The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27
SWlNDLEDCHARlTABLE WOMEN
SMOOTH T.4LKER WORKS CHURCH
or THE DISCIPLES FOLKS.
The Church Had Been Oh! So Kind to Him
and He Lacked Only - to Get Better
ClImate--Gave Each Victim . Mes.
sage That Kept Her Indoors . While.

A slick young man with a glib tongue
and an ability to shed tears at will succeeded
one day last week in swindling number
of charitable women connected with the
Church of the Disciples in West Fit y-sixth
street.
He was first heard Of last Tuesday when
he called upon Mrs. F. H. Moore Of SIG
West Fifty-eighth street, who is president
of the Missionary Society and whose hus-
band is one Of the elders Of the church.
Il have an important message from
Mr.. j. H, B,nton to Mr., Moore" he said.
He told me Mr.. Moore is out Of town and
that you should wait in until he calls to zee
you this afternoon. Tell Mr.. Moore that
must 60 away this afternoon ard give
him my farewell, Ask him to pray for me. '
As the young man said this he broke
down and cried.
what is the trouble, poor MANI" said Mrs.
Moore. Come in and explain to me"
When the man got inside ne said Il have
been a member OF your Christian Endeavor
Society and recently my mother died.
Here he b oke down and shed some more
real tears Then was taken with hem
sent me to the Prest yterian Hospital. When
came out F. NJ. Apologize got me sit,la-
ton in Australia where will get SIS a week
and board. The doctors say must 60 TO
another climate to save my life Oh, your
church has been no good TO me. ! needed
Sl75to buy transportation and need clothes
l have got all but 81 from the church and
must start at o'clock to-day
Mrs. Moore did not fall for the n. bu I
she gave him one of her husbands over
coats that fitted him perfectly. Mr.. Ban
ton Is an elder Of the church and Mr. APP
plegate is deacon. The young man knew
all the officers of the church and their adj
dresses and Mrs. Moore, never suspecting
waited IN all that afternoon and evening
for Mr.. Banlon. who did not come.
The swindler next called on Miss Marion
Dykes Of 1874 West Ninety-seventh street,
who il an officer of the Ladies' Aid Society,
repeated his hard luck story with more
tears and got the 81 and plenty Of sym
patty. He told Miss Dykes that Mrs
her to be home that afternoon az she wished
to see her on important business.
Miss Dykes put of several engagements
in order TO receive Mrs. Brook we'll, who
il also an officer of the Ladies' Aid Society.
Several other women prominent In church
work wers visited, ana nearly ell OF them
gave up money to the young man who de-
scribed himself as r. l.. Hall. In each
case they were told that one OF the others
was to call on them and they all remained
in the house
conference at the church that after
noon had no quorum, as result Of the
young mans trip. At the regular prayer
meeting on Wednesday night the women
folks got TO talking about poor young Mr..
Hall whom they had helped to send to
Australia, and explanations were demanded
from one another as to why they did not
fill the engagements according to Mr..
Halls messages. Then the truth dawnei
on them.
The swindler is described as being about
80 years old, about feet 10 inches tall, with
smooth face and black hair. He wore q
gray suit of clothes. His idea In making
the fake engagements for the women Is
believed to be part Of his scheme TO keep
them at home SO that he could work the
parish before they could get together and
compare notes.
1t Is estimated that he secured about
$50 and quantity Of clothing In the one
day.