The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-11-06
THE "SAWDUST" SWINDLE.
A GAME IN WHICH swINDLER AND
VICTIM ARE BOTH DISHONEST.
RoaI Grconbacks Displayed but only
SaWdust Given to Wen Who Want
to Purchase Counterfeit Money.

Real Grconbacks Displayed but OnI y
Sawdust Given to Wen Who WAN
to Purchase Counterfeit Money.
The Doodle game or sawdust swindlo
is the most popular of the schemes re
sorted to by confidence men. 1t is safer
than almost any other system of dcceiv-
ing, because it is practiced upon men
whose cupidity overcomes their judg-
ment, and who, in their desire to fleece
others, become the dupes themselves.
I For this reason the sawdust swindler
invariably escapes punishment, as in
order to arrest him the victim is obliged
to acknowledge his own dishonesty. The
swindled customer of sharper always
prefers to quietly submit to his loss
rather than receive the notoriety he
would get if he made an attempt to pun
ish the offender. AS a retired operator
of the game told the reporter, it is "the
| boss racket of the whole confidence
business" A popular way in which it
| is operated is this:
NEW YORK, -, IS,
DEAR SIR: No doubt, you will think it
strange how / obtained your name and adj
| dress 1t was as follows: My confidential
agent, who passed. through your town not
, long since, gave it to me- He said he thought
you were n man who was in n position to
handle my goods in safety, and | concluded to
write to you if l have made "A mistake do mo
no harm, and let matters drop My motto is,
never harm man who is willing to prove
himself your friend My business is not
strictly legitimate, but the green articles |
deal in IRE safe and profitable to handle. The
sizes are ones, twoS tiyes, and tens DO you
understand ] cannot be palmer until know
you mean business; and if you conclude to
answer this letter will send you full particu-
lars and terms, and will en1eavor to satisfy
you on every point, so that if you are my
friend | will prove true and lasting enc to
you, by the trade for 81 or 81 900. Remember
do not want money in advance, as / do not
transact business in that way. ! want simply
to convince you that am just as l tell you,
friend to friend. Yours in confidence
+ ~
The circular is neatly printed on good
paper, and may be dated from any city
in which the swindlcrs are temporarily
living. BY travelling through the coun-
try and making careful inquiries about
the inhabitants, they are able to discover
the men to whom a circular of this kind
would prove an attractive bait. 1t is not
often they make a mistake, and their
business Is very profitable and compare
lively safe. The name signed at the
bottom of the circular is q fictitious one,
and the address given is that of saloon
of questionable reputation.
The person who receives the circular
is fired in an instant with dishonest de-
sire to gain wealth. He sees the neccs-
sity of caution, however, and he ad-
dresses the person who has written him
a cautious letter of inquiry: "What are
the queer articles which you mention :
What uses are they intended for. and
hn
for making any money!" The reply to
this is a direct invitation for him to come
on in person, and to see for himself what
the possibilities of making fortune are.
The result is that the man, dressed in his
best clothes, soon makes his appearance
in the city, and seeks out the particular
saloon to which he has been directed.
He notices that the name over the door
way is not the same to which he was
directed. and he looks again, and finds
that he is to direct Sin the care of Mr..
Trick" This treasures him and enter
ing the saloon he approaches the oily
haired bartender and asks for Mr.. Trick.
The bartender scratches his head,
looks puzzled, and mutters apparently to
himself, "Trick-TIick-Mr Trick-No
or. l don't know any Mr.. Trick ="
Then he calls to some men who are play
ing cards in back room:
"Say, boys, do you know anybody
named Trick around hcrel"
"No's" come in chorus from the back
room, and a confederate makes his APP
pearance in the doorway, and critically
examines the visitor. The examination
is soon over, and the confederate APP
proaches the stranger, and in smooth
to ne addresses him.
'.Do you want to see Mr. Trick2 Well,
he used to hang around here, but he's
moved"
While the stranger is thinking how
strange it is that he is not able to find
the man who sent for him, somebody
comes up softly behind him and slaps
him on the back. Turning around the
stranger sees the glib-tongucd ''steerer."
who grasps him by the hand and says:
"Pardon my familiarity. but amt you
the gentleman who is looking for Mr.
Trick1"
eyes, I'm the teller, )" answers the man.
"P'r'aps We kin tell whar ter find him."
"Bet | can," exciaims the handshaker
"Tm the one that can take you to Mr.
Trick, and right away. I'm going there
now. But let's have a drink first"
The man goes with his new companion
to saloon, and after draining their
glasses they SGT out for the Office Of Mr..
Trick.
The quarters of the confidence men
are a little Office with not much furniture
in it. Over the door there is some other
name than Mr. Tricks. The handshaker
knocks in peculiar way on the door,
which is opened few inches, and an
eye looks out. As soon as the hand
shaker and his victim are seen the door
is opened The stranger is now in the
sawdust den, and is Immediately intro
duced to Mr. Trick. Mr.. Trick sets up
cigars and spirits for the visitor and
makes himself sociable. Soon he says to
the countryman;
"Well, my friend, would you like to
look at the green articles2"
The man signifies his readiness, and
Mr.. Trick without any delay dives down
into hie trouspra DOpkot and drawS ont