Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-04-12
THE cHloRofoRMER.

/ THE cHLoRoFoRMER.
How He Selects Ilh Unsuspicioas v:etiu
And Operates Upon Him
! As class the chloroformers belong
to the highest order of the swell mob
They practi in railway carriages. on
steamboats,. in hotels Essentially cos
mopolite. travelling takes up q large
part of their existence. They talk like
. handbook, are especially familiar
with the watering-places wherein arts
tocracy and finance are wont to con-
grcgate. The railway time tables they
have by heart. The chloroformer is
very often professional waif. what
the French call nn fruit SEGA man.
that is. who. having followed the course
of school of medicine, has not fol-
lowed up the profession, though he
knows how to employ drugs and what
their effects are. Man of the world.
clever. of bright. pleasant manner. he
generally has the gift Of starting some
engrossing conversation. He speaks
several languages. and knows where
and how to throw in the name of some
titled parsonage now and then.
Let us see him at work in a train.
| He has no need there to bring all his
accomplishments into play; the more
elementary one will suffice First he
must mark down his .'pocket-book."
He lies in wait ut one of the railway
booking offices-Paris, Lyons. Medi-
terranean, for instance. 1t is a long
journey. He watches the pocket
books opening. He selects the best
filled, and takes similar ticket to that
which the owner of the pocket-book
asks for. He carries with him trav-
cling bag stocked with provisions, a
good bottle of wine. superfne cigars,
pack of cards-every thing. in short.
required by SO experienced and luxuri-
Gus traveller as himself. He takes
seat in the same compartment as the
pocket-book. and cleverly draws him
into conversation. After travelling
about a third of the distance he again
expiates on the discomforts of railroad
restaurants-thej ostling, the tedium.
the waiting to be served. the scant
time left the traveller. With engaging
courtesy he invites his companion
to share his luncheon. He OK.
plains that he was to have gone
to Switzerland with a friend
At the eleventh hour telegram
reached him with apologies from
his friend for being unable to come.
The dispatch is peeping out of a
pocket as the chloroformer adds:
THAT is how it happens that l have
these two silver mugs with me and all
this set-off." If the offer is declined
after lunching himself he unatfectedly
offers a cigar-dOctored as the wine
had been. They chat. Time flies,
and the monotonOus roar of the train,
added to the smoke of the cigar. over
comes the victim with sense of tor
por. The chloroformer now opens his |
tiny phial and holds it during few
seconds under the sleeping mans nos
trils. At the same time he applies a
very thin leaf of parchment to his
mouth. This piece of parchment is
shaped like the neither portion of
carnival mask, and is called "suifo-
Gator" The mans sleep is now COM
plete. He is an cadaUer.
The robber then proceeds with his
operations in security. He sets to
work and finds the pocket-book or note
book, takes the money out, carefully
leaving one or two bank notes. He
then restores the pocket-book to its
place. taking care not to touch the
mans purse, his loose pocket-money or
his watch. At the next station or
junction he leaves the carriage. His
luggage consists of his travelling bag,
and whatever other effects he may have
bear no distinctive mark.
Why, it may be asked. should not
the chlOrofOrmer take all he can findf
The answer is easy. tits part of his
policy never to put his victim in
straits. and the money he leaves him
is left for one or two reasons. First,
# the traveller on recovering his senses.
does not examine his pocket-book, he
will attribute the departure ofhis COM
panion to some incident or other,
the chlOroformer gains time.
And if the victim does not miss his
notes till some time after, he may be- ,
ieve he has lost them himself some 7.
now. Moreover. man who is in no
want of cash is more likely to take
lime before he calls in the police. !,
Meanwhile the thief is making his
escape good. That is the first reason; /,
he second is a graver one. The per-
on robbed may never wake again; in
which case the authorities called upon
o ascertain the cause of death will
ind no external wound, and the de- !
eased will appear to lie in possession ..
+ his papers. money and jewelry.-SL !
Idn,es' Gazette. \
a Narrow Escape. {