Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-16
SHARP SwlNDLERS.
schemes by which confidence Wen De-
fraud their yicstmss


TIhIzEp-THE usE or FORGED CUSTOMS KEcErPTs-
TIE MAN WHO KNOWS or A FORTUNE N EUROPE.
''The recent diamond robbery in this city, said
detective 10 a STAR reporter, "was one OF the
neatest Jobs done anywhere for some years and
the thief was one OF the most expert Of his class
The bogus priest game he worked so successfully
Is not entirely new one. but IL has been worked
out a lew times The man suspected Is an expert,
and Is known TO the detectives all over the coun-
Try. His name Is Robert Morgan. alias STAN
ley, aud his picture has been ideutined by
MI. Desio as the man who got the diamonds He
was once arrested In this city BY Lieut. Arnold
ana Detective McDevtI photograph OF him
was obtained and he was given chance 20 leave
the District In oIier 10 succeed In working such
q scheme the crook had great deal OF studying
10 90, and he no doubt was several weeks or
niontns ttlng ready He, OF course. had 20 ac-
Sualnt himself with the Augustine Order, OF which
ne was 10 claim that he was a member because In
gong into a church parsonage he had 10 be
INV th ef nr,as, 10 answer All questions asked
oughy understand the religion. Imagine one
unacquainted win the religion attempting such a
!on. Way, ne would make bad break the first
thing, and his whole scheme would be frustrated
he must also have been a man OF CONSIDERABLE
i 70 nor only go 70 the parsonage tut then TO
70 oe praying, while he was really praying for the
man with the diamonds 10 appear. so In the end
the time spent In getting ready 10 work the
scheme. and the chances he ran, does not pay him
much, even II he gets $1,000 worth OF diamonds
piaSsa s no 9ny one OF the many confidence games
piase Gu W 'crooAs on unsuspecting persons
swINDLNG CHURCH PEOPLE
II remember" continued the detective, zone OF
the most successful confidence men ever IN the
business He was a tall man with Q long silky
beard. He was fne looking and always dressed
well. His game was 10 swindle church people
he would 60 10 church and attend their meetings
regularly, being very charitable and always as
sstng when the collection basket was handed
around He was pleasant talker and always
made q number OF friends He had a set OF
lewelry worth from 5000 TO $4,000 When
ready TO spring his game on some unsuspect-
ing member IL the church be would tell them
mat his wife, who lived In another part OF the
country, had died, and that he was short OF
FUNDS He would produce this valuable set OF
and request a loan OF g. 600 or So 600. Not being
AFRAID 10 trust his marx he would hand him over
the lewelry, which he could have valued at a
yeWelry store. The Jeweler OF course, would tell
MIN the value or them, and at once he would con-
sent 10 make the loan, as he would make a large
pront III the Jewelry was never redeemed. Then he
would meet the owner OF the jewelry and the
latter would hold the gems while the money was
oeing counted out or the check was being drawn,
ana While his friend was so engaged the sharper
would aoroitly substitute the bogus Tor the genu-
Inc set Before the fraud could be discovered the
confidence man would have disappeared This
scheme has been played In most OF The large cities
FORGED cUsToM-HoUsE RECEIPTS.
