Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-06-02
NEW TRICKS IN SAWDUST.

NEW TRICKS IN sAWDUST
The murder CT Tom Davis, the well-known
sawdust swndler, has had anything but q
detr mental effect upon the other men who
make their living in the same way. The
old methods which have been so profitable
had to be abandoned, but recent reports
from all parts of the West show that they
have flooded good many towns with circu-
lars. The popular form of swindle at the
time the Texans bullet ended Dayis's life
last August was by working the panel
game" Tom Davis was the inventor Of III s
trick and by it he supported a large number
of "agents" and grew rich himself. The
first move was to secure the list Of the names
of people who were regular subscribers TO
the Louisiana lotteries and the various gift
book concerns; "for," reasoned Tom, "peo-
pie who go into those things will he pretty
likely to bite on my scheme" When the
list had been duly studied agents were sent
out all over the country TO look up the his
tory Of the most promising ones. This done,
u circular was mailed to each man stating
the terms upon which the alleged counter
felt money conld be obtained. Then follows
advice to the verdant reader, impressing
upOl lLslt tuC So'SS vi SldtC piiSOh
are yawning for him, and that ho must be
very careful. He must send word two days
before his expected arrival in this city,
90 to hotel which was named and remain
ia his room until the manufacturer called
upon him. This done an agent sent up his
card and devoted an hour TO sounding the
man to see if he was fair game or an emissa-
ry from the police in disguise. If all pro-
missed we'll the man left, appointing the
next day as the time for the bargain.
On the day appointed the first caller drops
in to the hotel and leads the stranger to the
"factory." Ia roughly furnished Office,
before high desk at the wall, sits Tom
Davis busily counting out huge pile Of
crisp bills They are fresh from the Gov
ernment Treasury, and of all denomina-
tions. The sucker is introduced, explained
the process by which the money can best be
disposed of and given general directions of
how to avoid suspicion. Then the bills are
exhibited. The man always protests that
they are poor counterfeits and would never
deceive him, but on the whole thinks they
will do. The amount desired is carefully
connted out and handed to the stranger to
recount. They are then nicely done up in
packages, each denomination By itself, and
the whole carelessIy tossed into small
leather gripsack. This done, the bag is laid
on the top of the desk while the ''manutac-
turer' holds the attention Of the sucker and
lifts the lid of the desk in front OF the bag.
Half q dozen bonds arc shown as specimen
of good counterteiting, and the suggestion
is made that after the money has beer used
the customer may take a fancy to handle
some bonds also.
While the two heads are busy looking at
A. IL Ia IN bn
opens a slide or panel at the back OF the
desk and substitutes an empty satchel in
the place of the one with the greenbacks.
The customer is then handed the bag and
hurried away, while Davis closes up his
Office for month or so and moves to an.
other similarly equipped establishment.
Since the panel trick became known
through Tom Davis murder, the sawdust
men have been forced to invent another de-
vice. Within the past few weeks they have
issued long circular, which contains an al
legged clipping from a New York newspaper
announcing that full set of dies and plates
has been stolen from the sub-Treasury.-
This is the basis on which the circular is
framed, and it claims that the writer has
obtained those plates, from which the green
backs are being struck off. The interesting
circular ends with the following: "The slip
will show you our officials in high standing
have used them for their own purpose and
benefit, and why not every one in need :?
Address, in confidence, Philip Berg, box 40,
POI East Fourteenth street."
The purpose of the letter is to lead the
one addressed to believe that the money of
fered is really genuine, being printed from
the plates claimed TO have been stolen from
the Treasury. The same old trick of con-
Quoting the man to hotel and then to the
"oficen is used, but the panel trick is no
longer worked. Instead, the "beer" or
'horse-car" game is made use OF. In the
first case the purchaser is introduced to The
sawdust man on the street and to conclude
the bargain the party adjourn to the nearest
saloon. Stepping into private room they
take seats at table and the money is eN-
hibited. This done, the amount demanded
is paid and as the operator rolls the goods
into little red package and snaps an elias
tic around it he calls for beer. But before
they are handed over the appearance Of the
waiter alarms the sawdust man and he
drops the package into bis lap, with wink
at the customer. While the beer is being
brought another red package is substituted
played.
Ii the peer Crlch lhllS tHe STeeuDhChS arc
dumped into little leather satchel with a
yerv marked cut or scratch on it, and AFTER
being duly locked the key is handed to the
customer. The party then boards car and
in few moments clerical-looking gentle
man gets on, and with a bag precisely siml-
lar in marks, &C., to the one containing the
tgoods." OF course the bags are changed
and the purchaser is sWindled. After the
trick has been Played the saw:iust men dis
appear.
Since 1869, when Tom Davis issne'' III"
first circular to the world, the sawdusi busi'