The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-09
MADE $5OO,OOO
BY SWINDLING
Once Successful Confidence
Man Broken Down After
Years of Prosperity.

Isaac S. Vail believed the world
owed him a living. Acting on this
belief he endeaYored TO get it with the
least amount of work. With a smooth
tongue and plausible lies he collected
100000 of this debt as a confidence
man.
Now he is a broken down old man,
pitied by the police of all the big cities.
Once he was Handsome Ike" Now he
is just "Old Ike" He is known as the
prince of bunko steerers" and the
king of confidence men"
From Maine to California, and from
the lakes to the gulf. he has piled his
trade and collected the debt which the
world owed him. He had disappeared
from one town when 1t became too hot
for him only to appear in another and
take more money from newer victims.
In years gone by he has borrowed"
money-that is the term he uses-frOm
hundreds of victims. Today 1t is a red
letter event when victim loans" him
So. Trembling with age his refuge is
in the cheapest lodging houses.
L have not gone to sleep once in the
last three years." he said recently as
he was discharged from a police court.
that l have not hoped 1 would not
wake up again"
Old Ike still retains a bit of humor.
He can laugh at the foibles Of human
ity upon which he has played. and
from which he has earned his living in
the last fifty years. Probably 1T is less
difficult for him to laugh even now in
his miserable old age than it would be.
for any of his victims.
His method of operation was simply
-childishly foolish. All it required was
genius for inspiring confidence. With
out that the simple method would not
have been effective in the least
A farmer travelling to New York on
the Hudson steamer would meet an af..
fable stranger-well dressed, quiet, and
unassuming. They would fall into con-
versation with the readiness of travel
ers AMI there would be a hundred and
one things Of which the stranger
could talk interestingly. AS their ac-
quaintance grew the stranger would
begin to talk about his business. He
would appear to be a prosperous man
OF affairs and the other man would
feel just little fiattered that he should
have become known to such an estim.
able character.
The affable stranger would explain
that he was going to New York to
purchase a bill OF goods, naming the
large sum which he would be required
to pay. When the boat reaches New
York the two have become so friendly
that they walk up the street together
AS they walk along suddenly there
appears a white bearded man to whom
the anable stranger rushes up gladly
Bringing him to his new friend he saws
that here Is man from whom he can
buy his goods without further trouble
They proceed to negotiations at once.
The affable stranger discovers that he
mas a check which will nearly pay for
the goods, but not quite-$25 or so is
needed. He reaches for his pocketbook,
but cannot find it. He thinks for a mo-
ment that he has been robbed. Then
he remembers. He left the pocketbook
on the steamer-in his stateroom. 1t
can be obtained by going back to the
boat. This he proposes that they do
The white-b bearded man objects He
has not the time. The affable stranger
finds 1T necessary for him to raise the
money Immediately If he may close an
advantageous purchase
The victim, without the request be-
Ing made to him directly finds himself
disposed to help his new friend out.
lie produces the required money The
affable stranger does not care to ac-
cept, but the victim insists. Finally
that arrangement is made and the af-
fable stranger invites the victim and
the white-bearded man to step into a
hotel and have a drink
AT the bar he excuses himself for
moment. The white bearded man and
the victim wait. The affable stranger
does not return. The white-bearded
man finally goes in search of him. He
does not return. The victim waits I'M
til he realizes that he has been duped.
He has met Ike Vail-Handsome Ike in
those days. AS Old Ike he cannot work
such methods.
What L never could understand" he
says now as he looks back over his
life, SIS why any man Should tell a per-
feet stranger all about his business
When they do that the rest is easy.
You just lead them on little by little
and play on their sympathies and pref
ty soon you are able to borrow a bit
of money"
His money, easily made was easily
lost. Gambling and high living made
way with 1t readily. He is used to be-
Ing arrested, but his longest sentence
was three years. He admits having
borrowed" half a million dollars. but
says the largest single amount was
81 ,200.-Chicago Tribune.