The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-14
BOODLE.RINGERS CAUGHT.
Tive Italians Who Are Said to Be Wanted
in This City.

KANSAS CITY. Mo-, Nov. 13-Two
Italians, known as Ferreo aud Frigerio, are
under arrest here charged with Attempting
to swindle wealthy cOuntryman OF their
own. They are well-known confidence men
and have piled their trade in all the large
cities IF the country. The police here re-
ceived word from San Francisco and num-
Der OF other places stating that they were
wanted In those places On various charges,
ranging from petty to grand larceny.
Captain l. w. Lees was shown the above
dispatch last night. He said he could not
tell whether the men arrested in Kansas
City are the MEN who have been operating
In the city unless he was furnished with q
description of them. The names given are
no clew, as they pass under many.
During the past year several Italians
have been victimized, ne said, by bunco
men OF their own nationality. All efforts to
trace the scoundrels have been unavailing
ABOUT year ago an Italian bootblack liv-
Ing cut on Ellis street. was robbed of $1,000
Dy Two OF his counirymen, who rang the
Doodle" on him. About two months ago
another Italian was by the same process
renewed OF large sum OF money
Captain Lees explained the method of
operation peculiar to this class of bunco
men. In the case of the bootblack his con-
dence was first obtained by one of the bunco
men becoming his regular custom
er Tor two or three months before
he robbed him. When he became
well acquainted with the boot5lack
and discovered he had some money the
bootblack was Informed by his customer
that the latter had fallen heir to large for
tune in the old country and would soon re-
turn to Italy to claim his legacy.
Having interested the bootblack In the
story. the next step was to manifest so
much interest in him as to express desire
to have him accompany the man who had
fallen heir TO fortune 10 Italv and TO
promise him good time and first-class
situation In the old country. The victim
speedily iell into the snare. and drawing
his money out OF the bank prepared to ac-
company the stranger to Italy. The stale
trick OF ringing the Doodle" became then
an easy performance. Two gripsacks were
provided exactly alike. The bootblack
would be induced to stow his wealth in one,
OF which he retained possession, while the
bunco man would exhibit pile of gold and
place the same in his gripsack Before
starting many little purchases for the Jour
ney would have to be made, and third
man would be introduced-a friend of the
hrst-who was also going to visit Europe.
In the course Of the day the gripsacks
would be deftly changed, SO that the victim
would get hold of the booder's satchel.
After taking social drinks at various wine
houses the bootblack would be sent into
some store to make a purchase, while his
friends remained outside the victim carry
Ing meanwhile what he believed to be his
own grpsack. Upon coming outside the
store his companions would nowhere be
seen, and upon opening his giipsack the
painful discovery would be made that il was
filed with washers. lead pipe and other
rubbish.
The last victim was swindled by induc-
Ing him to go into store TO buy some
candy. The same story about a legacy had
been poured into his ears and the unwary
Italian had been tempted to return TO Italy
with the two congenial strangers. When
the victim came out of the store he was per-
suaded that be had not bought the right
quality of sweetmeats, and while they were
disputing the matter his gripsack was ex-
changed for the stuffed one carried by the
boobies. This performance is what is called
ringing the boodie." The victim returned
to the store to buy better quality of candy,
taking with him what he supposed was his
own grpsack. When he returned to the
street the confidence men had fed with all
bis wealth.
Captain Lees said about twenty of this
class OF Italian bunco thieves had been vic
tmiZlng their countrymen by these legacy
stories throughout The United States he
will have to await description OF the men
arrested in Kansas City before he can say
whether they are the men wanted in San
francisco for various robberies.