The morning call., 1892-09-16
HOW THEY DUPE THEM.
" Slick" Method by Which
Fools Are Cinched.
They Are Led to Believe That Millions are in
Their GRASP, Only to Find 1t
Delusion.

George r. Sanderson, the Mayors secre-
tary, was chuckling over letter yesterday.
Another of emp he calculated, half
pityingly. tossing over the fimsy- looking
communication.
The letter contained inquiries for Jacob
Deyos, supposed to be FISHER" and stated
that he was born in Flanders. Belgium, in
1893. emigrated in 1923 TO America. and died
on the 18th OF February, 1891, supposedly
in San Francisco, leaving an immense for
tune.
Further Information wanted about Mr..
Devos was whether he was married, whether
he made will and who took possession Of
his fortune.
At the end was the signature of Charles
Ready, who sal he represented Mr.. DevOs'
niece, and asked that an immediate reply
be sent TO him at Joinyille lie Pont (Seinel,
Aux Blbelots au Diable - probably the
name OF some saloon.
''See ?" asked the secretary as The CALL
man laid aside the letter.
II see somewhat quantity worded letter
of inquiry. but it seems of little interest"
The secretary smiled
"You will understand when l tell you
that we have had the records searched and
no such name as Dey0s appears among the
dead Of 1891.
"You will observe that the man would be
9S years of age at the time of his alleged
death and ] believe In city where THE
MORNING CALL is published the death of
centenarian millionaire would not have
been allowed TO pass unnoticed
I'VE are flooded with letters Of this kind
and have no hesitation in saying that Mr..
Devos never existed.
''It is the old story OF knave and fool.
I'm almost every big city, American as
well as European. there are gentlemen whose
,iaf Of livelihood te lnaatipO D1Vth-
ical milionaires.
"Their course is to advertise for some one
whose name they have selected, with view
to its commonness.
"The bites follow as. matter Of course
and then the gudgeon are Kept on the hook.
First somewhat coldly worded letter
informs the inquirer that there is posi-
bility that he or she is entitled TO vast
sum of money and requesting them to for
ward their family history-and a fee.
This letter is followed by others scien-
tificalIy graduated up to a burst of OPEN
hearted confidence to the effect that said
inquirers are unquestionably the long-lost
heirs, but
"There always is but in these cases,
you know" the secretary remarked paren-
thetcalv.
But" he continued, "lhe heirs must send
more fees to establish the fact of their
claim and to trace out the time and place of
their millionaire's death.
"Ihen we receive such letter as this.
"Of course there are variations, but these
are the ordinary steps taken.
Sometimes they ask what the claimant
will take for his imaginary claim down on
the spot.
This is almost sure bait and artisti-
cally handled can be made to yield an end
less succession Of fees.
Fees are the main object OF these cold
hearted bloodsuckers.
"Ducat by ducat, on one pretense or an
other, the hard-earned money OF the de-
luded Is stolen away.
"Why, have no doubt that this very let
ter will be charged up at high rate against
some claimant, and the Mayors reply ought
to be worth double rates at least.
"It might be well to put people on their
guard against the next-of-kin frauds, for
they thrive under every sky where 81 :
plicty and worldly ignorance ask TO be de-
vOured."
Was IL fancy or did the reporter see the
secretary toss the French letter of inquiry
into the waste paper basket as he left the
room?
III so. perhaps, one "fee" al least b as been
spared SOma fatuOuS victim.