The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-18

and ths mark haven't got $40. Finally
The steerer says.
IL my friend here will bet with you,
"iil you promise 10 tear np those cards
and never gamble againT'
The "con promises and offers 10 bet
any amount Of money that the steerer
ana the mark car show. Both produce
their money and the bogus csttleman
covers IL from his own purse. Iie then
shumles the cards, taking caro- to bend
oacA tho corner OF the girl card and 20
tnrn up the corner OF a star card. The
mark draws a card and loses
Whilc tine fake" cattlenan IL pocket
Ing the money Colonel sayers appears,
What arc YOU doing hero?" he de-
mands, fairly barstipg with stage" In
dignation Are You gambling Ia my Of
ncc? III have YOU arrested at once"
Then turning on the mark" he accuses
him Of swindlIns the bogus cattleman.
What do you mean by trying 10 swim
die this MANI he asks.
The mark" protests HE innocence and
declares that he Is the loser.
VICTIM HAS A HARD TIME.
'You Get cut OF here" Colonel sayers
says to the bogus oattleman, who
promptly disappears with the money. II
the mark" makes any protest. the
steerer pleads with him 10 be quiet and
save him from disgrace.
fie IL told that the penalty for gambling
In Chicago IL a $1,000 fine aud six months
in jail. II the victim still refuses 10 leave
the broad" Joint without trouble. fake
policeman Is called. This bogus officer ar
rests the steerer and the mark"
He then conducts them into the street
where another attempt Is made 10 per-
slade the mark TO let the matter pass,
the steerer pleading for his wife and chill
dren.
IL the victim continues to insist upon
making trouble the sfeerer IL released,
and the fake officer conducts the victim
10 a secluded street He tells him 90 re-
main on tha corner while he goes into a
saloon 90 telephone for "A patrol wagon.
That is the last seen OF the officer. ana
the victim is left 10 go about his business
or To complain To the police.
The fake officer and his victim are
hardly outside OF the broad" joint before
a rapid change Is taking place. The desk
is wheeled into another room and the
samples OF cloth are taken from the
walls.
A folding bed iakes the PLACE OF a desk.
and some tidies are scattered over the
backs OF the chairs. Wher the victim re-
recognize the room.
40 the Harrison street police station
and the Central station all complaints
against confidence men are turned over TO
certain officers Who are efriondly In
dians' 10 the swindlers.
They assist in convincing the victim
that he has made mistake. and they of
ten put him or train bound fer his
home. Not infrequently Harrison street
and Central station detectives. particular
ly the latter. are in the broad" joint
when the victim is sWindlex
They wait until his money is in the
hands of the bogus cattleman srnd the
mark" Is on the street. They then trail
him "a the station and are ready 10
handle" him. Later they return TO the
broad joint and get their portion OF
the money.
ROBBERY IN "sHAKE-DowN" GAME.
The shake-down game is the most des-
perate and boldest OF all swindies. The
steerer makes the acquaintance OF vic
tim and persuades him to walk 10 a Sc
cluded spot There the "spieler." usually
the best talker IN the confidence gang, APP
pears, and represents himself as an off,
Ger.
With him Is another steerer. who points
out the victim as a person who passed
counterfeit money on him. The victim
protests. and his companion urges him "a
show his money TO the officer"
II he refuses, the steerer promptly pro-
duces his money and hands IL 10 the fake
policeman. This l. pronounced good mon
ey and returned. This move usually reas-
sures the victim, and he hands over his
money for inspection. This is immediate
~ "contiscated' by the bogus officer.
Come TO the police station at o'clock
and you can have your money back II the
government inspectors find / have made
"a mistake In pronouncing il counterfeit" :"
the 'spieler" says az he leaves the victim
and the steerer. The ''steerer" makes a
quick getaway" and the victim Is left
To think over his experience.
The "top-and-bottom" game Is a simple
swindle, worked with three dice. The
victim is asked TO guess at the total OF
the top and bottom numbers on the dice.
This total Is always u until the con-
fidence men get the money In sight, when
they put In loaded dice and the victim
loses.