The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-23

J, Merchants say there are more crooked
schemes being worked by strangers In
this community Just now than ever be-
fore, and though the merchants are
keeping their eyes open for all they are
worth, occasional cases are reported TO
the police, but some merchants dislike
to have their guIlelessness made public
and enter no complaint. New schemes
are constantly being sprung. The
Cleveland Leader tells OF two that are
very new. Says the Leader;
The FIRST case concerns u jewelcr. VINO,
for obvious reasons, does not care TO
have his name mentioned, people sci"
dom do. when they have been swindled.
This ieweler conducts a wholesale eH-
Establishment OH one Of the downtown
Sereets. and ls considered shrewd bus
mess man. The story he told Leader
reporter was az follows:
"A rather tall, dlgnifled-looking man,
wearing q silk tile and u carefully
curled mustache. came Into my store
last Thursday morning and asked To-
zee the proprietor. My clerk showed
him Into my private otiice, where the
stranger disclosed the object OF his Vls-
IT, ne gave Illh IhlHet 9atu uS wa, A'S'N
New York city, and desired to buy
Howard watch for a friend Of his be-
foH returning to the Empire city.
PrefcrrinE to give him my personal at
tentlon, rather than turn him over 10
one OF my clerks, showed him several
watches One that was priced at $3.50
finally took his eye. but he said he only
wanted to spend $3.50. He said. how
ever, that II would be cash tranSac.
ton, and on that consideration l sold
him the watch.
- Now said the man. when we had
settled on the price. I will give you
check for the amount, but, as ! am
stranger. Will leave the watch here
until you can have the check cashed.'
at was too late to get the check
cashed that afternoon, 80 waited until
Friday morning. Upon presenting the
check, | found out that man was I'M
known TO the bank officials, but they
said they would cash It after taking tho
precautlon OF wiring New York to sec
whether the man had any money. They
found that he had not, and refused to
cash the check.
IL had not returned from the bank
more than fifteen minutes when Lbe
stranger again came in.
"'GOod -mornlng.' said he. Can get
my watch?'
"'WeIl, should think not replied.
The officers OF the bank on which this
check is drawn in New York say that
you have no money in the bank.
"' have no money in the banR?' the
man repeated. I'll show them whether
l have any money ThrustinG his
hands into his pockets he produced q
large roll Of bills, from which he count.
ed $3.50.
Here he said. here is your money
al carefully counted It and found 1t
was correct.
Now give me my watch he said.
81 handed It to him.
"'Now, give me my check. he de-
manded, and ]. forgetting that in taking
his check to the bank, had endorsed
ii, handed him the check without com.
ment. Placing It in his pocket he left
my store, and that Is the last have
seen Of him. heard more OF him. how
ever, on Saturday when went to tho
bank. I found that he had taken his
check. written pay the bearer above
. Rz endorsement and NAa received me
Whether the swindler has succeeded
In "ropIng In" other jewellers cannot be
learned. The other game requires
two men to operate II. Several down
town druggists are said TO have fallen
Victims to II recently.
A man will go into drug store, make
purchase. usually a cigar. throw down
a ten-dollar bill, receiving his change,
and walks out. A few moments later
another man will walk into the drug
store, make purchase, throw down the
exact price Of the article. and after he
has waited about the store for some
time, will ask the storekeeper for his
change. OF course the proprietor VIII
invariably Indignantly say that no
change Is due the purchaser. And then
will come in the fine part OF the game.
The purchaser Will become indignant
and in a loud voice say that he gave
the proprietor ten.dollar bill, and that
ne knows he did because he remembers
a certain mark on 1t, and that further
more, II the storekeeper viii only take
the trouble to look, he Will find the
marked bill in his TIL. Sometimes the
gwindler even gives the number OF the
bill. The proprietor will net on the suG-
Cestlon, and sure enough there he will
find the bill us described. He will be
completely mystifled, but will usually
Weld and give up the money. The trick
IA obvious to the outsider. The first
man to 20 into the store has care
fully marked bill, and the second man
goes In knowing Just how the bill Is
marked.