Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-11
ITALIAN fruit
VENDfR DUPED
BY SWlNDLERS
LOSES S170O IN ICON" GAME
OF COUNTRYMEN
FOREIGNER INDUCED TO PART
WITH HIS SAVINGS
Hard Working Man Influenced to Give
His Money as Security for Sup
posed Charity Distribu-
ton Of $4,000
10y WORKING successfully the old

| HY WORk X ING successfully the Old
| X time Italian box game, two clever
- swindlers succeeded in separating
| a fellow countryman, Jim BrotisiS, a
| fruit venqer, 450 South Main street.
| from $500 in currency last night.
/ That "A careful plot had been laid
was disclosed when detectives working
! on the case made investigation ana
! that every possible means to prevent
| detection was taken was apparent, ana
up to an early hour this morning the
| bunco men were still at large
on the pretext he was to be made
general manager and distributor of
$50, 600 among the needy Italians of the
| San Francisco quarter Brotisis was in
veigled by gullible talk to go to his
bank and withdraw $l7OO, the savings
of a lifetime.
Brotisis' eyes opened wide when he
was shown a regular cash box nlled
with what looked like yelloWpacks'
which were to be entrusted to his care
for distribution in San Francisco, If
/ he could give security that he would
| properly disburse the money.
The small income of fruit vender
was compared to the opportunity OF
making 10000 and 'rotisis fell VIC
! tim to the plan.
Last night he was in a state OF COZ
Lapse when he learned he had been
| tricked and would have to start life
anew after working hard for ten years
| in Los Angeles.
Stranger Appeared at Stand
| A week ago a well dressed stranger
! happened at the fruit stand of Brotisis
/ and became acquainted with the Ven-
| der. stating he was enjoying a vacation
/ and was glad to make the acqualnt-
ance of a fellow ountryman, as ne
would have some time to while away.
] The two men became oonhdentlal, ana
nothing was suspected by the frult
yender Yesterday afternoon when tall,
well dressed stranger appeared at the
fruit stand and casually recognized the
man who had been lounging about the
place for nearly week.
The trio got TO talking Of business
and the tall man stated he was satls-
fed with life. that he mad Just come
from the Klondilte and had made
haul of 5000, 900, but that he had no
| friends or relatives or means OF en-
! loving his fortune and was determined,
! now that the Christmas season was at
/ hand. to do some charitable work.
He stated he realized much poverty
existed in the italian quarter or san
Francisco, and if he could hnd per
son cognzant Of conditions in that 10
cality and trustworthy who would con-
scientiously distribute the money he
would pay him $4,000.
rhe friend Of week suggested that
Brotisls was an honest man, Wen
known among the Italians and might
be Just the one wanted.
STRANGER Wants Security
The tail stranger laughed, tapped
cash box which he carried under MS
arm and stated he would not entrust
S5O,OO0-the amount he intended to dis
tribute-to a person without security.
Brotisis retorted he had security ana
showed his bank book and was then
skillfully guided until he went to ms
bank and drew out his savings. Inc
stranger then opened his box and
showed the large bundle of money, ana
suggested if Brotisis would accept the
Dosition of general distributor and
would place his S170O In the deal he
would entrust the box of $4,000 to the
fruit vender and retain the keys
The proposition looked alluring to
Brotisis and he accepted, his SlfO0 was
placed in "A canvas bag, sealed win
wax and supposed to nave Deeh pldleu
in the strong box.
II was agreed the three should meet
at First and South Main streets at D /
o'clock and leave on the owl tram from
the Arcade station for San Francisco.
To make the deal binding the tall
stranger purchased three bona hde
tickets while Brotisis was making ar
rangements to have his fruit business
cared for during his absence.
Rrotisis received his ticket, and all
sniIes with the valuable" box tucked
under his arm. met the stranger as
agreed. but in the rush for the car h > /
was nurposely lost, 1t ben~ supposed /
The two men boarded the car from one
entrance and left on the other side,
Brotisis Not Suspicious
Not vet suspicious, Brotisis rode to
the Arcade station and hopefully
awaited the arrival of his partners,
but when the owl arrived and pulled
out and they were not seen he did not
become discouraged but went back TO
his place of business and conHded IN
friend what he had done and stated ne
would await the next train.
He held tightly to his treasure box,
fearing he might be robbed.
He told his friend of his purpose to
so to san Francisco and pictured the
immense amount Of wealth he was to
make and what he had in the box.
After persuasion he was Induced 10 !
pry open the box, and was the most
surprised and disconsolate person IN
Los Angeles when he found but numef-
Gus wads of newspaper colleu aDo.t
with stage money, and no trace of his
$500.
He realized he had been made vic
tim of the "switch" trick, and that
he had been buncoed of his life $ say
ings,
Frantically he rushed to police head
Quarters and there told his story, but
the bunco men had good start ana
although all outbound trains were
Watched and messages and descriptions
flashed to San Francisco and inter
mediate towns no trace of the, swim
dlers was found.
The man who had been loating about
all week and evidently planned the
game is described as being 80 years
old. Eve feet five inches tall, weighing
about 14O pounds, with round. full face,
light brown mustache and dressed IN
fashionable, light gray, striped suit.
The stranger from the 'Klondike" is
described as 40 years old, five feet five
inches tall, weighing about 175 pounds,
smooth shaven, light brown hair and
dressed in checkered brown suit, and
appearing as a well-to-do, prosperous
man, and q smooth talker, with but
i