Evening journal., 1889-12-19
LAST EDITION
MANY PEOPLE SWINDLED.
TWO MEN WORK THE cRAYoN-
PIcTuRE-FRAME DODGE.


They Secure Nearly 200 Guliible VIII
mlngtonian victims at One Dollar Each,
and Deoamp Leaving an Unpaid Board
BIZ.
Two men have worked the crayon-
picture frame swindle on the unsuspect-
ing people Of Wilmington, for the past
two weeks to the tune Of between $3.50 and
5000 After pocketing this neat amount
from many gullible victims they left the
city aud an unpaid board bill, for pleasant
fields and pastures new.
Two weeks ago last Sunday, two men
called az Mrs. John Orr's boarding house.
No IL East Third street, and engaged the
second story front room, the best in the
house, for two months. A small sum
was paid to bind the bargain. They rep
resented themselves as agents of the
Eureka Portrait Company, No. 775
Broadway, New York; their busi-
ness was to canvass the city
and obtain orders for life size crayons. A
small photograph was secured and an
order for a handsome frame. They
claimed 10 furnish the crayon and frame
for from $4 80 to ST. The men brought to
Mrs 0rr's house two boxes containing
ten framed crayons, which were hung up
in their rooms as samples.
One of the men gave his name as g.
w Conley, manager Of the Eureke Por-
trait Company. he had cards printed
in this style, with the address of Mrs.
Orr's house and that Of the alleged main
Office in New y York, on them. Conley is
"a light-cemplected man with side
whisser3. His manner and address were
fr.I Es.
obtaining orders. His companion was
known as Swift. He had blue eyes and a
sharp nose. and looked Ike Yankee
swindler all over They formed the
acquaintance Of a youth Of 10 years,
named Roop. nephew of Fl. A. Roop,
the printer, and engaged him to pilot
them about the city.
They worked two schemes; one for
dwelling houses and another for stores
and Offices The first was to obtain a
photograph from which to copy the
crayon A style Of frame would be
selected by the victim and 81 paid down.
The balance to be paid in installments of
30 cents week A printed agreement of
the company to this effect would be given,
signed by Conley.
The scheme for stores necessitated a
different agreement, viz: For the small
sun of one dollar, crayon of the propri
etor would be made and framed, and
hung in the store as an advertisement
for the company The advertise
ment consisted OF Conley's card
stuck in the frame. The dollar was
to pay for the expense Of a picture,
nail aud cord. and mans trouble in
hanging the picture After 80 days the
picture became the property of the person
with whom the agreement was made
No further payments were required In
all cases the crayons were to be made by
al artist named Niece at 775 Broadway,
New York, and delivered before Christ
mas About 15O or 200 victims were Sc
cured on the two schemes at one dollar
each.
On Friday morning last Swift went
cut to canvass and has not been seen
since Conley pretended to be much
pSggied over his disappearance and Mrs.
cis@'z. suaPiaiasaaa ahaines aroused aohs
watched him. On Saturday night she
suspected that he, too, was preparing to
take French leave He did so between
/ and 4 o'clock on Sunday morning.
taking his clothing and all the photo
graphs secured. Mrs. Conley had kept
such close watch, that he had been un-
able to get help to take the sample pic.
lures away The two weeks board bill
was unpaid and she levied on the pic
lures to pay it. They will be sold at
Stidham's on Saturday.
A communication was sent to No. 775
Broadway, Now York, and Mr. Niece
answered. He said two men had called
on him q month ago for terms. They also
asked permission to use his
address as their New York
Office. which he refused. He had heard
nothing more from them. There was no
Eureka Portrait Company at No. 775
Broadway. It is therefore evident where
the name address Of the New York Office
originated
The finest display OF Christmas Goods
in the market can be found at Hart S,
AUG King street.
An elegant assortment of pentlemen's