Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-02

efforts OF all good citizens to check, and,
II possible, cure it. Now, believing that
the time has come when we should use all
lawful Tacans for stopping this great evil in
our city, and seeing from article 447 in the
laws regulating the city OF Athens, that the
Mayor and Council have fun power over this
fearful and growing evil, we. therefore, ap-
peal TO the incoming Mayor and Council of
said city to take action in this matter. so as to
save our wives and chill 'ren and fellow citi-
zens from this great evil. A few former grand
3urles made the request OF our Ordinary that
ne issue no more licenses to retail spirituOus
liquors, and we are glad TO say that there is
not retail liquor shop outside the city of
Athens IN this county Now, why not our
city fathers grant US the same favor, which
we earnestly and humbly requestg
At Atlanta saturday a man entered Jew
elry store aud said that he had some gold he
wanted TO sell. He drew from his pocket a
package. around which a handkerchief was =.
tied. The handkerchief was new linen with
a peculiar border. and when the jeweer
opened i he found that the package was still
wrapped IN white paper. This he removed,
ana then his eyes were resting upon ten
ounces of gold foil. The foil was pat up in
regular style, and from it the jeweler took
lear, which he melted and subjected to every
test. The test demonstrated that gold
was worth 900. The stranger wanted only
500 for It. The jeweleF was inclined to
be suspicious, and offered SIS. The man re
piled that the gold was not his own, but be-
lOnged 10 friend at the hotel who had IN
struCted him not to take less than SlO0. He
said that he would 90 and see what his friend
said and return. As he was about
leaving the store the jeweler repeated the
the temptation. "Wen, | don't care" said
the man. 81 need the money. Take the metal
and give the money" As he said this he
threw a bundle on the counter. The gentle
man who was purchasing picked it up and
set lt behind the counter without Ope2lng it.
He thought there was no need to open it, as
the package was done up in the handkerchief
with striking border which he had just seen.
Ihe money was paid and the stranger departed
The jeWeler put the package behind his
counter while he attended to other matters.
Later IN the day he opened his package aud
taking out the metal began melting it. The
vessel was found to contain melted lead IN
stead Of melted gold. The gentleman could
not understand l.. He knew that the metal
he had tested before making the purchase
was pure gold, and ne knew that that
metal was tied up in a handkerchief just Ike
the one before nim and also knew that he
had paid SI5 for a pot OF lead, Instead
of ten ounces OF gold. Saturday night
Police Captain Aldriuge was acquainted with
the facts IN the Csc, and at once began IN
vestigatlng the matter. He soon ascertained
that the man who sold the lead that looked
ike gold was q sharper, and that he worked
his scheme nicely. and IN this way. Before
going into store he would get two handker-
chiefs exactly alike and would make two
/ packages alike. Ore package would contain
+ ten ounces of pure gold. and the other the lead
coated with gold. The gold he would put IN
/ his right hand OveTcOat pocket, and the lead
+ in his left hand OvercOat pocket. When try
. ing To make a sale the man would put for
wart the gold, and when an offer was made
him. he would refuse 1t, and put the gold back
in his right hand pocket. Then + the offer
i was renewed. he would take the len
hand out with the leai and lay it on the
counter The perfect resemblance or the two
packages, and the fact that the jeW eler had
just te-ted the metal. were in the swindlCr's
I favor. and were largely Instrumental in let
/ ting him get away with the money before the
/ swindle was discovered. The man who worked
+ the scheme Is about - cara of aee. He is
about five feet SIX or seven inches tail. and
I will weigh about l60 pounds. His compile
/ is very dark, while his hair and mOustache
I arc nearly black. He resembles an Italian
and talks with a slight Italian dialect. It Is
/ Thought that he went towards Chattanooga.