The Washington times., 1901-09-22
TRICKS OF CRIMINALS.
Methods Among Those Who Com
bine Brains and Crime.
The ssNorgue Man, the Latest Add
ton to the smooth Set-Sends VIC
tins to Identify Bodies-The Teie-
uhonc May Nc Used to Advantage

Tins to Identify Bodies-The Tele-
Tho police got the 'morgue man last
week and he pleaded guilty. If bis VIC
tins make a good showing in the crinii-
nal court he viii probably have a chance
to repent of his crimes in joliet anu III
eide ntally to figure Qua some noVel puhco
scheme to put into practice upon ms re-
lease from that institution
The ..raorgue man is not employed al
the county morgue. Indeed. 1t. is doubt
full If he knows the location of that grue-
some branch of the public service. The
"morgue man is simply one OF the new
school of clever thieves who use their
brains as we'll as their hands in gettins at
other peoples property. His plan Oh
operation was simple. but effective. he
was shrswd enough to figure out that tfe
emotions of most people can be played
upon if they are property approached. ana
his scheme was the acme in that line.
In the first place, he selected his VIC
tims-usuaIly woman in comfortable
and well furnished house-and discovered
her name and something about the busi-
ness followed by her husband. That was
easy enough. Then he bided his time
alone in the house. Approaching the door
he rang, dofRed his hat when the woman
answered the bell, and in a gentle way
began to break the news of her husband
supposed death. There had been an acci-
dent he explained-an elevator had fallen
or an explosion had occurred-and among
the victims was a man supposed to De
Mr.. So-and-So, from letters found in his
pocket. The body was at the morgue.
Wouldn't she step over and see II she
could identify It? All this very respect
fuI and with the air of a public employe
in some minor capacity.
What woman could resist such story?
What wife would have room in her mind
for suspicions when her brain was racked
with the horrifying news of her husband 8
death? Hysterical and half frantic, the
woman in every case began to dress for
the street, while her informant quietly
slipped away, his mission done. But he
didn't go far and when he saw the woman
hurrying away from the house to view
the remains of her husband, he emerged
from his place of hiding with a confeder-
ate and proceeded to rob the house at
his leisure.
When the distracted wife reached the
morgue and found the story was a COM
with fear and wrath. for in most cases
the morgue officials told her that the man
was doubtless a burglar, as he had sent
half a dozen women to the morgue under
the same circumstances. Then she has
tened TO telephone to the police, acting
upon the advice of the attendants at the
morgue, but by the time the officers
reached the house the ''morgue man was
clear away with his plunder. he having
selected a house so far from the morgue
that he would have time to rob 1t and
escape before the victim reached the
morgue and learned of the deception. So
numerous were the complaints poured into
the police stations about the operations
of this clever thief that the police dubbed
him the mcrgue man. They realized
that his arrest would be difficult matter
and would probably be made by chance
whenever 1t did come about, as police
man could scarcely be expected to rush
up and arrest every man seen ringing a
front door bell.
Finally 1.-The morgue man. met his
Waterloo. He was discovered robbing a
house and with his companion was placed
under arrest. When the occupant of the
place returned home and was notified of
the arrest she told her story Of being sent
on wild goose chase to a private
morgue at an undertaking establishment,
and then the police knew they had the
morgue man in their hands. A dozen
ferociouS women faced him in the police
court, and he pleaded guilty and went to
jail to await trial
But another will take his place with a
new scheme for fleeing the unwary.
There is a school of thieves in existence
which realizes the value of a bold front
as opposed to ordinary back porch bur
10.
seen climbing a porch pillar No one
thinks twice about a man ringing front
door bell. To this school belong the
nervy thieves who occasionally enter a
dry goods store after 1t has been closed
for the night and after removing their
coats begin rearranging the stock on the
shelves.
ANY rrowling policemen gIancing in the
windows would mistake them for clerks
working after hours. and would not notice
the two or three bundling up silks or
opening the safe under cover OF their
companions innocent looking movements
There are s~fndlerS who pass counterfeit
money by adopting a somewhat similar
ruse to disarm suspicion. One of them
steps into an alley or some other con-
venient place of conccaIment, removes his
hat and coat and hands them to a con-
federate Then, with a s. or SO counter
felt bill in his hand he runs to a pass
ing car and hu;1iediy asks the conductor
for change. The latter, thinking the fel-
low is a clerk from some neighboring
store, never dreams of a counterfeit bill.
and being glad to get rid Of his small
chang. obliges him. The swindler drops
of the car to repeat the trick on a cross
street as often as il Is safe to remain in
the neighborhood. These are men who
use brains In thievery.
The operations Of the morgue man.
who is quite the newest in this line of
crime, recall those of the swindiers who
secure money with checks purporting to
be those of well-known business men. For
instance, the thief notes the name of a
South Water Street merchant on his sign
and goes into neighboring shop within
a block or two. where the name of the
merchant is sure to be well and favorabIy
known, but where his face probably was
never seen-a little cigar store, perhaps.
Good morning. he says briskly; Il
want to get a box of pretty good cigars"
Yes, sir" says the brisk clerk, trotting
out half dozen boxes. The alleged mer-
chant shifts at them, and finally selects
box.
Just send them over to the store, will
you?" he says; II am Mr. Sloan-J B.
Sloan, you know. of South Water Street
"Oh. yes" says the clerk, to whom the
firm name has been familiar for years and
who is &c igltted to secure Mr. Sloan az a
customeT- Then Mr.. Sloan feels in his
pocket. pulls out handful of loose silver
to pay for the box.
IN charge them If you WISH" says the
clerk, "or III send them over c. o. d.
Whatever you say. Mr. Sloan"
NO, | think Eve got some big bills
some place" says Mr. Sloan. hauling out
a wallet But he finds nothing in il but
a check. All that will do. A check made
out to the order of j. B. Sloan.
Just let me have a pen and I'll endorse
this" says the merchant, and wen have
the thing settled. / don't like to have
these little bills coming in for my per
sonal expenses
The clerk hastens to get the pen ready
and Mr.. Sloan endorses the check. which
is, of course, for about four times the
TNrNFaf fNft No. - Tar.
over the difference in cash puts the check
IN the cash drawer and promises to send