Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-01-14
BRAND NEW SWINDLE
ACCIDENT INSURANCE CON-
PANiES THE VICTIMS.

| ~ Nf"hhh VIZ
Result Almost Certain-Sand-
Paper. n Mustard Plaster. Check
and Disregard for Truth all
that are Needed for a Kit"
There is new swindling game i'll
the market. The insurance Compan-
les, OF course, are the victims. Every
rogue and crook out of dishonest
job and in need of funds turns a-
naturally to an insurance company
for aid as business man turns 10 his
banker. The companies are looked
upon As his legitimate prey, and he
feels no more compunction in robbing
them than he would in lighting bor-
rowcd cigar, says the New York Press
1t would take an index Ia classify
the different brands of bunco games
that have been sprung on the insur-
ance companies since the business oi
issuing policies began, and the latest
one, while il differs in many details
from previous brands, has probably
excited no more alarm in insurance
circles than n great many others.
There are several reasons why the
new swindle appeals directly 10 those
uneasy rascals who live wholly by a
dishonest employment of their wits.
In the first place it requires little or
no capital, With an investment OF
IS the confidence man can live in
comparative ease and luxury for n
week. In the second place it is not
complicated; its simplicity, in fact, is
one of the strongest features, and like
most bunco games, it can be success
fully on that account.
The absence of danger Of detection
is another point which makes it pop
ular with rogues. There are accomp.
lices necessary TO swing" it, but they
are unconscious accomplices, and are
totally innocent OF any wrong-doine
or knowledge of the part they are
playing.
Two pals are sufficient. When the
bunco man is ready to try his game he
frs. OF all invests in four necessary
articles--an accident policy, piece o
sandpaper, mustard plaster and strip
OF thin cheese cloth. With thes,
simple implements he is thoroughly
equipped and ready to begin opera
tions. The 36.hour travellers insur
ance tickets are most desirable, and
at the same time less expensive.
After buying one OF them the oper-
ator boards n train; it may be only to
Newark or Yonkers. or some Other
nearby town. Once in the car he re.
tires to the toilet-room, pulls up hi,
trousers leg or his coat sleeve, as the
case may be, and vigorously applies
the sandpaper 10 the part OF his
anatomy that he desires to in,
jure. After rubbing till the blood
comes he places the cheese cloth, after
first moistening it over the sand
papered flesh, and on top Of that
spreads the mustard plaster. In five
minutes the action of the mustard
plaster has inhamed the raw flesh and
produced an ugly swelling.
Just before the destination j,
reached the plaster is removed and
when the train stops the operator
arises from his seat, walks half way
down the aisle toward the door and
accidentally falls over a satchel, or
trips over the leg Of seat. Wher
he gets up he limps painfully and
falls exhausted into one of the seats.
This always should be done in the
presence Of the conductor, n brakeman
or one of the trainmen. When they
hurry to assist him, rs naturally they
will, he has pulled up his trousers leg
or his coat sleeve and disclosed hi,
carefully prepared property wound
IL is angry and terribly infamed by
this time and the fall has caused the
blood to flow afresh. The bunco man
murmurs family that he believes he
has been hurt, and the conductor OF
the brakeman helps him from the
train and hands him over to the sta
ton master, who in turn directs him
to some doctor and puts him aboard q
street car.
The doctor is the most important
accomplice. The victim of the acci
dent limps into his office, apparently
suffering intensely, and shows him the
bruised or bleeding knee or elbow
Ninety.ninc times in a hundred the
fake would deceive the most skillful
and experienced physician. He orders
that his patient keep absolutely quiet
for at least q week, and after prescrib
ing remedy and pocketing his fee
tells MIN to call again in day or two
The bunco man promptly destroys
the prescription and applies the mus
tard plaster again. Then he return.
to New York, and either goes int
retirement or limps painfully arounC
the streets. In two or three days Ia
writes to his accomplice, the doctor
saving that it is impossible for him t
call, describing the symptoms and re
questing another prescription.
incidentally he mentions that h
was lucky enough to buy an acciden