Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-06-07
THE "BUNCO" MAN.
Captain Williams on the Methods
of a Glib Rascal
Origin of the Term-The Commonest
Form of Observation-Disclosures
in the Way OF Suppress
ing the EVIL

AZ 10 hoiu w o"y WhCiO ohO WIN
bunco" was born. 1t comes. if not
from the gutter. at least from an ORR
gin of not better, if even of as moral,
character. Its first appearance, to
the best of my knowledge, was in the
early part of the '70s, when it was
added to the list of such sporting
words, so called, as faro, keno, Lotto
and the like. AT the outset it was the
equivalent of " confidence operation"
but after brief while it became limited
to express those transactions in which
swindler secures money or valuables
from victim who willingly parts with
his property in the hope Of securing
pretended reward of ludicrously enor-
nous proportions.
The success of the first "steerer"
and 'hand-shaker" upon the ignorant
and credulous brought imitators into
the business. These tried their hands
upon men whom the original workers
would never have approached, and
found, to their surprise, that educa-
ton and knowledge of the world did
not protect their possessors. They con-
tinued in their experimenting until,
having buncoed Charles Francis
Adams, the late Commodore Garrison,
Oscar Wilde, the distinguished apostle
of aesthetic culture, and other men of
prominence in various fields, they
concluded that every man was capa-
bic of being robbed in this manner,
provided, of course, that the right ope-
rator and right mode of attack were
employed.
Nearly all the famous bunco men are
wcll-dressed, mild-mannered, quiet
speaking and companionable fellows.
Many of them would be ornaments to a
parlor. and most would be popular and
thriving business men If their talents
were honestly and properly applied.
Like every other art, the bunco Of
to-day has innumerable variations.
The commonest form that comes 10
the notice OF the police is as follows
MIR. Smith, wei,-t0-do-farnor o.
tradesman, comes to New York from
his native town, Smithville. He car.
ries with him well-tilled wallet,
which, being distrustful of hotel clerks
and hotel safes, he carries in some in
side pocket Near the Brooklyn bridge,
the Central Park plaza, Madison OIL
Union Square he is accosted by Z
pleasant-mannered man, who shakes
his hand violently and says in tn,
most friendly fashion: Brown, dcal
boy, how are youP"
Mr.. Smith draws himself up and re
plies: you've made mistake. young
man. I'm not Brown. NY name j,
Smith-Ephraim Smith, of Smithville
Smith County, Pa"
This is all the "hand-shaker" want,
tho mans namo and address Ere
quently, in fact, generally, these arr
not given as short and pat as in tn,
interview described. Frequently h,
half suspects the friendly stranger an,
brief talk is needful to secure the de
sired information. When it is giver
the accomplice joins the bunko man
who is not far away. and who has a
this moment in his hand small ban
ker's directory, which contains lis
of all the banks in the Union by States
the names of their president secre
tary, cashier. and sometimes other in
formation. As the accomplice reache
the worker he says: Pennsylvania
Smithville. Smith County," and to
gether they run down the entry. ]
usually reads as follows:
SxrrHvuLE.-First Natl-Jabez Jagg,
Prest; william A. Snow, Sec; John Porte
C'shr
smith Coun,y-John Piggsnap, Pres'i an
Sec.
The bunco man. trained to thi
work, needs not to write these entire
down to remember them. He run
them over twice. and can then reca
them to the letter at any time unit
the Job is over. He approaches tn
victim, who has moved leisurely alon
in the meantime. pleasantly bows 6
he reaches him. coughs slightly an
says:
"whv. good morning, Mr.. Smitl
LISA pleasure 10 meet you in Ne