The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-06-15
ROGUES IN UNIFORMS
D0nned Official Clothes to Work
Their Victims.
CLEVER RUSSIAN SWINDLERS.
The Plausible Old Military Man Who
Made a St. Petersburg Jeweler Whom
He Robbed Act as His Accomplish.
The Energetic Police Agents.

VIC N~OoSo NSs - tbs AccomPisce'
The Energetic Police Agents.
Nowhere is a uniform more potent
than in Russia. and that fact has more
than once been utilized by swindlers
in their daring operations.
Some years ago a jeweler on the
Nevsky Prospekt Of st. Petersburg re-
ceived a visit one sunny afternoon
from an old and decrepit officer in the
uniform of a general. The old gentle
man was assisted from his carriage to
the counter by an attentive footman in
livery. The smiling jeweler received
him with the Difference due to his rank
and accommodated him with a chair.
The gentleman had come to choose a
birthday present for bis wife.
The tradesman displayed his most
valuable collars and tiaras. The vet.
eran fingered owe them lovingly. At
last he made choice of q costly suit
and intimated that it would meet his
purpose.
Tremblingly the old soldier sought in
his breast for his pocketbook. He had
sailed forth without it. The disap.
pointment of both shopman and Gus.
toner was acute. The general. how
ever, was not a strategist without re-
source. With apologies he asked for
writing materials and essayed to pen
a letter 10 his home. The excitement
acting upon his palsied hands made his
writing illegible. The jeweler was in
despair. The old man sighed and re-
marked upon the sad consequences Of
campaigns. The jeweler was touched.
He had an inspiration.
Twill your excellency permit me to
write the instruction to your dicta-
tion?"
The general was delighted and most
gratefully accepted the offer.
On the business paper of his firm the
jeweler wrote the stumbling words of
the veteran:
Dear Anna Il haye need of money.
Please take 5000 rubles from my safe and
return by bearer. Lovingly yours,
IVAN.
The generals own footman was dis
l"'NhNN IL II AotC. 4uC Oll Hill
sat admiring the jewels until in due
course the servant returned with the
5000 rubles. The tiara was bought
and paid for. The jeweler escorted his
distinguished client to the carriage and
stood bowling a. he drove away.
That evening when the jeweler re-
turned to his home his wife asked why
he had withdrawn SO large a sum from
the family safe.
what sum- asked the shopkeeper
in surprise.
"Why, the 5000 rubles you sent for
this afternoon"
Five thousand rubles. l don't I'm.
derstand."
Heavens, here's your letter."
The wife produced the letter in the
jewelers. w handwriting upon the
jewelers. w business note paper, and
he for the first time realized that the
common name of Anna and the COM
mon name of Ivan We're respectively
those of himself and his wife as we'll
as Of the palsied officer and his vision
airy spouse.
The jeweler had paid for the officers
tiara.
OF the same genre, though differing
in detail, was another swindle perpe-
trated upon a jeweler in st. Peters
burg. The mystery surrounding the
composition of the secret service force
is the most effective. too, in the hands
of the intelligent Russian criminal.
On the Grande Morskala is one of the
most magnificent jewelry stores in
Europe, the house of Fauberge. To it
II day drove up a splendidly ap-
pointed equipage, in which were seat
ed two ladies. The ladies descended
at Fauberge's and We're received as
customers Of distinction. The older
lady introduced herself as the wife Of
a we'll known statesman recently re-
turned from abroad. She explained
that she had been authorized by her
husband to choose a collar Of dia.
monds. The jeweler spread before her
the gems Of his collection.
After much hesitation the lady pick
ed n Of the most expensive, but to
her dismay the price exceeded that
suggested by her husband. The sales
man dreaded to lose so profitable a
customer. Could not madam obtain
the consent Of her excellency's hus.
band to the purchase? The lady medi-
tated and Mt length begged permission
to drive to the Office Of her husbands
ministry-the distance was not great
to show him the collar and gain his
permission to buy 1t. Her companion
would remain in the shop during her
absence as q hostage. The jeweler was
delighted with the suggestion.
The lady departed in her carriage.
Time passed-quarter Of an hour, half
an hour. three-quarters of an hour.
Suddenly there rushed into the shop
two police agents, who announced
their authority and showed their OH.
cial badges. They assured the aston
ished Fauberge that he had been