San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-16
1 ONE FORM OF SWINDLING.
How Alleged theatrical Managers Manage
to Obtain Money from Dupes.

1t is a common thing to see an adj
vertisement in some OF the daily news
papers for a treasurer or cashier of a
theatrical company, at salary of fifteen
or twenty dollars week, who can "furn-
ish a hundred or hundred and fifty
dollars cash as security"
1t is a type of swindling akin to the
"green goods" business and bunco steer
ing, only that it is more difficult to con-
Wet the swindlers in this line. They are
well posted in all the technicalities Of the
law, and If pursued by victim, which
happens rarely, the most that can be
done with them is to compel them to
surrender the money they have received
foS security.
A man who catches twenty or
more victims year, and many more are
caught in much less time, can make a
very comfortable living. Their modus
Operandi has been described so often that
it does not need recapitulation here. 1t
is only necessary to say that the most
flattering inducements are held out to
the victim, who is invariably a young
man, he planks down his cold cash as
Security" he is sent off on a fictitious
errand and very soon finds out that he
has been swindled The swindlers have
letter-boxes and addresses in various
parts OF the city, and it is hard for their
victims, without police aid, to catch
them.
The following is a literal copy of a
letter which came very near being in
strumental i'll young man parting with
500:
DEAR SIR: In reply to your letter re-
gardlng cashier OF my company will
state desire young man to sell tickets
in the box office OF the theater and to
keep strict lookout for all moneys taken
in, as it is impossible for me to do so as
my time is all taken up on the stage.
Your duties are simple and l can teach
you in a short time. You sign contract
with me Tor one year at salary of SIS
per week and l pay your hotel, railroad
and baggage expenses, salary to be paid
once a week and on every Wednesday of
each week. The SlUO cash security will
be held by me until end of engagement,
or should you desire to withdraw before,
two weeks notice will be required and
money refunded You hold a voucher
from me for the amount so at any time
after yon have given the notice you can
draw from box-otfice receipts or from
me. You have my only terms, and if
you can abide by them | will engage you
at once, ii not save yourself any further
trouble. If you accept telegraph me on
receipt of this saying the exact time you
will call, as | am busy attending re-
hearsal and want to be at home when
you call.
The sheet on which the original was
written is embeIlished with an alleged
picture in red ink of the bogus manager,
while on top, in blue ink, are the words:
managers Private Ofiice-Twelfth Sea-
son" and below, in handsome type, is
the announcement: "Lovett's Minstrels,
Silver Cornet Band and Mammoth Or
chestra-tbe Acme OF Minstrelsy." III
" His Favorite.S Satire.
He was a grocery clerk and as he
seemed rather uncomfortable in the Sny-
derby parlor, Miss S. kindly attempted to
engage him in conversation.
"Have you read much, Mr.. Heron 2"
"Why, yes, a good deal"
care you fond of satirical writingsfs
Eyes, they go pretty good"
"What do you think of Pope's Dun
clad and Byron's English bards and
Scotch Reviewers p"
ooh, they are all right, but don't
think they compare with the roasts the
baking powder companies are giving
each other"