Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-04-17
AN IMPORTANT CATCH"
The Clever Ruse Of Three Shrewd
Swindlers.

The Clever Ruse of Three Shrewd
Swindlers.
Opposite the Bank of England and
about five minutes walk from the Man
sion House, the residence of the Lord
Mayor of London, there was in Leaden-
hall street, in 1879, the shop of wealthy
matchmaker.
One dreary November morning man
entered his shop whose loud dress and
louder manner impressed the jeweler
disagreeably. He looked at the swag-
gering fellow, sized him up in a jiffy,
and tipping his clerks the wink to be
extra careful, stepped forward and
said in his sharpest tone: "Well, sir?"
The fellow was not bit abashed.
saw" he said, in an unmistakable
low cockney voice, "ye ave been very
ighly recommended to me-factis, want
to get about thousan' puns' worth of
watches from you. | am going to the
West Indies by to-morrows steamer,
and want to make this little hinvest-
ment on me own haccount. Now, re-
member, me good friend,' he added,
laughingly, "my name is cash--cash,
ye know. So want no fancy prices,
but every thing first-class and bottom
rates"
The jeweler, keeping sharp lookout
all the while, showed him his various
styles, and in q very short time the fel-
low selected about $1,000 worth of
watches.
AUST a999, 15s," said the jeweler.
VERY well, 'eres a thousand puns
Just wrap up the swag and gi' me the
change, will YEP"
"You must excuse me-" said the Jew
eler, after fumbling little while at
his safe, "but can't change this note.
just sit down few minutes and I'll
send the boy over to the bank. Here,
John, take this to the bank" And then
In an undertone he added: "Just find
out If the bill Is good. Don't cash it;
have plenty of change here" The
stranger calmly seated himself and
quietly conversed with the jeweler.
In . few minutes the boy returned
"The note is perfectly good," he said
softly to his employer. The merchant
was puzzled. Was 1t possible that he
could be mistaken? However, there
was nothing else to be done. So he
hsnded the man his change and the
package of watches. He was about to In
quire by what steamer his customer was
going to leave, when the door opened
and another more loudly dressed indi-
vidual walked in. He looked at the
first fellow, and, without minding the
jeweler, who watched him narrowly,
he slapped him laundering whack on
the shoulders and cried out:
"Hullo, Jack, what in goodness arc
you doing 'ereP"
"Hullo, Joe! where do you come
from? bought some watches 'erep'
"The dickens we did! | am ere just
on the same herrand. And what die
you buy watches for9"
81 am going to the West Indies"
"By the holy pokeE so am I! What
steamer?"
"The jamaica"
Deuce take 1t all, so am /. Well
now, me good fellow, just stay here till
I'm done. / don't want to carry the
same stuff you do. Just 'elp me select
''Of course will. 'Ow much are yor
going to hinvest?"
"Well, about a thousan puns-" The
jeweler by this time had become thor
oughly awake. He felt sure the coul
was now coming and he doubled hi
watchfulness. With due care he dis
played his goods, and the two fellows
had coon selected another one Thousand
pounds sterling worth of watches
Like number one, one thousand pound
sterling note was offered in paymen
for number two. This time the Jew
cler felt sure that the note was for
1havej just told your friend" said he
mat haven't change enough in m,
safe. 1t is snnoying, but if you'll kind
ly wait moment I'll send the boy owe
to the bank with the note. Just MAX,
yourselves comfortable, gentlemen tn,
boy viii be back in an instant" In |
few minutes the boy returned, and agaiI
he muttered:
THE note is perfectly good" TIL,
jeweler was more astounded than ever
After all he had been mistaken in thes
two suspicious-looking characters ant
his sharpness was at fault He coul'
scarcely believe it. His wcll-knowi
shrewdness, his knowledge of human
nature, needed correction. Incompre
i hensible! He handed the man hi
change and package and was still con
versing with the two when suddenl,
the door was pushed open and a big
burly policeman bounced in. He lai,
his strong hands on both men. ''Jacl
Halloran," he said. land Joe Winter
bottom, arrest you in the name of tn
Queeni Steady now, my men, and n
fuss, If you please. The game is up!
have plenty of help outside. So just lie
me put these little ornaments on you
wrists, and the quicker you are about
the better all around"
The jeweler ehucbled. After all h
had been right, and these fellows wer
yhagperS He nodded his head com