Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-24
FLEN.FIAMMERS.
An Old Species of Sxyindling Under a
New Name-HoV It Is Worked.

.'Do you see that mani" a STAR reporter was
asked as he stopped on the street to speak to
an acquaintance. As the person speaking made
a speciality Of knowing gentlemen connected
with the criminal class the reporter expected to
see noted forger or an accomplished burglar,
with the marks of a long confinement in some
prison still upon him. The man indicated, how
ever, was rather large and stout with full
beard, and, being dressed rather plainly looked
like an honest citizen from a country town who
was up doing the sights Of the city. He was
accompanied by younger man. who was dressed
In a somewhat loud style. and rather strength
ened the impression that the honest citizen was
doing the town and had, in the meantime, fallen
into rather fast company. However the pair
went along very amcably together. and the re-
porter asked why his attention was particularly
called to them
Il thought. may be, You would like to see
them" was the reply. They are im-fiammers.
and they are working some tricks on this
town"
''Oh; they are, are they?" said the reporter.
rather at a loss TO know what was meant Il
am glad you pointed them out, for if there Is
one thing more than another that have wanted
TO see, 1t is q fim-what did YOU say the v
were! and, by the way, what Is it any way?"
"A fim-fammer," said the expert, with q
calm superiority OF manner and with sublime
sort OF patience, that showed he was accustomed
TO meet with such ignorance frequently "a
flim-lammer Is man who has large bills
changed, and by confusing the mind OF the per-
son making the change, gets away with more
than his share. For instance, a man of this
sort goes into saloon and orders two drinks
He must have confederate with him. and when
the two have disposed Of the LIQUOR one
throws down a ten-dollar bill. He Is given q
pile OF bills In exchange, fve-dOllar bill per-
haps and some ones. He takes up the bills in
Ills hands, still leaning over the bar and runs
them over to see II they are right. Then
his confederate, who has been watching
the counting process, says CASUALLY:
what do You want to be carrying SO much
change about with you for. l have some silver
here and will pay for these drinks and then he
fishes couple Of ten cent pieces out Of his
pocket and hands them over to the bar-keeper
The other man then throws the pile of bills that
ne mas In his hands down on the counter but as
he does so he quickly and skilfully, by finger
manipulation, crumples up the five dollar bill
and palms It., as they say, or slides Ii In the
palm OF his hand. IL Is done so neatly and with
such seight Of hand deftness that the man does
not suspect that the pile of bills which has been
before his eyes has been tempered with. So the
Oils are swept into the money drawer and the
ten dollar oil is returned. When the cash is
counted the money is missed and the proprietor
can't for the lite Of him tell where it has gone"
Il have tried TO explain 1t some times to the
victims" he continued, 'but it is rather diff
cult Tor them to believe that they have been
robbed before their eyes and knew nothing
about IL. There have been several men work.
Ing this game In this city recently but as a rule
they are crooks on their way to New Orleans
and stop of to get little spending money! The
yet. although some have run over to get the lay
OF the land and look about little {"