Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-17
GREEN GOODS wIrn rAKIArloN

GREEN GOODS WITH 4 T1RIATEOh,
A scheme That shows Ingenuity aud q
PHASE That Proves Tempting.
Hartford Times.
Another and most tempting phase OF
| the green goods scheme has made lis
appearance. A stranger comes to town
and selects his victim, usually a saloon
keeper. He makes the saloon his hang.
out and spends money freely. The
| proprietor soon notices, if he is at all
observant, that every time the stranger
pays for anything he passes out crisp,
unwrinkled bill. The stranger becomes
very friendly with the proprietor, and
one fine day he says:
"Well, | must say goodby tomorrow.
But before go l wish you would give
me back those new bills. will give you
other money for them"
"Why, what for"
swell, I'll tell you. That money I've
been spending here is not right, see 7
I've grown to like you, and | don't
want you to get into trouble"
The victim is astonished, probably
goes to his cash drawer and examines
some of the money. He swears that it
is real, but the stranger laughs at him.
Real !? Why, I'll sell you cords of
that stuff for $50 q S100i" Then the
stranger goes on to explain the same old
story, but with this addition
you've seen this exposed in the
papers hundred times, and how man
is bound to lose his money if he runs
against the game. Well, if you'll do
business with me I'll put the money
right in your hands before you pay me
cent?
That certainly looks reasonable and
let us suppose the victim bites. He
agrees to do business" He says he
will buy 800 worth. The sharper then
tells him to meet him the next day with
500 in So bills. They meet. The
sharper produces large envelope. They
count the money and place it in the en-
velope. The victim is directed to seal
the envelope. The stranger then says /:
Nov, | will mark this envelope in
your presence" Suiting the action to
the words, he takes out a stylographic
pen, spreads out newspaper on the
bar to write upon, writes a number
across one end and three initials in the
middle; then, as he blots the writing
with the newspaper, says: "Now, you
keep this envelope, with your money in
1t, and when our agent calls on you to-
morrow he will count the goods into
your hand. And when you are con-
WINGED that it is just as represented, not
before, hand him this envelope. He will
recognize the number and initials and
receive it as payment"
With these words the stranger hands
the victim his envelope, bids him goodby
and takes his leave. IL is needless to
say that he Immediately leaves town,
and that when the agent fails to arrive
the next day and the victim opens his
envelope he finds it filled only with
pieces Of blank paper cut to represent
the So bills
A few words will suffice to explain
the trick, for it is as truly a sleight of
hand trick as any Jewett or Hermann
or Keller can do on the stage. The
crook has two envelopes precisely alike.
One he prepares by marking il with
number and initials and filling it with
the required number of blank sheets of
paper. This he folds inside of news
paper and puts it carelessly in his side
pocket.
The other envelope he keeps in readi-
ness to produce at the right moment to
receive the victims money. When he
has seen the bundle safely inside and
sealed, he takes his newspaper, spreads
the envelope upon it, writes on it, opens
up one corner of the paper and puts it
underneath and blots it. Then here
comes the change which is simple
enough. He takes out the dummy enve-
lope and hands it to the victim. 1t is all
so natural that any one might be de-
ceived. The victim thinks that his
money does not go out of his sight for
moment, but it does-very much SO.