The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-12
SWITCH $500 ROLL
ON THEIR VICTIM,
Confidence Men Use Old Swindle
Game to Rob North Broad
way Barke~pcr.
TREASURY BOX FOUND EMPTY
Stranger Who Tells Story of Fab
ulouS Wealth and Another
Who Seeks Investment
Both Disappear.

Joseph ReppIc Of No. C:aS North Broad
way. owner Of the Seven-M,!c House al No.
$3.50 North Broadway. discovered last nigh,
that he had been robbed Of $50 by two con-
! fdrnce men on Monday morning.
RepIle told Detectives Catidle and SG!li-
van of the Sixth District last night that a
man. evidently a foreigner. came TO his sa-
loon Sunday afternoon. and stated that he
wished 10 buy a saloon in that vicinity
Repple tod him that his friend. Drelle-.
who keeps n saloon on North Broadway,
wanted TO sell his place, and offered TO 80
with him to the saiOOn.
Together they went to see Dre!!er. and
tn. latter stated that as soon as he heard
from another man who had an option on
the place h. would be ready 10 talk busi-
ness to them As they came from the ga
loon Repp!e and his newly-fCUnd friend
met another man. He appeared 10 be Of
unsound mind and engaged in conversation
with them. From his pocket he drew a
black leather woman's shopping bag. From
the opening. which oIused with draw
string. protruded a so bill.
TELLS OF FABULOUS WEALTH
The stranger stated that his father died
and left him sl40J1. He said he had no con-
ffHcnce In banks. and was looking for some
responsible business man who would keep
the money for him. The first stranger suS-
gested that Repple might keep the money,
Repple agreed, and when the second straI-
ger intimated that he did not know whether
Repple vas reliable or not. took him TO his
saloon and produced his bank book. show
ing that he had money on deposit at the
Bremen Bank.
Then the first stranger. acting as an al
wiser suggested that Repple TO show that he
was acting squareIy. should draw $500 from
the bank and deposit i with the sltyn-
Repple agreed TO this Proposition. and the
thre. men went TO the Bremen Bank and
got the money. The man who claimed thar
he wanted TO bug saloon suggested that
Rapple purchase a metal cash box in which
TO lock the money. RePp!e purchased one
Nex. he was asked to wrap the money in
a handkerchief supplied by one of the men
and place il In tho bag in which the SECOND
stronger claimed was his Sli.GG He
wrapped up the 500 and handed 1t 10 one
Of the men.
took the KEY The box was given t. Reppe:
and he was told to take i TO his saloon and
place It in fis M safs G age 'T man Who S vS,,d snd
go to the IindelI Hotel where he was stop
Fling. and that he would call on Repp!c the
next dag.
POLICE OPEN TIE B0N.
When Repple returned home he informed
his wife of the trust imposed on him by the
man and told her tina: the boz: which he
placed IN the safe. contained Fltgtl- ~ sne
thought OF the transaction. Mrs. R@pple
became afraid that the men might come TO
the saloon and rob them Of the nlonay.
She Informed ijefscant henns'y :, ot a
Schwartz who Immediately became SITS,
picious The L;eutenant detailed SPECIAL
Officers Caud'e and sullivan on the case,
and they went to the aioon.
With Eeppie's request the poEcemen
opened the noy. II contained Cn,y the placH
bag and roll of paper wrapped in hand
kerchief The confidence men Switched the
Rapnie had wrapped his $500 and subs;itu:-
ing the one containing the paper.
The game is not 4 new one TO the police
Several years age. four men. !talianS:
worked the same scheme on a saloonEeefer
named Heit. They were arrested and sent
10 the penitentiary. RepDle says one or the
two men who robbed him was either
Frenchfuan or an Italian.