The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-01

even if he gets 81 200 worth of diamonds.
This is only one of the many confidence
games played by crooks on unsuspecting
persons.
SwINDLING CHURCH PEOPLE.
81 remember" continued the detective,
lone of the most successful confidence men
ever in the business. He was tall man
with long, silky beard. He was fine looking
and always dressed we'll His game was to
swindle church people. He would so to
church and attend their meetings regularly,
being very charitable and always assisting
when the collection basket was handed
around. He was a pleasant talker and al
ways made a number of friends. He had
set of jewelry worth from IS 900 to $4,000.
When ready to spring his game on some
unsuspecting member of the church he
would tell them that his wife, who lived in an
other part of the country, had died, and that
he was short of funds. He would produce
this valuable set of jewelry, of which he
had duplicate bogus set and request a
loan of Sl,000or 81, 900. Not being afraid
to trust his mark he would hand him over
the jewelry, which he could have valued at
jewery store. The jeweer, of course,
would tell him the value of them, and at
once he would consent to make the loan, as
he would make large profit if the jewelry
was never redeemed. Then he wonld meet
the owner of the jewelry, and the latter
would hold the gems while the money was
being counted out, and while his friend was
so engaged the sharper would adrotlly sub
stitute the bogus for the genuine set, Before
the fraud could be discovered the conf
dence man would have disappeared. This
scheme has been played i'll most of the large
cities.
FORGED CUSTOM HOUSE RECEIPTS.
"The custom house dodge is also a good
l. 20 ala fra
uuently 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 bills to
show that he has a large quantity of goods
in the custom house. The goods are worth
$500 or $500, but he has no money and is
consequently unable to get them. He is
willing to take probably 800, which a tailor
gives him, thinking that he has great bar
gain, but upon going to the custom house
he finds that his stranger is the man who
received the benefits of the bargain and that
he has paid 800 for nothing but two or
three bogus bills. Another custom house
dodge by which dealers are swindled, is
worked in this way: The confidence 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 and
show him the valuable goods which he is
going TO sell him at cut rates. On their
way through the streets they meet the
sharper's confederate, who is introduced as
his partner in the business He has been in
luck, and, having obtained the necessary
funds, has paid for the goods and is on his
way to the express office to have them de-
livered. He exhibits forged receipts from
the collector of customs. The sharper who
first called upon the dealer is sorry, but still
he is willing to sell the goods at reduced
figures only because he had promised them.
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 let's the goods go at that price.
The money is paid and the dealer is given
the receipts so that he can get the goods out
of the custom house. He is informed at the
custom-house that there are no such goods
there and that the bills and receipts are forg-
cries. His money is gone and SO are the
men with whom he dealt. What is he to
do? Notify the police. What follows? An
exposure of the easy manner in which he
was taken in and no return of the money.
The chances are that he will keep quiet, but
in some cases complaints are made and
the thieves are sometimes captured and
punished.