Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-29
SMOOTH SWlNDLER'S WORK
Joseph swartz Raises the Needful' Oh a
Lot of Painted Diamonds,
WORKS PAWNBR0KERS FOR HARD CASH
samuel Friedman and samuel snyder
Are Poorer by Five
Dollars ns u Result of
SvnrtH's schemes.
WORKS PAwNBROKERS FOR HARD CAST

Samuel Friedman and Samuel Snyder, two
Broadway pawnbrokers, are mourning the
loss of several hundred dollars OF their hard
earned cash and the fact that they have on
hand an Cverstuck of bogus or painted dla-
monds. The two money loaners on chattels
were worked for their money by a gambler
named Joseph Swartz, whose home Is said
10 be in Kansas City. Captain Denny of the
police force is now in Kansas City trying
to secure the arrest of the alleged swindler,
but so far no word has been received here
that he has been successful.
Swartz's trick has been repeatedly worked
with success on persons in the same line
Of business as Friedman and Snyder. Swartz
struck Council Bluffs about a week ago and
soon became a familiar figure at the faro
tables. The first night the tiger smiled ia
vcrably on him and he is said to have quit
with not less than $500 winner. He sported
considerable jowelry and wore several big
diamonds which were evidently the GENT
inc article. AS he continued playing his luck
varied and last Friday he appeared to be
cleaned out OF ready cash. He went that
evening to Sam Friedman and secured a
loan of 800 on his diamond ring, which was
worth probably double that amount. Within
a few hours he returned to the pawnshop
with a good sized roll of bills and redeemed
his ring.
Then he went to Sam snyder's shop and
pawned the ring again and during the
next twenty-four hours pledged this article
of jewelry a number of times, first at Fried
mans and then at Snyder's. Each time he
made the excuse that the luck was against
him and the cards had cleaned him out. Sat
urday he showed Friedman and Snyder some
loose stones which he carried in a little
..Ir.I-t ,a1- MI. N-,J- -.-.A IL. III.
again, he said, and it was only a few hours
later until Friedman had a small consign-
ment of the loose stones in his safe and
Swartz had 5000 of Friedman's money in his
pockets. Then he made Snyder a visit and
secured from him $500, leaving another
bunch OF loose diamonds there.
Leaves the city.
Tuesday Swartz decided it was time to
leave the city and took the train for Kansas
City. Shortly after he left the two pawn
brokers discovered that the stones that they
had advanced Swartz money on had changed
color and that in fact they We're not the
genuine article of sparkler at all but simply
what is known among the sporting frater-
nifty as painted diamonds" Fifty cents
would be, it is said, the intrinsic value OF
the "diamonds'' upon which Swartz sue
ceeded in inducing the pawnbrokers to loan
him $500.
Swartz is said to have also secured sew
eral hundred dollars from the proprietors
of a sporting resort whose weakness for
diamonds is a matter of local repute. A
prominent saloonkeeper is also said to have
been one of Swartz's victims. There were
reports on the street to the effect that
Swartz had even succeeded in taking in two
Of the banks of the city, the First National
and Office & Pusey's. The officers of both
these banks, however, deny that they loaned
money on diamonds. genuine or false, or
that anyone had been in the bank attempt
ing to secure a loan on any gems. Cashier
! Hannah of the First National bank said
1.-The report that this bank loaned $500 or
some fake diamonds is without any founda-
ton and absolutely false. We do not dc
business that way. Nobody has been in the
bank during the last week for the purpose
of borrowing money on diamonds. The bank
has no license in the first place to loan
money on chattels."
Swartz is said to have been a diamond
broker in Kansas City at one time and has
the reputation of being a very clever
swindler and has always succeeded in keep
ing himself out of the meshes of the law
Some of the old-time sports in this city say
that about fifteen years ago he worked O
known chattel mortgage broker and money
%loaner, was his victim to the tune Of about
SO, 900.