Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-03
SEVERAL SHARP FEMALES
Said to Have Touched Up Augusta Merchants
for a GoodIy Sum.

An Augusta dispatch to the Boston
Herald gives the following interesting
information:
1t has just been discovered that a
trio of female sharpers have been
working this city during several weeks
and have left behind them numerous
unpaid bills as souvenirs of their visit
About two months ago two pretty,
we'll dressed girls arrived at the Au-
gusta House, where they registered as
the Misses Cummings OF Bangor"
One was about 20 years Of age and the
other Is or Is years. and both were not
only weli-manered, but agreeable in
their conversation. few days after
their arrival they were Joined by Il
plain-featured woman, attired in black
and about 35 years of age, who gave
/ the name of Mrs. Morse. She called
/ herself an aunt of the two girls, and
had with her two small children-a boy
and girl
After staying a week in the hotel the
: trio rented a dwelling house on Chapel
street, which they caused 10 be hand
somely furnished from top to bottom.
and then moved into it, forgetting to
settle their hotel bill when they left
but leaving an empty trunk. They then
gave out word that they had rented a
store at the North end. where they
were ready to receive secondhand
furniture. old garments, or anything
else that parties desired to dispose of
At one house which Mrs. Morse visited.
she told the lady who came to the door
that she Was going to take the cast-off
dresses given her, cut them over and
sell them 10 the mill girls at prices
within their means. She. however.
changed her mind in regard to having
the things sent to the store, but had
them sent TO her house. AS the result.
some OF the best families, whose houses
she had visited, sent lots of old dresses
to her residence. together with furni
ture 30 longer Fashionable, and which
they desired to part with.
The trio found no difficulty in win
ming the confidence Of some Of the
Water street merchants and to such an
extent that, strangers as they We're.
they succeeded in buying all the goods |
they wanted on credit. From the city's
principal furniture dealer they pur-
chased all the furniture they wanted |
lO1 tItil iipust ibStllitI Nlsli Zig tdi
pets for the floors. draperies, curtains. |
cutlery, table linen, bedding. cook stove, |
dishes-in short, complete outfit for
the house-all to be paid for on the in
stalinent plan. They ran up a large
bill at the principal dry goods house, |
and they patronized the principal deal |
er in groceries and provisions literally, |
taking the best in the market. Shoe |
stores and clothing stores were also
drawn upon, and at q music store they
purchased guitar, a mandolin and a
banjo.
Wherever they could get trusted they
were liberal customers, it making on
difference what kind OF goods they
had. SO long as they could get them ION
tick" Whenever Mrs. Morse was
dunned by any of the tradesmen who
had been victimZed she would put
them off by such a remark as this:
It's all right: my husband will be here
shortly; he's a government official. and
when he comes he will settle your bill"
To one firm that dunned her she paid
s. on account, and then got trusted fol-
about $50 more worth of goods. 4
The house the trio lived in became !
noisy nights after while, and there
was a good deal of profanity flying
through the air, which disturbed the
ncighbors. 1t was also observed that
there We're considerable many gentle
men callers.
The trio kept on plying their swind
ling operations until a week ago. when
they mysteriously disappeared one
night, leaving their creditors here in
the lurch and with no knowledge of
their Whereabouts. The facts relating
totheir operations here are slowly com
ing out, as those who have been de-
frauded are loath to talk about it.
From what can be learned the total
amount viii be several hundred dol
lars
1t has been ascertained that on the
secondhand furniture and clothing
sent them they raised what money they
could st a paWnshop, where they also
effected loans or other goods 1t is
supposed that such articles as could be
easily transported in trunks they car
ricd off with them in their flight.
The furniture left in the house has
been taken by the man who sold it to
them. as well as other property which
they bought from him, so that he will
not lose more than $15.
From q letter found in the house this
feminine trio, it is believed, belong in
ST. John. N. b. They are provincial
people at any rate.
The writer saw man trying to rake