The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-21
HOW TO LIVE ON NOTHING.
Unwilling Bccomplicss Help ShreWd
RosusS 10 Beat Insurance Companies.
A GOOD SCHEME THAT MEYER FAILS.
Only Capital Needed is sandpapcr, Mus
tard Plaster, and an Aptitude for
Lying-Diabolical Means OF
Earning "A Livelihood.

There Is a new swindiing game In the
| market, The insurance companies, Of
course. are the victims. Every rogue
and crook out Of dishonest jon and
IN need OF funds turns as naturally 10
an insurance company for aid as busl-
ness man turns to his banker. The com
paaies are looked upon as his legitimate
prey. and he feels no more conjunction
in robbing them than he would IN hsh1-
ing a borrowed cigar.
There are several reasons why the new
swindle appeals directly to those uneasy
rascals who live wholly by dishonest
employment Of their wits. In the hrst
place. il requires little or no capital. The
absence of danger Of detection is another
point which makes It popular. Accomplices
are necessary 10 Swing II, but they
arc unconscious accomplices totally In
nocent Of any knowledge OF the part they
are playing.
SIMPLE ACCESSORIES NEEDED.
Two pals are sufficient. When the bunco
man Is ready TO try his game. he first OF
all invests in four necessary articles
an accident policy. a piece Of sandpaper
a mustard plaster. and a strip OF thin
cheese cloth. With these simple nipple
ments he is thoroughly equipped and
ready TO begin operations. The thirty-siX
hour travellers Insurance tickets are the
most desirable. and at the same time less
expensive.
After buying one OF them the oper-
atoT boards the train for some nearby
town. once in the car he retircs 10 the
toilet room. rolls up his trousers leg or
his coat sleeve. as the case. may be. and
vigorously applies the sandpaper 10 the
no 70
iniure. After rubbing until the blood
comes he places the cheese cloth after
inoistening 81. over the sand-papored
flesh and on top Of that spreads the
mustard plaster In five minutes tho
action Of the mustard has infamcd the
raw flesh and produced an ugly swelling.
Just before the destination is reached
the plaster Is removed. and when the
train stops the operator arises from his
seat. walks halfway down the aisle to-
wards the door and accidentally falls
over satchel or trips over the leg Of
seat. When he gets up he limps painfully
and falls exhausted into one Of the seats.
This always should be done i'm the pres
once of the conductor a brakeman. or
one of the trainmen. When they hurry
10 assist him he has pulled up his trous-
ers leg or his coat sleeve and disclosed
his carefully prepared property wound
II is angry and terribly infiamed by this
time and the fall has caused the blood
TO flow afresh. The bunco man muir
murs family that he "believes he has been
hurt" and the conductor or the brake
man helps him from the train and hands
him over to the station master. who di-
reefs him to some doctor and puts him
aboard street car.
HOW THE DOCTOR is WORKED.
The doctor is the most important ace
complete. The victim Of the accident
limps into his Office apparently suffering
bleeding knee or elbow Nine times out OF
ten the wound will deceive the most eX-
perienced physician. He orders that his
patient keep absolutely quiet for AT least
a. week. and after prescribing a rcmcdr
and pocketing his fee tells him to call
again in "a day or two.
The bunco man promptly destroys
the prescription and applies the mustard
plaster again. I'm two or three days he
writes 10 the doctor saying that it is
impossible for him to call, describing his
symptoms and requesting another pre-
scripton. incidentally he mentions that
he was lucky enough 10 buy an accident
insurance policy and asks the doctor 10
be good enough 10 sign "A certificate 10 the
ocect that he saw the injury. treated him
for it. and ordered him 20 remain quiet
for at least four DAYS.
While he Is waiting for the reply. he
informs the insurance company from
which he has bought the policy that ne
has been injured. and asks that his claim
be settled as soon as possible lie gives