The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
A CLEVER CONFIDENCE GAME.
\ nstrian Girl Impcrsonnte's n Gro
cer'. Niece for Months.

Austrian Girl Impcrsonntc's n Gro
GERS Niece for Months.
JERSEY CITY, Nov. 17-Elias Krams.
grocer at Spring and Jane Streets, West
Hcboken. has been the victim OF cleveriy
worked confidence game. The impostor
was handsome. we'll educated, and attrac-
tive girl about twenty-five years old, and
for three months she successfully repre-
sented herself as Mr.. Krams niece, and
during that time has shared his home and
hospitality.
Elias Krams came to this country eleven
years ago from Austria. or the relatives
he left behind he was most attached 10
Minnie Krams his brothers daughter. who
was then a little girl. Minnie's mother
died few years ago and her father mar
ried a second time. Her uncle in this
country married also. The latter frequent
ly told his wife Of the niece OF whom he
was so fond. and the wife became inter-
ested in the girl from hearing so much
about her. She shared her husbands fears
that. with stepmother. MINES home
might not be happy one. and both often
expressed the wish that she would come
to this country, in order that she might
share their comfortable home in West Ho-
bOken.
In reply to enquiries her uncle was in
formed by letters from her father that she
was saleswoman in an umbrella store in
Vienna. Three months ago Elias received
2 letter from Vienna, signed Minnie
Krams,'' Informing him that she was to
sail in few days for this country on the
steamship Potsdam, of the Hollandhmeri-
ca Line. and requesting him TO meet her
at the pier
When the Potsdam arrived Mr.. Krams
met on the pier handsome and cngag-
ing girl Minnie Krams," the niece, as
he thought. He took her to his home,
telling her that 1t was her home also, and
he and his wife made the welcome ex-
tended to her thoroughly hearty one.
She told them numerous stories about Fer
relatives in the old country. leaying no
room for doubt IN. their minds but that
she was Minnie Krams. She made one
earnest request.
Never" she said TO Mr.. Krams, write
to my father. My stepmother treated me
cruelty, and my father also ill-treated
me since he married a second time" The
grocer vowed his brother would never
again hear from him. and until last week
he did not write. Almost three months
went By and all were happy.
One day last week in this city Mr..
Krams met a woman who mad just arrived
in this country from Vienna. She assur-
ed him in their conversation that his niece
was still at home in Austria, and this
began the trouble. One thing happened
after another to shake his faith in the
girl. and finally he tool. her before JUS
tice Eichmann. Of Wesd Heboken. Even
this did not disturb the girl. until. just
as she was going away. the justice said
to Mr.. Krams:
Have her arrested on a charge CT
fraud, and l will commit her to the coun-
ty Jail pending the receipt Of information
from her brother as to whether she is
your niece or not"
Then for the first time the young wo-
man weakened and she soon broke down
and confessed that she was in reality Eta
Gelles and not Minnie Krams. She made
a clean breast. and said she returned TO
Vienna from this country two years ago.
and said that while there she became ac-
guainted with all particulars concerning
the Rrams family and decided to imper
senate Minnie Krams. She also gave the
address of a brother she has in New York.
Mrs Krams took her to her brother.
who said that she had received a fine edu-
cation In Austria and had studied medi-
cine in New York. He was not aware that
she had returned from Austria, and was
astonished when told of the role which
she had assumed