The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-12-15

stiil present and the grafters did even
less business than Santa Claus. But
this year the wave of prosperity, after
two lean seasons, has proven magnet
TO draw the undesirables to the city to
such an extent that the police have
been unable to protect the public from
their schemes. The games which these
sharpers use to obtain money here
and to a less extent throughout the
country-are almost numberless. Such
characters as Fruzzie Driftwood, Mike
the Bite, Smoke Haired Thompson,
One Blink Smith. and a. small army
Of greater or less fame in the under
world, are already working ingenious
schemes to defraud the public in be-
half of alleged charities. Practically
every line of opportunity for soliciting
funds for charitable purposes is al
ready being overworked by bogus
charitable solicitors who ask for mon
ey for every conceivable sort of cause
from a newsboys' Christmas dinner to
the solicitation OF medicines, old
clothes and books for various homes.
In such cases the contributions are
converted into cash without delay.
Already. 1t Is estimated, Christmas
grafters have obtained more than ST.
100000 in New York from good -natur-
ed and prosperous persons who have
believed the tales poured into their
ears by these industrious swindlers.
The international marriage trust is
no more, at least so far as New York
Is concerned, and with its passing
comes the end Of one of the most re-
markable business undertakings which
this city has ever seen. The organ
ization which was founded here by six
Italians, had as It's object the joining
In fnatrimony Of wealthy New York
girls longing for title, with impe-
cunious italian nobIemen whose title
was their only asset To accomplish
this purpose the organizers got to-
gether a fund of about $4,000, picked
out half a dozen young Italians whose
titles were as long as their purses
were short, and then made up a list
of naarriageaIble feminine wealth
known TO have titular aspirations. OF
course no direct approach was made
In any case. Nothing so crude as the
offer OF a title in exchange for money
was attempted. Instead the $25, 900
fund was used to bring the six Italian
noblemen to this country, and to A.
nance them in a social career which
should ultimately afford the proper
opportunity for the desired alliance of
title and dollars. The profits of the
organizers were to come from the
percentage of the wealth married by
each title possessor to be paid as soon
as the minister had said the final word
in the marriage ceremony Unfortu-
nately for the promoters of the scheme
SO beautiful in its apparent possibili-
ties, the venture failed, presumably
for the same reason that has caused
many another failure-lack of work
| ing capital. The italian nobIemen
came. They lived in the best hotels
rode in automobiles and entertained
lavishly. But when the $4,000 had
been spent not a single engagement
to say nothing of a marriage, had
come to pass. The impecunious Ital
ians dropped suddenly out of sight
In the future If an American heiress
does marry a title it will be entirely
without the assistance Of the Interna
tional Marriage Co., for the company
is broke.