The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-07-11

Chicago, July 11.-Over zoe, 900 is the
yearly tribute paid by citizens OF Chi
cago to swindlers who operate through
the United States mails. This amount Is
equal TO the annual income OF over 500
average worklngmen.
II all the burglars. shoplifters. pick
pockets. and bunco men, within a ra-
dius of twenty-five miles OF the city
hall. were to bunch or pool their pick
ings," the total would be less than half
the sum "milked" out or the public by
these ingenious mail frauds"
The men engaged in the business are
the brainiest criminals In the world.
They are the creators OF schemes which
they themselves promote, by the court
esy OF Uncle Sam. These originators OF
ideas study the law carefully. and make
every effort which the best legal ad-
vice can give TO keep out OF the laws
meshes.
"Old things" are out OF date with the
ubiquitous swindler. 1t Is only in new
ideas he deals. while the novice in crime
is occasionally heard OF promoting
wire tapping" plot. silk deal, or
lottery" swindle.
The only compensation the public re-
ceives is In the percentage of convic-
courts. Not 80 per cent of the prisoners
Charged with schemes in the state
courts are successfully prosecuted.
Many OF them exercise a pull" and
their cases are dismissed" while not
10 per cent OF the violators OF the fed
eral statutes escape paying the penalty
A few weeks ago complaint was
made to the authorities that the Trad
ers' Importing company OF Chicago was
not all it olaimed 20 be. The managers
OF this concern gave orders for goods
in all parts of the country. &
To them IL did not matter whether
their purchases were cotton. hats and
caps, wall paper. leather findings. silks.
or plowshares. They gave what seemed
10 be satisfactory references, and in
most cases obtained the goods on thir-
ty. sixty and ninety days time.
AS the goods were delivered in Chica-
20 they were at once sold at greatly
reduced values. II quick sale could
be made; IL not, they were shipped TO
another city. and disposed OF in auction
rooms and quick sale stores TO the best
advantage. OF course the company paid
for nothing, and what cash II received
was all velvet" The originators OF this
clever idea are guests of Jailer Whit
man under a fifteen months sentence.
SCHEME OF A SHREwD WOMAN.
One of the shrewdest schemes played
by a woman-"con" came TO attention
last week. One Of the principal dry
goods houses OF State street received
letter from a lady, giving her address
in one OF the best residence sections OF
Drexel boulevard.
She inclosed bit OF rare lace, which
she sal was to be used in the trous-
seau OF her daughter. IL the house had
100 yards. would they kindly have the
alxy arka aH pA
10 the address given The bill, amount
ing TO $S40, was duly receipted. and with
the goods sent by trusted employe,
who. on arrival at the address, found a
handsome woman in rich costume. who
handed the package TO maid 10 In
spect, before she paid for the goods.
Presently she went to desk and
asked for the bill. Too bad, but she did
not have quite money enough TO settle
in full She would give the messenger
$40 on account. and have him leave the
package just as IL was. at the "To-be-
called-f for" counter.
She would be up the next day as soon
as the bank opened, and get the goods.
Incidentally she charmed the employe
and delayed him as long as possible in
conversation
The package was returned to him. and
by him to the store. The next day the
woman did not show up. and in the
iUt DdNkdkt WAS optutu
There was no lace there: rags had been
substituted. The remarkable part OF
this swindle lies i'm the fact that over
half dozen leading firms lost from 5000
TO $500 each, all In one day.
The woman obtained access TO the
house where the packages were de-
livered by renting front suite OF
rooms. She has not been apprehended.
swINDLE IN PATENT RIGHTS.
Two important arrests were recently
made by Chicago postoffice inspect
the parties being charged with misuse
oI the mails. The scheme as developed
by the evidence was this: Taking the
list OF patents, with names and ad-
dresses OF inventors. which the patent
Office sends out weekly. one OF the con-
spirators would open up correspondence
with the inventor, with view to buy
Ing.
He would readily agree TO almost any
nd price the only thing which stood