, 1888-03-01

consumption Cur09-IhT0t SbfH DAohtO
How tho Countsrfeis SfcsSy Dodge Il
Worked.
"The foundation on which every sharper
works Is avaricc," said tho samc fakir
after lighting q fresh cigar, "and he is as
apt to catch the citizen Of big town as
the farmer living by himself I was ut
tached to circus for several seasons, and
my statistics proved that tho biggest share
OF my money came from tcwnspeOple. I
had "A wheel OF fortune, two OF three pat
ent medicines, prize drawtAg, otc., and
have taken more money at once out of u
lawyer or merchant than out OF = coun-
tryinan. 1t Is curious how all sorts of
people will invest their money on n wheel
Of fortune. There never was one mado
which did not give the operator seventy
flve per cent. advantage TO begin with,
and by trickcry this advantage is increased
fifteen or twenty per cent. You must
know that che operator has things so fixed
that he - the wheel Mt Will. In u
town md member or the
&C was accounted one
tho no locality left 5000
with quit my wheel. III
there dice shaking ii il
all n the prize drawings
YOU i.IG silver watches aud
sums &. "a ed, but these con-
not by u! '. y be drawn.
az know ,3Ncg,.i acn who have grown
rich and retired from business on tho sale
of liver invigoratOrs and consumption
cures. Both remedies are made OF the
same matcrals--to wit water whisky,
and one or two extracts In Dayton, Ohio,
fakir connected with our show sold 1870
bottles OF liver invigorator and POS bottles
Of consumption cure in four hours, and
not over one quarter OF the 1t was sold to
farmers. When you appeal ~ n mans
nvarlce you hit him hard; when you get
him to thinking his liver k Qua OF order,
or that he is consumptive, you can take
his last cent. You have seen tho glass
bulbs filed with reddish fluid which fakirs
claim TO test the blood with, Amy one OF
average sense must know they are frauds,
but have seen the best physicians in u
town pay their ten cents with the rest.
About the only thing connected with the
outside Of n circus which is not fraud OH
the public is the electric battery. That's
all right, and the owner will give you all
your money calls for, and sometimes more.
THREE CARD MONTE
"Now take the three-card monte busi-
ness or thimble rigging, Those two games
have been worked for the last fifty years
all over the United States, and tho public
has been warned against them tens of
CilOuSuHuS Oh llIHes, IHey uTc SJlIl tIle
most profitable games to be worked Even
old gamblers are cntlced to bet Several
years ago, while | was taking vacation
at health resort in Wisconsin, q couple
of tho fraternity called for my assistance
to help work n farmer. The intended
victim was a. sharp, keen man, about 30
years old. He had been everywhere and
was up on all dodgos. He had been tried
with the gold brick and treasure lodges,
but had refused to bite. We held n cOun-
Gil and decided upon n plan. He had
three or four fine horses for sale, and the
trio of us drove out to his place to make
purchase. We were Illinois stock raisers
and horsemen, and 1t was apparent that
he sized us up for sharp fellows. One OF
my companions, whom | will call Jim, did
most of the talking, and he alone desired
to do the buying. Jack and myself sat
down on an old hay rack in the barnyard,
and scarcely noticed tee horses as they
were paraded up and down in front OF US.
At the proper time Jack took out his cards
and began to show me how it was done.
bet him that could pick out the card,
and we began to talk in loud tones and at
tract attention.
"The farmer finally came over. He knew
all about tho game and smiled In pity at
the idea OF being caught but in less than
ten minutes, and that withou. any urging
from any Of US, he had bet and won $40.
That was the entering wedge. He was
allowed to win $50, and then cleaned out
Of $40. His spirit Of avarice was now
thoroughly aroused, and I'm telling you
the solemn truth when say that lac put
up the horses and walked into the house
and brought out bag containing 5000 in
gold. He sat down with greedy eyes and
pale lips, and won and lost until We had
his last dollar. There was no explosion
when he had parted with his last gold
piece. On the contrary, he volunteered
the statement that all had been fair and
above board. An afterclap always accom-
panies such events, however, and we uot
out Of the state just as he had secured
warrants for our arrest.
'The safest game worked in the country
to-day is the counterfeit money dodge, end
n goOdly number of fakirs are rolling up
fortunes by 1t. Isupply myself with
lot Of new greenbacks-ones, twos and
flvcs-and then appear in some small town
as an agent, or detective, or q stranger
seeking recreation. It requires only lew
days to size up the people. In every town
of 5000 inhabitants there are half dozen
men who arc ready to deal In the queer IL
1t can BIO done safely. The money have
with nle Is, you understand, perfectly
good. When l have selected my man
exhibit the money as counterfeit. l am
quietly supplying tho stuff to few good
Fellows at so much OH the dollar. Before
he buys / give him a bill to take to tho
post Office or bank. 1t passes withort
question and ho is clated. an ready 10
leave q dollar bill with him as u sample.
but If he gives me an order TO be flied
two weeks later he must pay mo certain
sum in advance, say $40 on tho hundred
To prove TO him that have his interests
and safety ut heart, produce paper in
which he makes me his financial agent to
receive and receipt for all moneys. Then
L give him my note Of hand duo solre