The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-01-22
A COME BACKS LUCK
HaYseeder Sheffield of Man
chester Does Up a Green
Goods SWind1er.
CLEARS $1,000 IN GOOD MONEY
He Came Along Armed With a
Black Jack and Caught His
Victim" on the Flash.

John Sheffield of Manchester, N. Y, =
typical jay, attired in salt bag outfit.
broad brimmed slouch hat and the pre-
verbal bunch of whiskers on his chins
rushed into Police Headquarters this
morning and exclaimed BE Gosh I've
done 'em. I've touched their pile for .
thousand. I've got money to cremate
and I want to find friend with plenty
of matches to help me OUT
Sheffield was sized up for Iunatic,
but when he waved two hands full of
crisp bills above his head everybody was
interested. Sheffield explained, when he
cooled down. that he had beaten a
"green goods" swindler at his own game.
And so It proved
His roll of money was counted and It
was found that he had an even $1,000 in
ten, five and one dollar bills.
Chief Murphy thought Sheffield must
have murdered the green goods" man.
but an investigation by Detective Nc
Nally revealed the fact that he had man
aged to get away with the good money
by the free use of a heavy "black jack"
A COOL HAND.
For the past month Sheffield has been
in constant communication with green
goods" men whose headquarters were in
New York City. The customary seduc-
tive circulars were sent him by the score.
The operators evidently thought they
had struck a rich victim. The told how
easy it would be for him to make a for
tune by buying green goods"
He finally decided to try his luck. He
impaired that information to the green
goods" men, and he was directed to meet
the agent who would have the goods at
No. ST West street, New York, this
morning. Sheffield was on hand at seven
O'Clock. He was met at No. 81 West
street by the green goods" operator,
but that gentleman said he was afraid
to show his goods there. 1t was sug
gested that they go to some little town
in New Jersey Sheffield agreed and
they crossed the Cortlandt street ferry
of the Pennsylvania Railroad together.
They were about to enter the depot when
Sheffield suggested that they go to Tay-
lor's hotel. The green goods man con-
sented very reluctantly. They engaged
room on the third floor. Upon enter
ing it the operator made an effort to
block the door: but Sheffield objected.
The green goods man went to work
money on the bed The moment he did
so. Sheffield grabbed it, pulled black
jack from his hip pocket, dealt the green
goods man blow on the head, sprang
from the room and dashed down stairs
three steps at a time. He lost his hat
and as he passed through the corridor
bareheaded. black jack in one hand
and a bundle of money in the other the
cry of thief was raised.
THE BIRD FLOWN.
Detective McNally overlook him, and
sent him to Police Headquarters as soon
as he learned what had happened. He
then made search for the other swim
dler, but that individual had made good
his escape.
The New York police were notified.
and detectives were sent to No. 81 West
street. Nothing could be learned of any
gang that had made a headquarters of
the place. Chief Murphy does not ex-
pect to capture the green goods" swim
dler.
field is a come back'-that is. map
who has tried his luck with "grssn
goods men before and been swindled.
This being a second trial, he was ION
to the game" and prepared to act as
soon as the swindler made the flash
The game is an old one A quantity Of
good money is shown the intended vic
tim. Frequently good money is torn in
three or four pieces, SO that it can be
readily pasted together The victim ex-
amines it and then makes purchase.
The satchel containing the good money
is spirited away and a second satcheI
containing we'll pressed brick is hand
ed to the victim.
There are very few instances on record
goods" operators.
Sheffield will probably be allowed to
go home and take the green goods
with him.
ROUNDING UP OLD HANDS.
With the hope of finding the man who
attempted to sWindle Sheffield, Chief
Murphy had Detective McNally sum
mon three or four old green goo6s''
men who have been stopping at Tayloris s
Hotel ever since the Lexow Committee
began its work, to Headquarters. Among
them was Mike Ryan. Sheffield looked
at all the men and declared that the one
he did business with was not present
Sheffield has been resident of Nam
chester, Ontario County, New York, only
kins Glen. He says he is well acquaint-
ed with Sheriff Fitzgerald. of Watkins.
He says his reason for coming on here
to meet the green goods" men was to
beat them at their own game, because a,
friend of his had been swindled out OF
$500 about two months ago He had only
81 with ts,, which b Gln, to buy %green goods"
The Chief attaches no blame to Pro-
pr.etor Reed, of Taylor's Hotel He SAYS
that it was impossible for the green
goods men to swindle Sheffield in the
| room they engaged. and that the s1,e0O
in good money was thrown on the bed
for the purpose of leading Sheffield and
| to get him to consent to go to some
place where he could be handily swim
died.
CHEF MURPHY PUZZLED.
Sheffield is held for carrying concealed
weapons. The disposition of the money
| is puzzl,ng the Chief. 1t does not be-
| long TO Sheffield nor have the police
any particular. claim upon it. The Chief
win hold IT,. however,. to see if the
! green goods men Will appear and pre-
fer a charge OF robbery against Shelf
field. If such charge be made, the
complainant In turn Will have to answer
for "green goods swindling. The money
Will probably be confiscated by the
police, ultimately.