The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-26
WAYS or THE CHAPTERS.
How smooth Crooks worked the
Washington Merchants.
From the Washington Star.

washington Merchants.
From the Washington Star.
The recent race meeting at Benning
brought some blithe sharpers to Washing
ton For the capital of a nation, Wash
ington, under ordinary conditions. is sin
guarly fortunate in escaping the quiet
bloodless depredations. Of weil-groomed
desperadoes belonging to the smooth arti
Gle tribes rafters' in the patois of the
paddock. 1t is perhaps largely for this
very reason that the periodical incurs,ons
of ''grafters 1.-THE travellers in the wake
of horses, the heralds of inaugurations. the
foxy couriers of encampments, conclaves,
interoceanic conventions-are generally so
eminendy successful in Washington from
the business point of view of the "grat
ers" themselves. Numerous stories Of
the cleanups made by the underworld of
race followers before and during the Ben
ming meeting are being told around town.
The Sraftiest performance seems to have
been that of swindler who worked on a
wels-known Washingtonian a fin de steele
ring-palming trick, and very profitable
one.
The sharper walked into the jewelers.
establishment a couple of days after the
opening of the Benning meeting. He was
fautlessly got up, and he looked "as if he
had 1t on him." as one of the clerks after
ward said. He was such an extremely.
heavy swell in appearance that the pro-
prietor of the establishment came from
behind the counting room screens to Az
tend him.
Morning" said the swindler. nodding
patronizingly to the proprietor i've got
ring here that I want to have changed
want the stones reset"
He nUllpd off 1fa laff -bopd
then removed from one of his fingers a
heavy gold band, in which three magnifi- :.
cent stones were set-a fiawless pigeon 8
blood ruby in the center, and on either side
of the ruby perfect blue diamond of
large size. The ring was worth from $500
TO sl'OOo. The swindler handed the ring
to the jeweier.
Il want those stones set into a coiled
snake" he said. Friends Of mine who
wear snake rings tell me they bring ,ern
luck, and, although 1 don't take much
stock in such rot, I'm going to give the
thing trial nevertheless. What do YOU
think of the stones?"
Remarkably fine replied the ieWeIer
Nothing better in the market for their
size" and the two men talked Diamonds
and rubes for while. The customer an
peared to possess a good deal of informa-
ton on the subject. Finally he gently took
his ring from the jewelers. hand
diamonds
are" he said. and he then went on To telI
of the difficulty he had encountered in
matching the two diamonds 1t was rioht
at this point that he did the palminr III
finally handed a ring back to the ieWaIer,
another ring, of course.
TRY to have the job finished within a
couple Of days, win you please?" he said
to the ieweler Il expect to leave the civ
shortly"
"I'll have 1t done tomorrow evening !,
said the proprietor and the cusfornsr
started for the door pulling on his .,lovs
Then he appeared TO be struck by an ef-
terthought, halted for a second. and fhen
started back.
"Oh. by the way" he called aftar tho
jeweler, who returned to the counter dot
me have some sort of ring 10 wear on maj
finger will you? I've worn the band ~
long / fear ia be lonesome or take cold
or something, without some sort OF a riny
on that finger"
why, with pleasure" answered a.
jeweler, who liked his customers win
ming ways and his stock OF gem infornaa-
don. lie placed "A tray of the rings M.
fore the customer, who selected "A band
set with three large diamonds. The rln~
was tickctcd az $3.50 30
This VIII answer" be said and no mn,
the ring on his finger
"Aou are worry welcome 20 any Of them 3,
SAID the jeweler and With the courtec..gly