The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-13
CONFIDENCE MEMS TRICKS.


From the Washington Star.
.1t's hard to understand" said Detective
psff TO a reporter, show so many smart
oarsons hand over their money - confidence
men But then the confidence men are
pretty smart"
"How do they manage to succeed so
oftenF asked the reporter.
"They do it very easily" replied the de-
tective. "They first maze up a directory
of the principal cities and towns in the
country. This directory contains the
names of number of the most prominent
business men of each town, and so few
well known characters about the town.
where he is from, they refer to their direc-
tory. When the confidence man mentions
few names the stranger thinks he must
surely b We come from his town. They also
fre1uent hotels and look over the reg sters,
nicking out names. Tney then search their
own register, and, if successful in meeting
A victim, they are ready to converse with
him and make him believe that they are
from his home.
A MINISTER vICTIMIZED.
"Only few weeks ago." continued the
detective, "a confidence man successfully
played his game on the pastor of a religious
congregation not far from the capitol. He
called on the reverend gentleman one morn
ing and introduced himself as a wealthy
merchant from the South. He said that he
was here on business, and that before re-
turning home he wanted to get married. He
was a stranger here and thought that the
pastor would introduce him to some good
Young lady who would make him a suitable
wife and of course he was confident that none
but a perfect lady would be selected. He
promised to pay the minister $500 for his
services ii he succeeded. The pastor was
impressed with the sincerity of his visitor,
who not mahy hours afterward was intro
duced to a handsome young woman
Whether the pastor explained matters to
the young lady or not is not known. Her
mother conSentedPto board the young man.
And for two weeks he spent plea ant time
visiting the young lady and the pastor. OF
course he was q pleasant talker, they
always are, and could entertain a whole
party any evening After boarding at the
house for fortnight he found it necessary
TO VISIT NORFOLK
for the purpose of settling up some business
matters, and be left to be absent only day
or two. He was in the pastoi S company
during the day, and in t. e afternoon the
latter accompanied him to the steamboat
wharf. On the way the young man ex-
IGdtlb1 Ills DuSlH6SS, anu Sdlu he WOuu
marry the young lady upon his return to
the city. He was well satisfied with his
courtship and was ready to settle up. 1t
was after banking hours, so he made out a
check for $500 and handed it over. There
was a crowd on the wharf, and for fear
thieves were among them the young man
did not care to take his roll of bills
from his pocket, because some dis
honest person might notice him and give
him trouble after he had left On the boat.
He thereupon requested the loan of $40,
which was readily granted, and u $40 note
was handed over While on the boat be-
tween here and Alexandria the confidence
man addressed to the pastor postal, and
telling the latter to take care of his darling
Carrie until he returned The next morn
ing the postal ca d was received, but no at
tention was rand to it until the check was
presented at the bank and found to be
worthless"
Il suppose you arrested the confidence
manp' said the reporter.
mo, did not arrest him." replied the
detective. He probably went to Norfolk
by the boat but the next morning the rev.
erend gentleman called at my house. He
was terribly excited and was anxious to
follow the man to Norfolk, but, of course,
that would have been useless"
A BUCKEYE TAKEN IN.
About three years ago." said the officer,
"a smart confidence game was worked in
this city on wealthy citizen of Ashtabula,
.. He was sitting in the depot waiting TO
take the train for his home after having set
tied up some business in the South, when a
neatly dressed young man appeared and
introduced himself. After conversing some
minutes the confidence man was pleased to
learn that they were from the same town,
El hrNI H.
train. The gentleman was travelling alone,
but the wife and sister of his new acquaint-
ance were at hotel. The latter thought it
would make the journey pleasant for the
citizen of Ashtabula to travel with his
family, and the latter kindly accepted the
offer. They started for the hotel where
the in reduction was to be given. On the
way to the hotel the young man explained
TO his newly-made friend that he had made
some purchases, and that the goods and
bill would be sent to the depot.
man, pointing out an old man approaching
with bill in mis- nd. The bill was for
$2l2, and h. young man Eanied over
CHECK for 500, which the old man could
not change. The banks were closed, and
the supposed merchant suggested that his
friend, tIe Ohio man, might loan HIM the
money until he coul get the check cashed.
lie young man then requested loan, say
ing is wife had his money in the hotel.
The OHIO sman took the money from
his pocket and loaned the young man $2l2,
with W ,ich be paid the bill and then started
toward the hotel to refund the money and
give the introduction. The merchant here
remarked that he had seen the young mans
wife and sister in the depot. The merchant
tnen told the you ~ man that he was 100
carel' IS in tran acting business, for he had
not ket for a receipt. Then the young
man described the lallies to the Ohio man,
and told him if he would 60 to tie depot
and wait with them that he would be there
rs soon as he got the receipt.
HE WENT TO THE DEPOT,
as told, but failed to find the ladies. He
called upon the ticket agent to learn
whether any tickets had been sold to Ashta-
QUA, and learned that there had not. He
explained his transaction to the agent, and
Tue latter advised him to go to tie police.
he came to headquarters and reported the
case We soon found both the young man
ana u merchant on train ready to leave
the CITY,. They were prevented from leav-
llg, and wJrt taken from the train as it
steamed out of the depot, and short time
q ger ward they were on the same train
going to Albany.
HE OTHER EVENING just at dusk Brookheld,
oonn.. farmer as he walked from the barn TO
Lne house heard pet kitten that was following
Inn glfo sQueal Of distress. he whire ed
70 - md ana saw u big fox making of with the
.ISoVen IN us mouth. and in spite O. the efforts OF
0uo larner 1t got away with its victim.