New-York tribune., 1901-11-14
MANY BUY "GREFNGOODS.'
DIFFICULTY IN PREVENTING THIS FORM
OF SWINDLE.
KINGS AMONG THE CROOKS - PROPOSED
LAW AIMED AT TELEGRAPH AMI
EXPRESS COMPANIES


EXPRESS COMPANIES.
perhaps every newspaper reader knows "ha'
.greengoods' man is. but how many people VINO
., r., .re,, are rrettv well acquainted with the
fr-ricscies Of METROPOLITAN life have any loea ~
what extent this particular calling OF the i
that prey" is now carried? The trade OF the So
goods man is one of the most puzzlng ana HSs
terious with which detectives nave 10 ceal' ~
nba. is n,ost astonishing of all is that every uoS
within radius Of few miles from TINS Ci'S -
dreds of daring schemes are being carfie' va ~
brought TO fu realization.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO Law
7r-,.,,,a -o,or+er was prompted yesterday to
make inquiries as the extent ana "orNiiiss =.
- .,,oa nv q Washington dispatch published
in Yesterdays Tribune. This dispatch saio 'ha' -
/. Bristow Fourth Assistant PcstmaSter 'Ie-s 80.
in his recent report had advocated an aileitu
20 the Interstate Commerce law Which "oNu - -
hibit telegraph and express companies W -.
.r,rIoves from aiding and abetting greensoous
or lottery sygindes- any other schefne Ca " ieu
on partly By mail and partly by common cdii
in violation Of the postal laws The heCesst! ~.
such law together with the probable oiincul'H on
its enforcement was made evident yesterday 0E
Theodore W Swift. chief of the postofnce inspect
tors in this city. Mr.. Swift said;
The -greengoods" is one who promises fcT og
Genuine money He of the oiest indiylauaiIs iI
with whom detectives have 10 deal ne Is uort io.t
;rnndssbIe TO obtain sufficient evidence to secure
his conviction. Every year he robs I-ga we
have no means of determining He is a hlen%ac ,Sn-
man. true freebooter who hadies nIs biS cbicf
with as easy an assurance as he does ms cIlde, @
yeapon-his tongue We have fought am: suo SUI 80 80
for Years and We are still learning MS cunning
ways He is the trickiest nerviest most desperate
rufian in good clothes Win ~ ~5enI bie xoTnings his
twistings and his ourrowings. but perhaps - d "a
scription Of only of hundred different Inetn m
ods nv which he makes his living will serve as an
illustration.
NETWORK THEIR HEADQUARTERS.
Practically all the greengoods men d, Gt i tie me
citv because the great volume OF mailing whlcR N
goes on here makes detseon o n9Te Re Trand and
watched and If knew from whom tfler IdlI
out Of existence As the system is now worked
have means Of knowing VINO seu re, e'tIa 49, ~
them or at ,'' what r;.I point 'heSe ie''eis -
Tefs tsSe the simplest case. The 'greengoods
man sends out a circular TO a whose name he
finds in the directory of some town rms SCI ceu,ae ne
worked in the Treasury Department. who is per
fectly familiar with the process o, n1aT Be
obtained by teegraphng 70 say "; .;fia1Ss Ei.iS:
but to telegraph all communications to tne CROOK
under a signature say, for example go
HE TAKES THE BAIT
No "a acoepts the bait and telegraphs as in,
.tIueted In t ShPTt Unions e ssddTessed to the
MESSAGES dTo snr05S at reenTie It is easy
TO find these kilograms at that once but % we IN nb
operator copies these messages are sent es by ma fb
by express or & by sapa t to issf This scheme
prevents from capturing M him bo receives
$50 for his share in the transaction is an accessory
TO the operation .+. IN
the crook a possible sucker" The greeng9o,oos
ma ran se ssSn im gennine one dollar bill speci
men of the counterfeit money which Is o6 6or sa.t
He adds that for $500. in good money s9ess WORM @
Of counterfeit money like the sample incosea may
be purehee The innofes s @ st IS tia esaph always
tn cipher. to the sharpers Tea! ADDRESS 4" Nc"
few minutes after No. 1885, the innocent: goes
70 room at an an aPPsnted hofe an ,hs sppeaT The
'fsteerer' then pilots the man with the sSoo INTO
where the greengoods man meets them He is told
that safety REQUIRES such 9ye @ Inc drooh 5,oneV oe
s4Pqn.is for his $50. s6'eS ''s S,eNel 49, =, :.
Ils Then r. 'se ne G not ake these five crisp one thou
sand dollar bills to his native towT that It woasa
invented by the crook that would. after few days
ri Gkeiv to cause any one to suspect their origin
Mind you. this proposition is made after the Ssto
nsb Is n fe Bs PDcfe' it oI s fact phaS the
worth Of genuine bills to the crook to subject
them 20 the process. After receiving the s. 900
se sss see ana Snaer e is penness ns Had he
uured an objection or hests5eS f noms9f 10aGad ne
volrer. In this way theft by assault and battery
the quiet su8ve fashion described. and the victim:
because os his position as wouo.pe dispenser rs & OF
police
MANY METHODS
This is the simplest method OF sreengoods pro
cedure There thousand variations to TINS
You ask why cannot one OF men snPersonate
Ts hape done s b9t s have
doned the idea. because generally We have peen
sending of the kilograms and letters is so adToIy
managed that the train OF evidence which we may
ssoa % Course IS e @ eec,Tes se fe is in constst
when pursuing these crooks.
Where do the sharpers get the money with
which to ply their trade? Where dld the man
in the case cited get his 5000 in genuine money?
was asked. Mr.. Swift replied:
The system does not depend for its success upon
the resources Of few needy swindieIs Inese se
manage their men. outline the plan. think up new
sga of The amount they steal from their victims.
This wealthy criminal is the KING shaIper Oh me ne
prove my knowledge Of the existence OF these facts
IN say that know one OF these king crooks he
lives at Allentown. Penn. where ne mas a y mag G
nffcent stock farm Many acres OF rich land, on on
which are are cosE s le mansion There are
Others like him. closer 10 New-Tork than Allen
nen,.liar cast of intelligence have been able to
smass large fortunes They have wrought so cum
ceedinsly dangerous TO society, are almost pow
srless 10 convict them. The very nicely OF the
law of evidence renders almost impossible the full
flrnent Of justice
DRIVING TIE sHARPERs AWAY.
we have been fairly successful. however in driv,
ing these highwaymen from our postofice and and
Interstate Commerce law which will make tele-
graph and express ooInpaniesE&the d & former parnc,
law in New-york State which prohibits this
nail All States should have such a statute, or
el.e let us have Federal law 10 the same effect
express Companies from aiding and abettins these
ewindlers We have recently had a New-Jerses
70