New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-23
SWINDLERS KNOCKED OUT
A COUNTRYMAN USES A BLACKJACK ON
"GREENGOODs" MEN.
HE GETS THEM TO HAND OVER sl.soo. Uses HIS
WEAPON AND THEN ESCAPES WITH

THE MONEY.
A 'greengoods" operator was knocked out with
blackjack at Taylor's Hotel in Jersey City
yesterday. by John Sheffield who escaped with
$500 In good money. Sheffield and the cash are
now In the hands OF the police, but the green
goods" men, OF whom there were two. escaped to
this city. Shefield's story. told to the police
Is in substance as follows:
He lives at Watkins Glen, n. y, and Is a re-
spectacle citizen. which fact. he says, will be at
tested by Sheriff Fitzgerald. OF that place About
three months ago he went to Manchester, this
State. where he bought out restaurant. Not long
after that he received a batch Of ''greengoods''
circulars At first he paid no attention to them,
but as friend of his had once been swindled by
"Greengoods" men. he finally decided TO see II he
could not get even with the swindlcrs for his
friends sake Accordingly ne wrote to the address
given. and received answer. telling him to go
to Jersey City on January %. and he would DO
met by the persons who were corresponding with
him.
He did so, and was met by two men, one short
and thickset. the other tall Beyond the fact that
the short man was dark, and the tall man OF
fair complexion he could tell little about them.
The men took Sheffield to No. 81 West-st this
city but he refused to enter the building He
asked the men to return return to jersey, City and 80
in which they could make their bargain. They
finally agreed to this. Sheffield entered the hotel
No 70. He had scarcely entered. when his friends
called for him, and were shown to his room.
once there, Sheffield says they showed him
bundle OF one-dollar hve-dollar and ten-dol-
lar notes There 100 in each bundle,
total Of $1,000. Having satisfied himself
that the money was genuine Sheffield proceeded
to pocket the money. At the same lime, the snort
man began punching him with an umbrella he
carried. He showed the man away. and turning
suddenly upon the other. knocked him down with
a blackjack which he had till then kept concealed
in his pocket AS the man fell. Sheffield ran into
the hallway and down the main staircase ifo
the street. The he had Knocked down yelled
Murder" but neither OF the two made any enort
TO stop him They at once left the ROOM but went
down the stairs TO the barrcom. whence with.
out giving any information. they passed out OF
the barroom door and hurried to the ferry, making
their way to this city. II Is supposed The man
who had been feed by the blackjack was bleed
ing from a wound in his forehead.
In TIE mean time Sheffield stood In front OF the
main entrance the hotel still holding the black:
jack in his hand. and telling his story to crowd
that had gathered. when Detective McNally ar
rested him. At Police Headquarters the money
which he had taken from the "greenSoods' men
was taken from him. and he was locked up on q
charge OF carrying concealed weapons. For this
he will be arragned to-day before Police Justice
Potts and fined 500. Chief Murphy says the money
is not likely to be claimed. and in that case it
will be given the Police Mutual Aid Fund.
Three were arrested later in the day. on
suspicion. but Sheffield said they were not imp!!-
Gated in the affair, and they were released