Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-10-12
CLEVER TRICKSTERS.
VERSATILE SWlNDLERS THAT lNFEsT
MONTE CARLO.
A Detective's story of the Ways That Arc
Dark at the Famous Gambling Resort.
How One Man Worked tho Bank--An
English woman's Experience.

To DO a detective at Monte Carlo is to
be all things to everybody at one time.
Tho place is no sinccuro. I spent two full
Seasons at it, and felt an exhaustion when
finished as the vcriest rouo did who had
spent his time in every dishonest game
My lifo there was one absolutely behind
tho scenes was not detective for the
gambling house, but for prominent jew
elcrs, n firm who had to watch every jewel
of noto and value worn in that rendezvous
of adventurcsses, cx-convicts, swindlers
and sharpors
Tho diamond necklace worn by the
beauty at supper would be rented from US.
l would have to keep ten pacce near her
during the ball or dinner Did she dance,
/ Rlided about the room. Did she havo
quiet Irritation In recessed corner, was
there. Did she take supper a deux, l
watched every mouthful. Was I afraid she
would run away with thomS Possibly.
But what 1 did think about was this that
the hand that danRled the monoce was
ready for tho revolver tho instant some
man attempted to take the jewels from
her throat.
Would she thank me forever for my
kindness? Perhaps so, perhaps not.
She was most probably in the scheme
"A
nan, her accomplicc, would rob her of
them in dark corner. She was accepting
his attentions ostensibly because nc was
Count Blank. She would report in tears
of her loss to the firm But what could
she do? she would ask. Her accomplicc
would have tmo to disguise himself and
get to Paris, scll the jewels and finally
the two would divide the profits They
,,ioht nctual1y bp of pOble birth
And for these tricks l and my colleagues
watched and waited 1t was madden,
wilder life than any ono knows. That is
why can tell you stories no one else has
ever told you, tales that have never yet
appeared in print.
Now let me tell you story that no one
but detective could tell you.
III give you one of my hardest cases. A
man passed forged draft at the jewelers.
in Nice for jewels; then another at a shop.
/ was put on his track. Here's his history:
John Jones was swell in fashionable out
fit, cane, monoole and all tho parapher-
MALTA Of "dudism." He event broke" at
the tablo and applied to the company for
money to return homo Chey always give
that. He was identified as a player by
the banker, who watches every face, given
sufficient money to take him home pay
his hotel bill and send him out of town in
good manner. He had to sign "a paper
saying he would not return to the table or
allow the money they had given him to be
placed on the carpet.
He returned from the first station, had
barber shave him. Instead of the blond
mustache arc black side whiskers and q
jet black wig, pair of colored glasses fin
ishing the disguise. He boarded at a new
place, called himself John Smith and
played his return money. He goes broke,
applies at the Office for return money un-
der a new name and face. Now Mr.
Smith Is no more, but l had II widow
fascinating, coy and young. The disguise
was excellent. The veil had to be kept down
or when raised Il fan kept at the mouth.
The poor widow was not lucky. She lost
again and again and went to the office for
| her return money.
The fourth disguise was that Of an old
man, suffering pain, fearful of people, shy
/ He was very cautious, avoided every one.
He was registered James White. He lost
and could get his return money, but says
he would rather kill himself than humili-
ate himself The next day hat, coat and
note are found near the sea by q reporter
for T. famous journal in Nice. Hush
money was paid, and in Nice l found my
| young follow running u cafe and selling to
victims a sure combination to win at the
80 and 40 or at the roulette; also ready to
write the most sensational articles for
new spapers.
This is how found him: I was watch
ing with suspicion young woman. She
took the train for Mentonc. So did l. On
the car l played tho haysced, made in
| quiries about the games and interested
! her so that sho promised to go back the
next day with me and show me some com
binations. She told me she played irregu-
larly for fancy. Her husband at Mentone
was dying Of consumption. l went home
with her In u casual manner and was pre-
scnted to the husband In him found
my man, l needed my handouts and re-
volver before l got through with them
both, for she also was an expert
did one slight piece Of detective work
over the tables which was interesting.
was watching the players rather strictly,
trying to spot a woman whom l wanted to
arrest An old maid came in and sat
down at the table She was English and
very shy and alone. I turned my atten
ton to her fancicd sho was green, and
| watched her play with an amused inter
cSu lOr IHoIlcIt. Sue pulitu Odt Hti
purse and with hesitation placed a gold
louis on No. 22. 1t was her first gamble
and the old maid looked scared out of al
her senses l saw she thought she would
never be reinstated into propriety after
that louis dropped on the number No. 2.
camo out, and the banker paid 86 louis
The wheel started again, and once mort
90 came out The banker paid the limit
and then remarked that the sum, being
above the limit, could not remain on thu
carpet No one moved. Then the dozen,
of hands reached out for the money, som,
carelessly, some eagerly all with tho in
tent of securing the money. BY that time
it seemed every one remembered he really
had placed gold louis on No. %. TIT
old maid hadn't moved She was looking
on in interest at the whole proceeding.
quietly stepped to the table and laid m,
hand over the money, at the same time
calling ont TO the banker that No. 22 need
ed investigation. l gave my word that tn,
English lady had put the louis on No. 22
The bankers inquired Of her, and she sale
quickly sho had placed the money there
but didn't understand enough of the gam
TO know that this heap of money bolongc,
to her
She nearly went wild when she found |
out; but, poor deluded soul she got 81
excited that she played tho most impossi
BILE combinations and listened to ever,
ones advice, and in a few days had los
every cent of that cleaning pile Of gold
with good bit of her own small stock O
money added. -Philadelphia Press.