The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-23
sHARPERs AT WORK.
Countrymen Robbed by Made-up
Of1cers-Tricks to Look Out for.

Countrymen Robbed by Made-up
Oh1cers-Tricks to Look Out for.
Now is the time when the sharpers
in the dark places of the city get in their
work. The unwary countrymen win be
robbed in a nice way many times this
Christmas, as they have been at other
Christmases. In some cases the officers get
hold Of the ''skinners," but the instances
are exceptions. Sharp enough TO perpe-
trate one piece of rascality, they are usually
clever enough to cover their tracks in their
rambles for other victims. They have been
getting in their work already this Christ
mas.
Saturday night about 10 o'clock young
white man ran into the store Of Dryfus
Bros, on Congress and Jefferson ST. eets.
and asked for $40 out Of a package of 800
which he had deposited with them in the
afternoon after selling his cotton.
The bookkeeper got the money and when
he handed it to him he noticed a nervous
ness in the young man, and asked him what
the matter was.
20, nothing; l can't tell you now" re-
Piled the young fellow, and he hurried
out. The bookkeeuer went to the door, but
the young fellow was out of sight. In a
few minu, es he came back. and, pale in the
face, he related the circumstances of what
he said was marrow escape"
81 was comm long down the street, he
said. when an officer jerked me by the
shoulder and told me he had got hold of me
at last. He said I'd been dodgin' him longer
nuff and in the Jail I'd be slapped. He be-
began to drag me about over the street
and put his haads in mis- pocket to get hand
cuffs l asked him what I'd done. / told
him he was mistaken in the man, but he
said he be If be had been sending fellows
to the chain gang and penitentiary and the
gallows all this time Cor nothing. He said
he knowed his business and he started to
the Jail with me. knowe1 wasn't at all
guilty, and / asked him if the thing couldn't
be stopped. He stopped and looked at me
and said well, you - poor scoundrel, l
feel sorry for you, and if you will turn me
over $40 will say to the high sheriff that
never saw you. Mind you, if you say a
word about it to anybody will kill you.
thought would give the officer the money
rather than go to Jail, and 1
told him to wait till l could get
it. When / gave him the $40
he turned down the lane and walked fast
away"
The countryman was asked if the officer
wore badge, and he said that he did not
see any. He did not produce the handouts.
The young man was not told that he had
been duped. The merchants did not make
him feel mean by telling him thata sharper
had worked" him.
Another case of swindle was practiced on
an unsuspecting lad from the country, just
after nightfall, in front of one of the wagon
yards, last night. A trio of bunco-men
stood out on the street working the ''card
racket" as they call it among themselves.
One OF the men was allowed to win several
dollars by the turn of the card and, I'M
asked, the lad ventured to bet on one Of the
cards himself. He won. He bet ag ain and
won; he oct again and again, and won each
time. 1t began to get interesting, and he
put the whole of his winnings and more up.
1t went the other way. The buncoes got it.
The lad ran his hand into his vest pocket to
get some change, and he pulled out $40
bill which he had been sent out to get
changed. The moment the buncoes saw
the greenback they conspired to get it, and
before the boy could put it back into his
pocket one of the men grabbed it and ran
away. He was not seen again.
These games are going on now, and the
countrymen may look sharp.