The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-20
THE THREE SWINDLERS
OF LORRAINE
And the Remedy Used by = Reform
Police Chief to Prevent the
Spread Of an Epidemic.

The town Of Lorraine was = big town
and a successful town and an important
town. On the map 1t was not indicated
nv dot or by circle-not by long shot.
1t was indicated by what appeared to be
a small irregularly shaped piece OF mos
u;!to netting, from which there radiated
at least half dozen railway lines. This
Axed it's status from tho start.
But there was one thing the matter with
the town. 1t was too easy-that was all
It's business men. as business mon, were
cautious and conservative. They would
not buy corner lots nor lend money upon
them without making an examination Of
the title to the land. And yet, almost
as one man. they would place good sized
wads Of bills in the hands Of any smooth
tong,ied stranger who pretended to own
a mine or an oil we'll or gold brick.
In other words, Lorraine was the stamp
inc ground Of swindlers Singularly
enough, none Of these swindlers was ever
caught.
Now there were in this town of Lor-
Yaine few hard headed old fellows who
had been swindled once or twice too often.
They started in to watch.
And they soon discovered that the police
department not only winked at the little
games played by these genteel swindlers'
but, further. that the police department
was itself hand in glove with them. The
local papers we're put at work on the case.
much to their delight. and one bright morn
ing when the chief Of police rose from his
couch he read with much surprise In the
Lorraine Liberty Bell this ominous head
line: Sharpe Shares With swindlers.'
As the name Of the chief OF police hap
pened to be Sharpe, he considered the sug-
gestion to be somewhat too personal. How
ever. he took the pains to read column after
column upon the subject.
Hang those fellows no muttered to
himself, "there amt word o truth IN
what they say. But the devil Of 1t is he
finally concluded, -that they can prove
the whole darn business"
One hour later he handed in his resigna.
ton, drew his back pay and left town by a
circuitous route This relieved the hard
headed old fellows who had begun the
Investigation, and while it robbed the
papers Of tho delights Of sensation, still
Il was the easiest way out OF 1t.
Now, In the town Of Lorraine, there wal
man whose name was Peter F. Clancy
He WAS said to be an honest man. HI
was also a student Of human nature, anc
none Of the swindlers who had ever CONF
TO town had been able to come 1t over him.
The hard-headed old fellows made
plain to tho Mayor that Peter F. Canc,
was the man for the vacant place OF chie
Of police. The Mayor. whose skirts per
hape were not altogether unsullied by tn
Sharpe affair. hastily acquiesced.
He started In, in the conventional way
BY talking for publication. Both the L'o
er.v Bel and the Morning Glory had tn
pleasure of printing long interview. Il
this interview the new chief stated that tn
CRYING shame OF the town was swindline
and that he proposed to stop 1t. and sto
1t quickly
All went we'll for the space Of two month";
NJ swindler dared to show his face In tn
b Of Lorraine.
y was on May IS that a stylishly ant
&ll dressed man stepped into the privat
6ce OF p Toler Andrews. Mr.. Andrew
waa a young man who had just come int
fortune,
The stranger presented letter Of intro
duction from a prominent New York ma
with whom young Andrews had some shgt
acquaintance. He explained that he Wa
stopping at Belmont, Lorraine's sweLet
stopping place.
Mr.. Andrews became his guest at Ii
hotel, and played several friendly game
of cards, at the close Of which the strange
was slightly out Of pocket Andrews wa
~ y1o
with special delivery letter addreese
10 the stranger.
The stranger excused himself, opene
the letter, and from It there futtered
handsomely engraved and profusely cert
fed check on one Of the big banks OF Ne
York, to the order Of the stranger. and
the amount Of several thousand dollars.
well, by George!" exclaimed this geni
man, we've got to have another bott
on this thing
Over this bottle Mr. Andrews's ho
explained to him all about the check.
represented his profits on lucky deal
sugar.
He had placed few hundred Wit
Roberts-of Roberts, McCoutts d Co.,
of Wall Street. Roberts had inside II
formation, and this inside informatic
was making for the friends OF Robert
rapid little fortunes on the quiet.
The next day Mr.. Andrews, as a sort
fier, put up hundred-by wire, Of course
with Roberts, McCoutts 4 Co. The ds
after he received his check. 1t was Il
$3.50 This was a good thing-too Cox
to keep.
With the permission Of his new four
friend he told some OF the boys about
and Andrews and the boys put up sever
thousands on sugar. IT so happened
this juncture that the strangers busine
I was concluded in Lorraine.
He was on his way back to tho metroPou
and, AZ q matter Of accommodation,
4 agreed to deliver the few thousands
Roberts, McCoutts h Co. He gave
receipt for it, and emerging from the lig
4 blue smoke OF 20-cent cigars, left the goo
old town of Lorraine.
In few days Mr.. Andrews. who hi
received no word from Roberts, McCout
4 Co., wrote them letter. The lett
came back There was no such firm.
He had deposited his check OF $3.50
his bank at Lorraine. The check can
back. 1t was forgery.
n Mr. Andrews and his friends had be-
i done-done brown. They squealed al
n the newspapers took 1t up.
Il The chief Of police was Mortified, par
II lived. And he was more 30 when 1t "
discovered that the swell stranger had n
Il only done up Andrews and his crowd. b
n two or three other crowds az well, all