Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-05-09
RUGijES IN UNIFORMS
DOnned Official Clothes to Work
Their Victims.
CLEVER RUSSIAN SWINDLERS.
The Plausible Old Military Man Who
Made a St. Petersburg JeweIer Whom
ne Robbed Act as His Accomplish.
The Energetic Police Agents.


The Energetic Police Agents.
Nowhere is a uniform more potent
than il Russia, and that fact has more
than once been utilized by swindlers
lin their daring operations.
Some years ago a jeweler on the
Nevsky Prospekt of St Petersburg re-
ceived a visit one sunny afternoon
from all old and decrepit officer in the
uniform of general. The old gentle
fnan 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 a
birthday present for his wife.
The tradesman displayed his most
valuable collars and tiaras. The vet.
eraD fingered over them lovingly. At
last he made choice Of costly suit
aud animated 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-
poiDtment 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 and essayed to pen
a letter to his home The excitement
acting upon his palsied hands made his
writing illegibe. 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-
Iion:'
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 i have need of money.
please take 5000 rubles from my safe and
tretern by bearer. Lovingly yours,
IVAN
The generals own footman was dis
patched with the note. The old man
sat admring the jewels until in due
course the servant returned with the
1000 rubles. The tiara was bought
md paid for. The jeweer escorted his
distinguished client to the carriage and
stood bowling as he drove away.
That evening when the jeweler re-
surned TO his home his wife asked why
he had withdrawn SO large sum from
the family safe.
IVY hal sum-" asked the shopkeeper
in surprise.
"Why. The 5000 rubles you sent for
this Afternoon"
give thousand rubles. | don't I'M
dersland."
"Heavens. here's your letter.
The wife produced the letter in the
jewelers. own handwriting upon the
jewelers. own business note paper and
he 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 paisied officer and his vision
airy spouse
The ieweler had paid for the officers
tiara.
OF the same genre. though differing
in detail. was another swindle perpe-
trated upon Il jeweler in st. Peters
burg, The mystery surrounding the
composition of the secret service force
is the NEST effective. too. in the hands
of the intelligent Russian criminal.
~. ,,,, l., Inr IL Ia is Of 10
most magnificent jewelry stores in
Europe. the house of Fauberge. To it
one day drove up a splendidly ap-
pointed equipage in which were seat
ed two ladies. The ladies descended
at Fauberges and We're received as
customers OF distinction. The older
lady Introduced herself as the wife Of
"a well 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 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 Il
customer. Could not madam obtain
the consent of her eXcellency's 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
10 show him the collar and gain his
permission to buy it. Her companion
would remain in the shop during her
absence as hostage. The jeweler was
delighted with the suggestion.
The lady departed in her carriage
Time passed quarter of an hour, halt
an hour three-quarters of an hour.
Suddenly there rushed into the shop
Two police agents. who announced
their authority and showed their 9TH
b.. cial badges They assured the aston
Ished Fauberge that he had beer
swiudled The jewcer trembled. he
produced his hostage. The detectives
seized upon her. Protesting. she was
tustled into a hack and driven away