Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-06-21
A Gang Of
Swindlers
Sells & Gray's Circus Accom-.
panied by q Crowd Of
Bunco Operators.

~0ASS SSSe
Monday afternoon Uncle John
Swift was among the several hun
dred who visited the side show ON
the circus grounds. Here for the
small sum Of 10 cents could be
seen the usual variety Of curios-
tiles and monstrosities which char
acterize such exhibitions. As he
entered the door Mr.. Swift was
met by = pleasant fellow who took
the trouble to show him the vari-
GUS curiosities and made himself
generally most agreeable. Grad.
ually they drifted to a part of the
tent where a lot OF electric belts
were displayed. Mr.. Swift's new
and genial friend explained that
the belts were not for sale but
that lie was hunting men to dis
tribute posters, advertising the
belts. 4 box of envelopes was
produced and Mr.. Swift told that
II lie drew No. IL he would be
entitled to $500. The first draw
Mr.. Swift got No. II, which was
good for S3OO-but he was required
to show his financial responsible
ity. He was asked how much
money he had with him aud
replied: About Sl.25. He was
then told that in order to get the
$500 he must show a certificate
from his banker that lie had the
same amount in bank. He was to
see the bank aud get a statement
Of his balance, return with it and
get his $500. Had he done 30 he
would have been asked to sign n
receipt or something Of the kind
which nfterward would have
turned up ms note Of II 600 or
$1,000 But fortunately Mr.. Swift
told Of the scheme and friends
warned him that he had gone as
far as was safe. Consequently he
did not return to get his $500.
During the time Mr.. Swift was
being told of the belt business
fnrmer-looking man happened
around who said he was from
Lamar. He was induced to draw
an envelope and was just as lucky
us Mr.. Swift, drawing No. IL,
worth $500, the first grab. 1t was
somehow arranged that he and
Mr.. Swift were to share the $500
generously awarded them by the
side-show swindler.
This confidence game business
and other methods of stealing
were the leading features of the
side show. One swindle was to
wrap $40 bill in sheet of paper.
Thre, of these sheets each loaded
with so note, were placed before
the gullIble ones, side by side with
n gold watch chain. Credulous
spectators were asked to buy the
watch chain for So aud the three
richly laden packets of paper
would be given them rs present.
Those who purchased stuffed the
precious paper parcels down in
their pockets to be opened when
alone, only to find that the SO
bills had by some sleight-of-hand
trickery been left in the pocket of
the fakir.
Another gambling device was
the sale of 81 bottles of perfumery
accompanied by drawing IN envei-
ope containing n numbered card.
The card awarded the purchaser
some article in n show case or its
marked value. Like all other
gambling games which appeal to
the greed of mankind it was so
planned that the man running the
business got all the money.
II. V. Waterman was swindled
in making change with ticket
seller, being scooped to the extent
of "a, which was, however, returned
when Marshal Baldwin made the
Another party was swindled out
Of S35 by scheme in which the
fakir pretended to wrap two $40
gold gieces in bits of paper. His
victim could see the milled edges
of the coins through the folded
ends of the sheet and planked out
his money. On unfolding the
paper he found that he had brass
finger ring engraved to initiate the
edges of gold coin. Marshal
Baldwin secured the return of
some money which was stolen by
this scheme.
At the district convention of the
w. @. L. U. held in Rocky Ford |
recently the following officers
were elected: President, Mrs. |
Alice Green of Rocky Ford; vice
president, Mrs. Carrie B. James