Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-07
.EYEGLASS SWINDLERS here
Loans" Negotiated on Bogus
Spectacles.
MANY WILMINGTON PEOPLE DUpED
Twenty five Cent Glasses
Paimed Off AS Gold Ones.


Eye.glass swindlers are working the
people of Wilmington on a largo scale.
A local jaweler informed reporter of
"The Gazette" Wednesday that three
victims were in his store on Monday,
and each had The same tale of woe to
tell. Most of tho people who are vic
timized are working people and in
many cases they are too poor to lose
the money out of which they are hun
coed. These swindlers usually lie In
wait for the men as they come from
the shops. They have worked here
successfully for some time, and have so
far escaped the authorities. "Why,"
the jeweler explained, II have people
to come into my store every few days
and report that they have been duped.
These fellows have been working in
this city for more than year to my
knowledge.
Here is how they do the Job: As
rule they are we'll dressed and usually
have an honest appearance, which Of
course throws off suspicion. The
swindler will watch his opportunity,
and when he sees person coming whom
he thinks he can work, he will walk
toward him and just as they meet will
take from his eyes pair OF glasses,
which to all outward appearances are
costly gold glasses. He will hold them
in his hand and say: Beg pardon,
sir; l am a stranger in your city, and
being without funds, and in order to
borrow enough money to get to my
home in Baltiomre Tor somewhere else,
as the case may be- | will leave these
gold glasses with you as security, As
soon as | get home | will return the
money to you and also fair interest
for your kindness, Tho person ad-
dressed looks at the stranger and then
at the glasses. He Listens to the plead.
ings and will ask how much money the
stranger would need to get to his home.
| would like to have three dollars on
them, is the reply. II he cannot get
So he will take two and some have
been content with so cents. AS a rule
parties Appealed to think the stranger
is in hard luck and as they consider
him honest, readily advance what they
think 10 loan, in many cases 80 being
paid over to the stranger. The conse-
quence is tho Wilmingtonian never
hears anything more of the man who
left the glasses and no proceeds to
make an investigation. Usually the
first thing he does is to take them to a
ieweler and inquire as to their worth. .
Tho ieweler stated further that he
had numbers Of them brought to him,
and they are all alike The men who
palm them off get them in Philadelphia
at So dozen, or 20 cents piece. They
are electro-plated with gold and as soon
as drop of acid is put on them they
turn green. Ii a person puts them on, the
effect is the same in day or two. The
jewelcr stated that he had persons to
come to him and want new glasses put
in these frames, but as soon as they
found how worthless they were, the
idea was abandoned Hundreds of
Wilmingtonians have been duped in
the last few months, and in the future
they would do well to have the glasses
tested before they advance any money
on them.
The police will take cognizance Of
this matter and a watch will be kent
for these swindlers, and il any are
caught they will undoubtedly get
good dose OF law.