"The custom-house dodge Is also good one" he
went on land is played very frequently In all the
large cities. The sharper Will go about with some
samples OF fine goods worth, probably, 81 or S. per
yard. He Will also carry with him some bogus
Oils 10 show that he has large quantity OF goods
In the custom-house. The goods are worth $500 or
$500, but he has no money and Is consequently un-
able TO get them. He Is willing 10 take probably
500, which tailor gives him, thinking that he
has great bargain, but upon going 10 the Gus
tom-house he iinds that the stranger is the man
VINO received the benefits OF the bargain and that
he has paid 800 for nothing but three bogus
9lils. Another custom-house dodge by which
dealers are swindled, is worked In this way:
Ihe commence man assures the dealer
that he has the goods In the custom-house and is
unable TO pay for them, and offers TO go with the
dealer ana show him the valuable goods which be
Is going 10 sell him at cut rates on their way
through the streets they meet the sharper's con-
federate, who is introduced as his partner In the
business He has been In luck, ana, having ob-
talned the necessary funds has paid for the goods
and Is on his way TO the express once 10 have
them delivered. He exhibits forged receipts from
| the collector OF customs The sharper who nrst
called upon the dealer Is sorry, but sill he is will
ing TO sell the goods at reduced ngures only be-
cause he had promised them TO him. He consults
| his partner about the price, and offers the
goods at an advance OF 25 cents. His partner
thinks that he is not asking enough for them but
still he wants TO keep his word and lets the goods
| 60 at that price. The money is paid and the
dealer is given the receipts that he can get the
goods out OF the custom-house. he IS Informed at
the custom-bouse that there such goods there
and that the bills and receipts are forgeries his
dea Sai ah mo 80 are ,Ie men Win whom he
follows? An exposure OF the easy manner In
which he was taken in and no return OF the money
some cases complaints made and the thieves
are sometimes captured and punished.
CLoTHEs-wRINGER SCHEME.
"Some years ago." continued the detective two
crooks made good haul through the country In
| Pennsylvania They had an elegant team which
one OF them would drive. He had In his wagon an
expensive clothes-wrnger, which he was selling
by sample. The machine was worth SO, but as he
was introducing them about the country simply
| TO advertise them, he was able TO dispose OF them
| at $50 each. He would drive TO the front OF a
farmers house, and when all the inmates OF the
house had gathered about his wagon he would
explain to them how the machine worked
and so engage their attention for perhaps twenty
or thirty minutes. While the occupants OF the
house were watching him. his confederate would
enter the house from the rear and 20 through H.
securing all the money and valuables found In
this way they succeeded In robbing great many
houses Al almost every house they got an order
for a machine, which they promised 10 ship by
express, but the machine was never sent. The
robbery committed In this way would hardly be
discovered until evening, and the crooks had
plenty OF time In one day 10 work a neighborhood
and escape.
WITH "sSIDE" JEwELRY.
"Another smart trick OF the so-called confidence
men is worked with 'snide' Jewelry. II requires
two men. They will pick out store or saloon
and watch until they see the proprietor go to
market so that they can work their game on his
wife. one OF them enters with box OF spectacles,
and wants 70 sell PAIR OF them 10 the lady. He
converses with her some time and then his pal
enters with the tray or snide Jewelry which ne
offers for sale. His price Is $780, but as he is hard
up he will take $50 cash. The man with the
spectacles examines the Jewelry and thinks they
are worth three times the amount asked. He goes
to the wash room, and while out there concludes 10
purchase the jewelry. but when he returns 10 the
store saloon the man has raised the price TO
$3.50. still he thinks they are cheap and he will
purchase them, but he has only about $50 He
leaves that amount with the Lady and tells her
that he is going after the balance OF the money
lie warns her not TO let the man leave with the
1ewelry, as he Will return In twenty minutes with
the additional 800 required. When be leaves the
woman thinks that she Will make the purchase as
II is such good bargain and she pays him $3.50
for the 1ewery. Presently the confederate returns
with 500. but the lady informs him that the man
has gone ana gives him back his $50 When she
has her jewelry valued she discovers that IL Is
worth sl.50.
FORTUNE IN GERMANY.
zone OF the best games ever worked by q con.
fdence man." continued the detective swas
played In Pennsylvania some years ago. The
crook picked out a family OF Germans as his
mark and managed TO get acquainted with them.
He learned the name and residence OF every men,
Der OF the family then living, and finally he
claimed TO be related 10 them. He had all their
last he informed them that there was a fortune In
Germany which belonged TO the family. and, as
he was one OF Its members, be was looking into
the matter. He had all th4ir names and ages
down so fne that none OF them doubted his story.
He paid frequent visits 70 the different
innate with them that he was permitted
TO enter their houses at any time and was never
suspected OF anything wrong. The day he
selected TO perfect his scheme he waited until the
gone 10 market He entered the four or rye
houses In tue one town during the morning ana