Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-05-03
ROCUES N UNIFORMS
Donned Official Clothes to Work
Their Victims.
clever RUSSIAN SWlNDLERS.
The Plausible Old Military Man Who
Made St. Petersburg JeweIer Whom
He Robbed Act a. His Accompliee.
The Energetic Police Agents.


He Robbed Act a. His Aeeompliee.
The Energetic Police Agents.
Nowhere is uniform more potent
than iu Russia. and that fact has more
than once been utilized by swindlers
In their daring operations.
Some years ago jeweler on the
Nevsky Prospekt of st. Petersburg re-
ceived visit one sunny afternoon
from au old aud decrepit officer in the
uniform of 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 chair.
The gentleman had come to choose q
brit hday present for his wife.
The tradesulan displayed his most
valuable collars aud tiaras. The vet
eran fingered over them lovingly. At
last he made choice Of a costly suit
and inlinla,ed that it would meet his
purpose.
TrelnbIiugly the old soldier sought in
bis 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 strategist without re-
source. With apologies he asked for
writing materials aud essayed to pen
q letter to his home. The excitement
acting upon his palsied hands made his
writing iIlegible. 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.
"Will your excellency permit me to
write the instruction to your dicta-
tiou?"
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 have need Of money.
Please take 5000 rubles from my safe and
return by bearer. Lovingly yours.
IVAN.
The generals own footman was dis
patched with the note. The old man
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 as he drove away.
That evening when the jeweler re-
turned to his home his wife asked why
he had Withdraw WI so large a sum from
the family safe.
what sum- asked the shopkeepef
in surprise.
"Why. the 5000 rubles you sent for
this afternoon"
"Five thousand rubies: don't un-
derstand.'
"Heavens here's your letter!'
The wife produced the letter In the
jewelers. own handwriting upon the
jewelers. own business note paper, and
be for the first time realized that the
common name of Anna and the COM
mon name of Ivan were 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
III detail. was another swindle perpe-
trated upon jeweler III st. Peters
burg The mystery surrounding the
Of the secret service force
is the most effective. too. in the hands
of the intelligent Russian criminal.
On the Graude Morskala is one of the
most magnificent jewelry stores in
Europe. the house of Fauberge. To it
one day drove up spleDdidly APP
pointed equipage. in which were seat
ed two ladies' The ladies descended
at Fauberge's and were received as
customers of distinction. The older
lady introduced herself as the wife OF
q we'll known statesman recently re-
turned from abroad. She explained
that she had been authorized by her
husband to choose collar of dia-
monds. The jeweIer spread before her
the gems of his collection.
After much hesitation the lady pick
ed one of the most expensive. but to
her dismay the price exceeded that
suggested by her husband. The sales
man dreaded to lose so profitable
customer. Could not madam obtain
the consent of her excellencys hus-
band to the purchase? The lady medi-
tated and at 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 It, Her companion
would remain in the shop during her
absence as a 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 oth-
eial badges. They assured the aston"
ished rauherge that he had been
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