opened it and found the following written in a lady's hand, in violet ink.
 No S5 COLLEGE STREET.
 MR CH1DsEY.-Win you please obliga me by cash ing the incosed check as wish to use the money meet small bill?
 MRS. M. c. swEzEY
 The check enclosed was dated April 12, 1884, and WAS drawn on the New Haven Ma tionaI bank, the amount of the check being S3O and signed William H. Merritt
 Mr Cbidssy looked in the cash drawer nearest to where he was standing but did not see as much money in the till and was about to send back word that he could not cash the check He looked in another drawer, how ever, and finding that the clerks had taken in some $5 and $10 bills he counted out the money and gave it to the boy, who departed in 8 hurry. When Mir. Chidsey learned yesterday that Mr. HurlburE had been imposed upon he at once commenced an investigation regarding his own check and on calling at the house of Mrs. SWezey he heard that he had also been made ia victim of misplaced conf dence." Mir. Chidsey consoles himself with the fact that it was his money that he was sEindled out of and says there is no need of sympa- thy on the part of his friends. His only wish is that he could meet the man who put up the job on him and he would try and get even without resorting to the courts.
 It is likely that others in the city have been swindled in the same manner, Although their names have not come to light at the present writing.
 It is thought that there were 8 man and woman engaged in the swindling game. The grocers' wagons were probably watched ss they stopped in front of residences and when there were door plates the names were taken down and the name of the grocer was taken l from the wagon and then followed the funny work The swindlers have no doubt left the | city and will probably be heard from in other 1 places at an early day.