The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-02-04
Z. Y VI W All
"MR. AND MRS. pERRINn IN COURT.

give the dwellcrs in cities n somewhat low
conception of the intelligence Of tho average
countryman. But the fact is that not one in
10000 of the people singled out for victims
by the sharpcrs ever bites"
And one reads of city dupe almost as
often as n country victim.
But however much one may dcspiSe the
character of tie green goods man and his
like we must admit that he always puts the
loser in the wrong The latter thinks he is
going to get something for nothing In short,
the victim is. at heart, thief; he tries 10 swim
| die the dealer, and is himself swindled. The
customer deliberately makes up his mind to
violate the law and swndle his rural neigh
hors; lie goes or sends TO New York for coun-
tcrleit money, pays for it and gets-sawdust
or greenbacks-or nothing. Between sharper
and victim the moraltieS are equal; and, if
public policy permitted, the honest pub
! lie could well afford to let the game
| 90 on But is it not an amazing
thing that the swindled would be
swindler should ''sQueal'-that he should de-
! libcrately appeal to that law he has been try
Ing 10 violate: 1t shows that while the city
rogue is a rogue only, the rural rogue is often
both rogue and sneak.
|
active of late The fate OF the dealer slain
! by Texas Holland, and of Others imprisoned,
| instead of inducing reform has caused the
manipuators to adopt more secure methods.
The methods are various, but we shall de-
scribe hut one, and that because it is ex-
! tremey ingenious and proved brilliant sue
cess. On the "a of December, 1886, the daily
papers contained an item TO the effect that
! tue secret service officers Of the United States
! treasury had seized a small painting in Theo-
/ dore Stewards saloon in New York city, said
! painting being an imitation OF 50 green
| back. so perfect that to nineteen men out OF
! twenty ii looked exactly like real greenback
pasted ON smoothly polished block of wood.
! Even the mucilage, which would naturally
! show around the edges of the BILL was so per-
| fecty initiated that close Observers would
not believe it unreal till convinced by feeling.
| The artist was released with Il reprimand and
u marked warning to initiate something else
in the future Not many weeks after news
item went the rounds of the press that some
government plates were lost on stolen-de-
nomination of bills not stated
Both items were bona file, but at this point
the "operatorn comes in. Shortly after,
when the news had had time to filter into the
most remote settlement, various parties in
the rural regions of Indiana, Illinois and
Kentucky received circulars, delicately call
! ing their attention to the foregoing news
items and suggesting that 'some business
might he done If the receiver was ordin-
| arily honest he threw the circular aside as
one of the innumerable fakes with which
patent medicine men and Others are perpetu-
nlv flooding the west. But if he was trihe
dishonest and not very talented he bit"
| Correspondence followed, and the Operator
soon had a list of ''good names" Indeed. the
way in which New York sharpers and
| "fakirSN secure lists of approaChable men and
possible victims in the country, is one of the
most curious things in the annals of fraud.
1t is highly probable that the most expert
| ''operatorsn have confederateS in various
places who look up "safe men" for them.
Suffice ii that when enough preliminary work
had been done, each victim received this or a
similar circular letter.
DEAR SIR Your name and address was given
! to me by my confidential agent, who said lie
thought that you were a man in position to handle
my goods in safety, so l concluded TO write to
you. II have made mistake do me no harm
and let matters drop. My motto is never harm a
man who is willing to prove himself friend. My
business IL not exactly legitimate hut the green
articles deal in safe and profitable to handle.
The sizes are 81, SO, s., Sl0-do you understandY
| cannot be palmer until know you. mean
business, aud If you conclude TO answer this letter
will send you full particulars and terms, and
| will endeavor to satisfy you on every point; that
il you are my friend will prove true and list
ing one To You. Remember, | want simply TO
convince you that am just rs | say-a friend to
FREUD When you write be sure to return this
| lattn I ,vil in
send registered letter as will not sign for any
and be sure and send me your name and post
office address, rs might lose the one now have
before hearing from you again. can and will
help you out of any money troubles you are ill.,
and no one on the face of this earth need be the
wiser unless you betray me. Trusting that you
will take no oficnse from the above. | remain
yours III confidence,
q. LEWIS, 1885 Broadway, New York City box l0)
or course the swindlers change their ad-
dress frequently and employ many devices
TO evade the police. From this point the
operator works according to the degree of
the victims gullibility. If the latter sends
the money-usually 500 for 81 600 in coun-
terfeits, but sometimes rs much as 800 for
$1,000 printed from the alleged government
plates sharper pockets it and that's the
last of it. If the victim goes to New York,
any one of n score of devices is employed.
Sometimes he goes to the secret room by APP
pointment, TO pay for and receive the goods
and is simply knocked senseless and robbed
, outright. Sometimes good money is counted
! out in his presence and he pays the stipulated
price for it; it is then done up in package
and put in his valise, as he supposes, but by
! o skillful twist of the wrist the Operator"
substitutes package of waste paper.
/. This was the game attempted upon Texas"
Holland, but he grabbed the real money and
shot the operator dead when the latter
tried to recover it. In some cases a bogus
policeman rushes in and arrests both; the
: operator" begs for mercy and the victim
joins him in buying of the supposed officer
Many other devices arc employed, but it is o