The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-05-18
VARIETIES OF THE GAME.

VARIETIES Or' IHE GAME.
Like every other art, the bunco of to-
day has innumerable variations. The
commonest form that comes to the
notice of The police is as follows Mr.
Smith, well to-do farmer or trades
man, comes to New York from hi'
native town, Smithville. He carries
with him a well-6lled wallet, which
being disrustful of hotel clerks anC
hotel safes, he carries in some insid,
pocket. Near the Brooklyn bridge
the Central Park plaza, Madison O
Union Square, he is aecosted by ;
pleasant hammered man who shakes hi
hand violently and says in the mos
friendly fashion: "Brown, dear boy
how are you I"
Mr.. Smith draws himself up and re
plies you've made mistake. youns
man. I'm not Brown. My name i
Smith-Ephraim Smith of Smithville
Smith county, Pa"
This is all the ''hand shaker wants
the mans name and address. Ere
quently, in fact, generally, these ar
not given as short and pat as in tn,
interview described. Frequently h,
half suspects the friendly stranger ant
brief talk is needful to secure th,
desired information. When it is givel
the accomplice joins the bunco man
who is not far away, and who has a
this momert in his hand small bank
ers' directory, which contains list O.
all the banks in the Union by States
the names of their president, secretary
cashier and sometimes other iuforma
tion. As the accomplice reaches tn,
worker he says. pennsylvania. Smith
vile, Smith county," and togc ther the'
run down the entry. 1t usually reads
as follows:
Smithville-First National - Jabc
Jaggs, president William A. Snow
secretary; John Porter, cashier.
Smith couDty-John PiggsDap, presi
dent and secretary.
The bunco man trained to this wor,
needs not to write these entries dow
to remember them. He runs then
over twice and can recall them to tn
letter at any time until the job is ovel
MAKING ACQUAINTANCE,
He approaches the victim, who ha
moved leisurely along in the meantime
pleasantly bows as he reaches hin
coughs slightly and says: "Why
good morning, Mr. Smith. 1t is
pleasure to meet you in New Yorl
How are your folks and how Is m
uncle Jabez Jaggs =
He may vary this according to hi
man. He may address him as 'Squir,
Judge, Colonel, Major and Captain
He is pretty certain to use militar
title if upon Smiths person he has see
a Grand Army button badge, or othe
insignia. He may use the judicial till
| if the victim looks as if he had eve
been a Justice of the Peace, Coui
Clerk, Constable or other official Fc
to all such the words Squire and Judg
haye strangely sweet and fascinatin
sound, 1t makes but little differenc
what words are used. Those whic
are employed are pleasantly put an
make Smith believe at the outset tha
here is someone who knows him an
his and who is glad to see him in tn
great wilderness where he is alread
lonely and unhappy. There may /
some mistake, however. So, smil.n
at bis new-found acquaintance, i
slowly drawls out: 81 reckon you'v
got the best of me, my friend. / can
place you to save my burned old eyes
The victory is half won. The bunc
| in second has seen that the man
glad TO meet an acquaintance, an
what is more important, that he do,
not suspect. He adds heartily; ave
l. wouldn't be surprised. l haven
been there now for three years, an
the last time / was / only stayed