Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-10-14
City and County.
a Sharper In Ellsworth.

On Thursday afternoon last a ycnder Of
cheap iewelry came to this city. and taking
stand OH the corner OF Msin and State streets,
near the corner store occupied by +. L. JOY,
jeweler, he soon drew large crowd around
him and proceeded TO fleece them with the
least possible delay. In the last issue OF the
AMERICAN we told our readers how this same
fellow. or one who operates just like him, had
been swindling the citizens of Bath aud other
places. but IL seemed to have no effect for a
worse cheated crowd than that which stood on
our streets Thursday afternoon has seldom
been heard of. The fellow must have carried
between $500 and $500 away from Ellsworth
We clip from the .imericdn >eht'hei Grai'u-
ic account of the way the fellow proceeden III
Bath which is a good description OF his opera
tiops. with slight variations, In this eitH
The dealer is evidently an adept in that pur-
suit Ms he has peculiar method OF hauiilS
bis listeners in and getting many 81 Them 10
M, their hands in their pockets, aud give him
y. bioh as $40 for watch chain that probably
cost him about dime.
The dealer commenced his sale by dsposing
of an almost worthless set Of cuff buttons, Al
~ cents After disposing Of tive dozen or
more he presented each purchaser with dol
lar. He then introduced for sale cheap
watch chain, commencing the sslc Of them Al
one dollar each. All OF those who purchased
the sleeve buttons. invested a dollar III The
chain The present OF one dollar TO the few
that bought the cutf buttons wa~ bait that
depleted the pockets of u great many persons
that stood about the hack where the dealer
was.
As each purchaser gave dollar 10 the deal
eT that gentleman would add two to II ana
pace IL In plain view Of the a-scmbacc. Many
IN b.,r V4sFf f.A
invested dollar with the idcA they would re-
ceiye not only the chain. but two dollars ~
present once in while the Ncndfr Nunll
place i've dollar bill with the one received
for chain, In short time he get huMr'r
OF the crowd worked W Ia hi-h Pilgh Tor
presents in the shape OF money II the de-
nomination ~ ones. tWo> and nNo>- no deaf
cr worked" that crowd all D. could h"- quite
a number gave two dollars for 10" same ria--
Of chains that moment h"ior' sold Tor one
dollar A. fast ~ III, dealer could pas ihem
out. He would successfully tempt men 70 buy
the worthless chan>. by tying Knot IN each
chain and ~ a purchaser inv cstr'i. & Niu- MN
not TO 20 away nor remove Il. The MN iu r.
turn for the knotted chain LAY" two d"l'afs.
which the cheap plate man would place with
a five and roll The two together sHd place The
roll carefully on receptacle that 'hy crowd
viewed with n longing.
After diSpo>ing 81 from - % W" chains 81
one dollar each and some at Two The man
hands cut chain OF another pattern "h' "l
about the same worth - the chains disposed Of
fo- 10 and ~ dime. This Dr. would >oli Tor
$40 and also present each rurh3>'r with
watch and one dollar bjll. -Four of Thee
chains were sold hy thu man 81 thai prlc" II
j. estimated that a>id, from the one doilar The
purchaser rccch ci about quarter worth 81
metal
He even had the cheek e, h- Wa CLOSING
up hi, sales 10 STATE 10 tn crowd - De gave
away 10 the persons about h,m -'u' cheap
pens. Here j. something u>ciui f0r No'l-
There wcr, q number ~ iu,tsr whore
one person invested twice 10 The -aIHr thing
undoubtedly with tho idea $50 81 them bad ~
getting in return not only wurihlcs, l,~elry
but present OF two or III" do lar bill.
The separate rolls Of money which vrr" IN
pain view 81 The purchasers and Others the
dealer after completing BIZ -ac>. picked W
and placed iii h. pockets. sssiu- - Dc ala 80.
II have given YOU al that promised" and
such was the fact.