Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-05-17
I NEW GREEN GOODS METHODS.


Dressed In Feminine Attire, tho swindler
Lures His Victims.
Accompanied by Police Constable Irv-
ing and friend, a gentleman whose &C
cent afforded indisputable evidence that
he IS Ut German extraction walked into
the detective Office last night and there
related most remarkable experience
which, he stated. had befallen him. His
name Is Frank Hohlbein. he is the rep.
resentative of tan bark company .and
IN the register Of the Red Lion hotel he
has given his address as Eastwood, Ont.
His business has taken him all over this
country and the adjoining republic, and
he has only recently returned from the
southern states.
His story to the detectives is to the
effect that on Saturday evening. having
nothing to do. he paid visit to the
musee on Yonge street. When the per-
Torrance was over, he came out to the
street and was about to return to his
hotel when he noticed very plump,
rather handsome young lady, who ap-
pears to have had power enough to
charm him away from his original in
tention to go home. Neither seems to
have objected to the others company.
and, to make n long story short, the tive
strolled away up the street arm III arm.
Hohlbein is a stranger in the city, has nc
knowledge at all OF its geography. and is
therefore unable to now describe. except
in very general terms. the route follow ed
by him and his companion, but it is
sufficient to know that at length they
reached the outside of n house which
the lady informed him was her home.
With some hesitation he accepted an in.
vitation to enter and was ushered into
room furnished in very ordinary
way and containing, he noticed, n type
writer. He was offered some ale. but
having declined to drink the lady drank
some for him.
After some pleasant chatting his com.
panion stepped back. and raising her
hand lifted off her hat and wig, and &c
his intense MANAGEMENT Hohlbein saw
that he was il the presence not of q
woman. but OF n man. Another twist o.
the wrist. and the man hid removed d
jacket, waist and skirt. and there lie
stood-a young man in ordinary male
attire.
Hohlbein WAS 1T n loss TO account for
this very strange netamorphosis and
| grasped a revolver which he carried
with him, determined to defend himself
should the occasion rise. The stranger.
however. requested him to be calm and
at his case. as no harm would come to
| !, 10 L..
Of bills. which he handed to Hohlbe;n
with the request that the latter expre..
an opinion as to what they We're.
Green goods" said Hohlbein.
Right you are" said the stranger.
and he then and there offered him all he
wanted for % cents for each dollars
worth.
How much money have you:" he
asked Hohlbein. The latter produced
his purse and showed his companion
that there was nothing in il but some
small change scarcely worth mention
ing. This seemed TO exasperate the Oc
cupant of the room. and with rather
strong language he opened Il door lead
ing to the back yard and promptly
evicted his guest. Hohlbein slM hs
walked n long distance before he could
find a street, and when he at last did sc
he FASTENED to his hotel. In the morn
ing he related his experience to a friend
and the two interviewed Constable Irv
ing, who went with them to the detectiv,
office.
The story is such queer affair that il
is difficult to come to any conclusion re
garding it. The man who tells it is sale
to he an honest. truthful and sober man
and those who know him place relianc'
| ON his ,,.ord -Toronfo Mail