Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-01-19
THE ART OF SUBSTITUTING
One of the Cleverest Tricks
Known to the Professional
SWindier.
1T REQUIRES PATIENCE.
The Victim May Have Been Watched
for Months Before He Is
Fleeced.

The Case of Doctor Darlington, Who Was
Robbed of Satchel Containing $780,
600 In Cash-Soms Other Instances
Where Large Sums Have Been Secured
by This Process.
THE art of substituting is perhaps
one of the cleverest tricks of the pro-
fession." said veteran theftaker,
when approached concerning the loss
of Samuel Greenwood, president of the
Coatsville Pa.) National Bank who
was robbed of satchel containing
bonds to the value of $4,000, while
another grip was substituted in its
place.
Speaking of similar cases that have
come to my notice." the detective con-
tinued. as he leaned back in his chair
and took on reminiscent air. lit is re-
markable what clever devices the pro-
fessional swindler will resort to in
order to fasten on his intended prey.
And yet, while the obstracting of ones
grip and the substituting of another
may seem Il difficult matter at first
glance. nevertheless when you remem-
Der that the thief may have watched
Mr.. Greenwood for months, the thing
becomes quite clear. He may have
followed him from place to place, week
out and week in. He became acquaint-
ed with the habits of his intended
victim, ant. when the opportune mo-
ment arrived in the restaurant all he
had to do was to place his empty grip
where the satchel containing the valua-
bles had been before.
$50 much for that case. Let me tell
you about another, much cleverer with
the exception that the swindlers were
apprehended afterward. About thirty
years ago great sensation was Great
ed when Doctor Darlington. president
of the West Chester Pa.) bank. was
robbed of a satchel containing $4,000
in cash. He was on his way home
from Philadelphia. Seated in the rail
road coach, with his feet on an old
grip on the floor, the old gentleman
thought himself and his treasure abso-
lutely safe. But he did not know what
was in store for him. In the seat in
front of him sat n woman in black.
BY the way, 1t is nearly always wom-
an in black who is concerned in these
swindling affairs. But to continue.
THE lady, for she had all the ap-
pearances of Il gcntlewoman, was evil
IDENTIFY distressed from a cough and
vainly attempted to raise the window
next TO her. She kept lifting away,
and still the window would not bulge
This was too much for Doctor Darling
ton. Calamity he got up from his seat,
or rather released his foothold on his
grip, while placing his knees on his
seat The scheme was not mature as
yet however. The woman bore down
on the window while apparently
assisting in its raising, and thus
matters stood for n minute or
two. The moment for the work of
the confederates had now arriv-
ed, Seated across the aisle one of
the thieves swiftly pushed his own
satchel under Doctor Darlington's seat,
abStracted the full one and the trick
was done. The man was attired in n
long cloak which facilitated the oper-
alton. and when the old man sat down
he felt secure in the fact that his feet
once more touched satchel. At the
next station the thief got off, and the
woman was not suspected until long
afterward. for Doctor Darlington never
discovered his loss until he reached
home. The men implicated were TO
bacco Jack and 'Slappy Williams, since
convicted to long terms in the peniten-
tiary. The woman, whose name have
forgotten, was also sent up.
You can easily see how the trick
was done" and here the superintend-
ent showed, by the aid of some chairs
and other paraphermialia. how Doctor
Darlington was made the loser of u
satchel with $50, 900.
''One of the foremost detectives in
the service. who for obvious reasons
desires his name Withheld, told of an
other satchel robbery that differed in
some respects from the one above.
The spotted victim was despoiled Of
his grip as the train neared station a
distance away from the point of de-
/ parture. A confederate was in wait
ing outside, and cunningly the stolen
valise was passed to him, while the
unsuspecting traveller did not discover
his loss until some time afterward.