The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-21
HE TRIED 1T ON TWO.
THE LATEST VARIATION OF AN OLD
CONFIDENCE GAME.

a Young Man Who Is Everybody's Name
sake-If Possible Kinship Is Admitted,
tho Rest Is Easy-scheme Is Clever, but
Not Always Successful.
A young man Of prepossessing ap-
pearance has recently been play ing up
on the sympathies of New Yorkers by a
game that If not new is at least novel
variation of an old swindle He seems
to h"ye some system of making inquir-
les a. to the charitable disposition OF
those to whom he applies. One thing
seems to be certain-that he picks out
persons whose names are rather uncom-
mon. An example of his method may be
given in the experience of Mrs Raw
hnson, who lives in modest fat ON
Twenty street. She is deeply
interested in church and charitable
work, although she Is not one who can
dispense other aid to the distressed than
can be given by her own personal exer-
tions in their behalf. Mrs. Rawlinson
answered ring at her bell the other
day and found herself confronted by a
smiling stranger who made certain OF
her name and then proceeded to remark
upon how glad he was to see her, add
ing:
at seems that we are namesakes,
Mrs Rawlinson, and as / am in very
unfortunate circumstances, without a
friend in the city, thought the best
Io 10 30
you and see if you cannot find some way
90 tide me over my immediate difficult
ties. 1t may be that we arc relations,
you know, and of course blood is thicker
than water"
Like enough. this fellow had longer
speech to make, but Mrs. Rawlinson,
who has sense as well as benevolence,
cut him short with suggestion that
he apply TO the Christian association or
the commissioners of charities. The in
cident would not be especially important
II it were not that on the same day
man who answered exactly to the de-
scription given by Mrs. Rawlinson Of
her caller made his way into the office
Of down town merchant named Mark
ham and unfolded very much the same
preface 70 tale of woe. Having gained
the merchants attention by the name
sake plea, he went into particulars to
show how he happened to be stranded in
New York. Mr.. Markham listened
gravely and then began some interested
inquiries as to his callers family. The
replies were glib and confident The
caller was an Englishman. He had lived
in Manchester and would be very glad
If his namesake would would advance
him money enough y pay his passage
ACROSS the ocean. He wouldn't mind
travelling in the steerage IL it was neces-
sary, because he was extremely anxious
to get oncc moro upon familiar soil.
where he would find friends, home, en-
ployment, etc.
Mr.. Markham nodded and made one
or two casual references to streets in
Manchester. The young man said "Oh,
yes" and Certainly" in response to
these remarks, with the result that the
merchant was speedily convinced that
he was an impostor, for his replies clear
" indicated that he had never been in
Manchester. There is little doubt that
Mrs. Rawlinson's namesake and the
person who called upon Mr.. Markham
were one and the same. He failed to
snare a victim in either case, but it is
reasonable to suppose that he is manag-
ing to pick up more or less Of living.
He will get trapped some day by some
body who will have public spirit enough
to look after his living for definite
period at the states expense. Cor.
Cincinnati Enquirer.