Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-25
" KID" MILLER OUTWITTED.
a supposed Victim Proved 10 be Tartar.
New York Timesl


past has been a solidly-built, prosper
disappearing, and genial Englishman,
whose name would indicate German
origin. His shining poll is surrounded
by fringe Of closely-cllpped white
hair, and his very heavy moustache
and thick but closely clipped beard
are also snowy white. About two
years ago he left London, where he hal
been successful merchant and where
his son is now a member Of the Lon
don Stock Exchange, and went for a
visit to Australia. lie recently came
here, and his face has been familiar
one about the Fifth-Ayenue Hotel and |
on the street. His clothes are cut in
the English style, his watch.chain is
composed of heavy links of gold, and |
his appearance indicates clearly that he
is a man of wealth and culture, with
tast for chasing the wary dollar which |
is supposed to be rolling about Wall |
street.
o." Kid Miller, that shrewd young
confidence operator and bunko sharp. |
got his eye on the Englishman, who for |
convenience will be called Locke, and |
determined to make him his game, and |
on Tuesday morning the attempt to |
fleece him was begun. The possibility |
of being 4" bested " by the Englishman
hadn't entered the mind Of Miller. lie |
didn't know that his prospective victim
had a love for advents:e, or that |
he had had experience with Eng |
lish and Partisan sharpers, and |
was longing for the very opportunity
that the bunko-steerers were giving !
him of running mp against an American
sharper. As Mr.. Locke was walking
through Union-Square tall, we'll
dressed man, with fair complexion aud !
a heavy sandy mustache, stepped up to
him and greeted him warmly as Mr.. |
Robinson, and expressing pleasure at
being able to renew an acquaintance !
formed in London year and half
ago. MIR. Locke assured him that
there must be some mistake, as he
hadn't been in London for over two
years, but had Just returned from
Australia. Whether Mr.. Locke mention
Ell his right name he doesn't remember,
as he didn't know that this attack was
preliminary to the bunko game. lie
strolled leisurely down Broadway to
Twelfth street. and was there accosted
by Miller by his right name, Miller as
suming the name of Smith, and claim
ing to have been clerk in the house Of
Smith Payne, in London, with whom
Mr.. Locke had intimate business rela-
tons. Ali of this was plausible
enough, and Mr. Locke hadn't yet
opened his eyes to the true state Of
affairs, thinking that Smith did reSem-
bic very strikingly a clerk whom
he had seen in Smith Payne'S,
in London. But he did "tum-
BILE " when the dapper Smith began
the usual story about having won a
prize IN the Art Union. Mr.. Locke,
anxious to see the thing out. willingly
accompanied Smith through Twelfth
street, up Third avenue. and into Four
teenth street, where the office OF
the Art Union was located. 1t was on
the first floor Of house a short dis
lance east Of the Elevated railroad. The
room was furnished scantily, its princi.
pal bit of furniture being a table. The
walls had some placards designating it
as the office of the Art Mon. On the
table, which was covered with green
10th ,,.,o m otloloth covaral With
squares, containing hieroglyphicS and
figures painted in its numerous squares.
"Ah. Smith, my boy, glad to see
you," said the one rather seedy occu-
pant Of the office, who was seated be-
hind the table. "Do You know your
ticket not only won the books, but
$500 in addition, and here is the cash.
A bundle of bills marked $500 was
handed to Miller, who then explained
the way in which the union drawings
were conducted, a scheme which Mr..
Locke seemed very much pleased with.
He was invited to have shy" at it,
and agreed to do so. y pack Of cards
containing numbers was produced, and
Mr.. Locke produced two crisp SO
bills from his pockct.book, and put
them on the table; then he put his hand
on them.
"0h. you needn't put your hand on
them" remarked the seedy manipu-
lator Of the cards. NO one is going
to take the bills away from you"
mo; I'm deyillsh sure Of that, re-
marked Mr.. Locke.
A. he told the story to his friends
down town yesterday, he explained
The fellow who called himself Smith
| knew | could handle without trouble,
and had the fellow behind the table
in chancery, because he sat close to the
wall, and IN case of any trouble sharp
push of the table would have pinned
him there. So | knew was in no per-
sonal danger. Besides, fellows Of that
class are always towards
When the seedy party had Shuiiled
and played with the cards he pulled
four off the pack, whose total value, he
said. was %. Reference to the OIL
cloth showed that the block marked y
indicated a prize Of $500. A bundle
of bills representing that amount was
laid on the table.
But you can't have the money, Mr..
Locke" remarked the sharper, " until
We have had another go at it, because,
you see, the y square has two stars
on it. which indicates that it takes two
winnings to get the money, and that
you must stake $50 more in order to
get the $500 sure"
Mr.. Locke objected to this little ar
rangement, and dumbfounded the con-
spirators by asking to look at one Of
the ten.dollar bills IN the pile he was
said to have won. They handed one
to him and assumed an air of virtuous
Indignation as he carefully scanned it,
in chorus asking
do you think we would have coun-
terfeit money, Mr.. Locke?"
- don't know what you might
have" said Mr.. Locke, calmly pocket
ing his own 900, and retaining the ten.
dollar note, "but this is evidently
good bill, and will just about pay me
for my trouble in coming around here.
III ,vory sroNl