The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-10
AMERICAN GRAFT In PARIS
TWO BEGGlRS PROSPER on NEW
YORK METHODS.

For six Months They Have Been Extracting
Dollars From the Pockets NJ Their Conn
patriots In a EBusIncsslIke Way -Sen-
nen Appeal 81 the Frcnrh BeSgAr.
Americans in Paris last summer had an
opportunity to observe the Success with
which New York methods OF mendicancy
may be transferred to other surroundings. A
contrast in their methods to the sentimental
and rather hysterical methods Of the native
Paris impOstOrs. two Americans rave for
the last six months been able to prosper
steadily owing TO the good nature Of their
travelling Compatriots.
II is necessary. according to French law.
for the person who has been swindSed to
make the complaint and to press the prose-
cution. American travellers nave no time
10 incur the delays OS French law just to
revenge themselves. So these two men
have 81 far carried on their swindles sue
cessfully in spite Of frequent exposures in
the newspaper columns.
One is fat. and steel trimmed glasses i'm
part a look Of seriousness To his round face.
He poses as James II. Brown Of Plainfield.
n. j., and he looks every letter of that desig-
nation. He is we'll dressed but without
elegance or smartness.
His companion. who is younger. taller and
thinner, has regular features and might he
called good looking. In spite Of their long
s~oiourn in Paris they hav contrived sue
cessfully TO avoid any peculiaTities in dress
that would indicate that their clothes had
been bought in Paris.
They haunt the boulevarde and the Rue
dc Ia Psix. where they are most likely to
meet Americans. Usually they are looking
In a shop window and the approach OF an
American is the signal for the beginning
Of an interested conversation
They seem at the same time TO be observ-
ing the range After a few furtive
glances at him and an apparent discussion
between the two the fat swindler goes up to
him. He always does the talking.
MY friend and I thought you were an
American" he begins. We n il the
minute you came up"
Naturally the American admits the
charge and then he waits. He may hear
one of several stories. The two may have
just lost their luggage at Dion or they
may have lost il and their pocketbooks at
the frontier Or this disaster, which the fat
thief loves to Tecite:
"Our pockets were picked last night and
we nave only four francs between us. We
were just starting for Holland and our
luggage has gone OF the train. h en-
bassy can do nothing for us as there il only
a fund to help sailors without means.
The embassy has, however, sent a cable
gram to our relatives in America and We
exc ect the none tomorrow. In the mean
time we have not a cent with which to live
until the cable comes"
Then a visiting card is produced and the
Raker begs for the address OF the victim
that he may send him back any money
that may he lent.
The second man Of the pair never says a
word. He may be a foreigner and for that
reason afraid TO betray the fact in his
~ eech. although il is believed that they
are both Americans. They have grown
sleek and UTosI erous looking during the
six months they have been in Paris.
When they first made their appearance
among the begRars they really looked as
If they did need food. Now they Rave the
look of great ease and plenty.
The whole swindle il carried on in bust
nesslike fashion without any auecial
appeal 20 patriotic feeling and with the
promise 10 pay back 30 soon as the re-
mittauces arrive any money the. may be
advanced. They are said 10 he able TO tell
Americans by their shoes when all other
evidences ara Inadequate.
Frenchmen always wear pointed boots
of q kind never seen on feet of any other
nationality and for that reason the Amer
lean il recognizable when he has not been
long in Paris. II is to the shoes of these
two impostO-s that their occasional failures
are 70 q attributed.
Americans living in Paris when APP
preached by them have looked at their
footgear and realized that it is impossible
for them 20 have been there so short a time
az they say. In other details Of dress the
TWO have contrived TO retain a look Of
America, not to say New Jersey.
To this day the francs Of sympaChi7in0
Americans pour into the outstretchsd palms
OF these ~mendicants. who have received as
much as $50 at a time from their COM
patriots. There are 80 many Americans
in Paris and they change 80 frequently that
these two MAY Tor years enjoy the profit.
able profession they have selected
The method Of a typical French beggar IL