Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-06-15
SMOOTH ROGUES.
HOW CONFIDENCE MEN SWIM
DIE INrELLI0ENT PEOPLE.

DIE INTELLI0ENT PEOPLE.
The Pal With His Biu-Waiting for
the Lame Green Goods Game
The Latest Trick.
'Talking about smart people,, said o
detective to Washington Star reporter,
ssthe confidence man, or the con man,
as we call him, will never take q back
seat, and there is no reason, except as a
matter of honesty, why he should. He
is always quick to take Q trick and can
size up mark as readily as any mem
Der of the profession. He is usually .
good looking man, and, of course, he
has winning ways. That is necessary
in his business. He is never at o loss
for subject that will interest any one,
and he seldom makes mistake when he
picks out his man. The con man, as q
rule, does not attempt to become q mill
ionaire at one haul, nor does he usually
risk more than two or three tricks in q
city during one visit. The depot is his
favorite place for picking up his prey.
He converses with his victim, learns his
name and address, and, strange to say,
he is either from or is going to the
vicinity of the home of his victim. His
pleasant conversation never fails to give
an impression of his sincerity, and he
can make the stranger believe almost
any thing he will tell him.
''The check racket, he continued, 'sis
one of the boldest games of the conf
dence men, but it is still practiced sue
cessfully. In working it there are al
ways two crooks The first one will go
into depot and look about to pick out
his mark He does not always select
the greenest looking man. He first
sizes up the thickness of his pocketbook.
If satisfied that he has enough money to
play for, he engages in conversation
with the stranger, and first learns where
he is from.
"'Why, I am going there myself on
the next train, he will say.
''Of course, the stranger is glad to
travel alone, anyhow. The confidence
man is such pleasant talker that the
stranger becomes interested in him, and
they are friends in little while. The
one who takes that part of the game is
Usually an elderly man, because, in
some cases, the occasion demands that
he should have grown daughter.
'Then the old gentleman interrupts
his newly-made friend and tells him
that he is going around to the hotel for
his wife and daughter.
My daughter, he will say, will be
good company for you and make the
Trip pleasant
''The stranger readily accepts the po-
sition and anticipates a pleasant jour
ney. He leaves the depot and starts
with the gentleman to the hotel: The
latter incidentally refers to bill of
goods he has purchased and which has
not arrived at the depot.
Presently young man, Ostensibly
clerk in store, meets the two, and, al.
dressing the elderly man, he presents a
bill for the goods, and requests its pay
ment.
"'Certainly, he will answer, taking
check from his pocket, heres your
money
".But I can't change the check the
supposed clerk will reply.
Then he hesitates. What to do he |
does not know. He turns to his friend
and shows him the check. He would
like the loan of $50 or 800 until he can
get the check cashed, and of course, he
has no objection to handing over the
check as security. The check is for
$500 or 800, and, satisfied that he can
not possibly lose anything, the victim
takes the money from his pocket and
hands it over.
Gin this connection" the detective
"the confidence man usually |
comes within $40 OF $40 of the amount
the victim has in his pocket. They
usually transact that part of the business
near a saloon or pubic Place of some
kind The receipt for the money must
be signed, and the victim waits on the
sidewalk while the merchant and his
customer step inside and then step out |
the back door, leaving the victim on the
sidewalk waiting for them. He gets
tired of waiting, but still he does not
think that his acquaintance is dishon
est He goes to the bank and inquiries
about the check. Then the bank clerk
has a laugh, and the unfortunate indi-
vidual is referred to the police depart
ment, and the whole world becomes
acquainted with his misfortune.
"Sometimes the game is arranged diff
ferently. Instead of giving the victim
the slip in the manner indicated he is
sent back to the depot to wait for the
wife and children of the confidence man.
Among the children there is ten-year-
old boy, who walks with crutches, SO
that it will he impossible to miss them.
This poor boy has been ten years old for
q long time and has been the means of
fooling many victim. He returns to
the depot and waits for the persons as
described. They do not appear. He
becomes uneasy, for it is nearly time for
the departure of the train. He waits |
until the last minute. They do not ap-
pear, and he begins to think something |
has happened to them. They will sure
" be here for the next train, he says to |
himself. He still waits and does not sus-
pect anything wrong until some one in
The depot who has noticed him approaches
and questions him concerning the |
train he wants to take. He then tells
his story, and realizes for the first time