Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-05-23
SMOOTH R0GUES.
HOW CONFIDENCE MEN SWIM
DIE INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.
The Pal With His Waiting for
the Lame Boy Green Goods Game
The Latest Trick.

"Ialking about smart people, said
detective to Washington Star reporter,
"the confidence man, or the con man,
as we call him, viii never take back
seat, and there is no reason, except as
matter of honesty, why he should. He
is always quick to take trick and can
size up mark as readily rs 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 ut a loss
for a subject that will interest any one,
and he seldom makes mistake when he
picks out his man. The 'con man, rs
rule, does not attempt to become n mil
honaire at one haul, nor does he usually
risk more than two or three tricks in
city during one visit. The depot is his
fayorite place for picking up his prey.
He conyerses 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 viii tell him.
'aThe check racket, he continued, 'is
one of the boldest games of the conf
dence men, but it is still practieed 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, am going there myself on
the next train, he will say.
"Of course, the stranger is glad TO |
have company. He never did like TO
travel alone, anyhow. The confidence !
man is such pleasant tallter that the 4
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 tho old gentleman interrupts
his newly-made friend and tells him
that he is going around to the hotel for
his wife and daughter.
Ny daughter, he will say, will be
good company for YOU and make the
trip pleasant
''The stranger readily accepts the po-
sition and anticipates pleasant jour
ney. Ho 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 ut the depot.
Presently n young man, ostensibly
clerk in q store, meets the two, and, adj
dressing the elderly man, he presents
bill for the goods, and requests its pay }
ment.
"Certainly, he will answer, taking
check from his pocket, here's your
"'But can't change the check, the
clerk viii reply.
Then he hesitates What to do he /,
Ices not know. He turns TO his friend !
md shows him the check He would ,
Ike the loan Of $50 OF 500 until he can :
ret the check cashed. and of course, be :
iss no objection to handing over the
heck as security The check is for
300 or 500, and, satisfied that he can l.
lot possibly lose anything, the victim !
axes the money from his pocket and )
lands itover.
I'm this connection" the detective ].
continued, "the confidence man usually q
ONES within SO or $40 of the amount :,
he victim has in his pocket They
sually transact that part OF the business :
ear saloon or public place of some =
ind. The receipt for the money must =
10 signed, and tho victim waits on the
idewalk while the merchant and his =
step inside and then step ont =
he hack door, leaving the victim on the II
idewalk waiting for them. He gets a
ired Of waiting, but still he does not =
hink that his acquaintance is dishon :
st. He goes to the bank and inquiries =
bout tho check. Then the bank clerk =
as laugh, and the unfortunate indi !
idual is referred to tho police depart :,
rent. and the whole world becomes "
with his misfortune. g,
Sometimes the game is arranged dii =;
,rontly. Instead Of giving the victim -
nc slip in tho manner indicated he is "
,nt back TO the depot to wait for Inc !,
ifc and children of the confidence man -
mong the children there is ten-year- J.,
Id boy, who walks with crutchcs, so y
lat it will DO impossible to miss them. =
his Iopi bog Aitto bttl tCu NSstlS Oil loI l.
long time and has been the means of :. -
'oling many sictim. He returns to =
&c depot and waits for tho persons ms u
escribed. They do not appear. Ho
ecomes uneasy, for it is nearly time for q
lie departure of tho train. He waits ~
ntil the last minute. They do not APP y .
Ear, and he begins to think something a
IS happened to them. They will sure n n
be here for the next train, he says to =
mself He still waits and does not sus- !,
sct anything wrong until some ono in = :.
Ie depotwho has noticed him approaches ~
Id questions him concerning Tic ~
ain he wants to take. He then tells =
$ story, and realizes for tile first time u
at he has been swindled. ~
"The green goods game is another p
hcmc Of the confidence man." contin
d the detective, ''that has been working s ~
ny successfully for many years, and it 40
Just The Same now as it was years ago. r
ike all other games, it has been exposed ~