Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-05


MANLY PEOPLE, AND IT IS RU-
MORED THERE ARE MANY
OTHER VICTIMS HERE OR
HEREABOUTS-IT WAS THE
SAME OLD GAME, WHICH HAD
PARESIS WHEN NOAH WAS A
SCHOOLBOY.
I'm the days of old Rameses-are you on?
In the days of old Rameses-are you on?
In the days of old Rameses,
That story had pares.s,
Are you on-are you On-are you on?
"A sucker is born every minute"
Persian Proverb.
A gentleman from West Virginia
came to town yesterday morning.
He registered at the Hotel Windsor,
met two other gentlemen, gave UP
three hundred and fifty dollars with a
grace aud ease which rejoiced the
hearts of the parties of the second
part, who haven't time to work, and
left the city last evening, a sadder,
wiser and poorer mas. The other
gentlemen also left during the after
noon, having an appointment with an
other easy mark in a nearby town.
It's the old story of confidence
games, green goods propositions and of
the success frequently achieved by
people who, born with a natural disin-
clination to manual labor and yet feel
ing that the world owes them a liv-.
ing, proceed to acquire whatever good
things there are in this life without
giving quid pro quo in the shape of
physical effort.
For about two years past two gentle
men of leisure, described by the police
as being exceedingly well dressed, pol
ished to a fine finish, and very plaus-
ible, have been doing missionary work
in West Virginia, Eastern Ohio and
Western Pennsylvania, in the green
goods line. They laid the foundations
for future work with the greatest care,
wrote very gentlemanly and plausible
letters, and made dates with quite a
number of folks who wished to in
crease their visible stock of this
worlds goods via. defrauding the gov
eminent. About a week ago, the har-
vest being ripe, this couple came to
Wheeling and registered at the Hotel
Windsor. They were very pleasant
people to meet, were not adverse to
buying drink, now and then, and dis
coursed fiuently upon the current top
les of the day, including the war in
the Philippines and the street rail-
way strike. They mailed some letters
and sent some kilograms, paid for
everything they got, and wanted the
best that was on tap They were de-
slrabe guests.
1t is reported that during the week
they met several folks from out of
town, and went out of town to meet
several folks. Yesterday they depart
ed hurriedly, and the immediate cause
OF their departure was this:
Yesterday morning a gentleman from
out the Baltimore and Ohio road ar
rived in the city and registered at the
WINDSOR. He came by appointment.
He also brought a bundle of money
with him. He met the two we'll dress
ed and gentlemanly strangers, and they
stated to him that their previous propo-
sition to 8 i've him $4,000 for $3.50 was
go, and that they were ready to de-
liver the goods. That pleased the
West Virginian, and he produced his
cash. The gentlemen placed the cash
aforesaid in a large envelope. but.
through a desire to appear perfectly
square and fair, gave the envelope back
to the stranger, telling him to keep it
until the actual transfer was made. and
explained that they would have to go
to the office of the Adams Express Com
pany, where the goods were. One of
the gentlemanly folks and the West
Virglnian accordingly went to the ex-
press office. where the gentlemanly
man told the West Virginian to step
inside and wait a minute, while he
went across the street to shake hands
with friend. or words to that effect.
The West Virginian, having the envel-
ope, with his three hundred and fifty
IN his inside pocket, had no objection,
and entered the express office. There
he waited one hour and thirty minutes.
At the expiration of that time the gem
tlemanly man not returning, it dawned
upon the man from West Virginia. that.
perhaps, he had been made victim of
unfortunate circumstances, and in a