Evening journal., 1910-04-30
ROGUES IN UNIFORMS
Donned Official Clothes to Work
Their Victims.
CLEVER RUSSIAN SWINDLERS.

Made ST. Petersburg JeweIer Whom
He Robbed Act as His AoeompIee.
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-
celved 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 o>ehoose
birthday present for his wife.
The tradesman displayed his most
valuable collars and tiaras The vet
eran fingered over them lovingly. At
last he made choice Of a 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 strategist without re-
source. With apologies he asked for
writing materials and essayed to pen
letter to his home. The excitement
acting upon his palsied hands made his
writing ilegible. 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-
tion7"
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 II 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 bowing as 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he had withdrawn so large a sum from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 sumY' asked the shopkeeper
In surprise.
"why, the 5000 rubles you sent for
this afternoon"
Five thousand rubles! I 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
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 well
as of the palsied officer and his vision
ary spouse.
The jeweler had paid for the officers
tiara
or 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
} one day drove up a splendidly ap-
pointed equipage, in which were seat
I'D two ladies'. The ladies descended
at Fauberge's and were received as
customers Of distinction The older
lady introduced herself as the wife OF
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'
Inonds. The jeweler spread before heT
the gems OF his collection.
, After much hesitation the lady pick
{ ed one OF the most expensive. but tC
her dismay the price exceeded that
suggested by her husband. The sales
man dreaded to lose so profitable q
customer. Could not madam obtair
, 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
t to show him the collar and gain hi
: permission to buy it. Her companion
would remain in the shop during he
absence as a hostage. The jeweler wa
1 delighted with the suggestion.
y The lady departed in her carriage
Time passed-quarter of an hour, hal
4 an hour. three-quarters Of an hour
Suddenly there rushed into the shol
two police agents, who announces
: their authority and showed their on
r cial badges. They assured the aston
c ished Fauberge that he had bee
- swiudled. The jeweler trembled. IA
C produced his hostage. The detective
y seized upon her. Protesting. she wa
: hustled into a hack and driven ava
: ea the police Office.
c 1t was the last the jeweler saw O
the woman, the police agents or tn
diamonds. The detectives were th
coachman and the footman Of th