Evening star., 1912-09-01

some appointed spot where they will
share the money. The stranger jumps at
a chance to get out of what looks like a
bad situation. He hurries away to the
appointed place. Here he Will linger for
hours before 1T begins to dawn on him
that he has been the victim of a rather
crude game. He then hustles off to police
headquarters to tell his tale of woe.
4 4
There's another and much lower type of
criminal that operates in Washington
every now and then. He hangs around
the market. and his particular victim is
the young countryman who comes to this
city, perhaps in search of work This
type also work in pairs They will spot
the victim and follow him until he reaches
some location suitable for their work.
purse lying at his feet He will stoop to
pick it up. only to have it snatched from
his hands by one of the crooks who has
been following UP closely The second
crook will then appear on the scene, and
the two will begin to wrangle between
themselves as to which is entitued to the
contents of the purse. One of them will
open it and display what looks like a wad
of yellow backs on the inside.
'rll tell YOU what well do," says the
one with the pocketbook. This man
picked 1t up (pointing to the victim). so
what do you say If We split the contents
three ways? Each one of us will take an
equal share, and every one will be salts
fed"
Of course. that satisfies the other CROOK
and the first. one will count the contents
of the purse.
There's SO here-three twenties and a
ten-dollar bill. You fellows will have to
wait here Until | can change it. so | can
divide it evenly he will say. To this ar
rangement the other will object. claiming
that the other crook wants to run off
with the money. For a moment they APP
pear puzzled, and then the man with the
pocket etbook will get bright idea. He will
turn to the farmer and tell him to give
the other crook his share out Of his own
money As security the farmer can take
the pocketbOok and go somewhere and
get the change himself. He also states
that he will go with the farmer and get
his share after the money has been
changed. BY this time the farmer is as
doubtless interested In the division of the
spoils as the other two appear to be. The
proposition appears fair enough, and he
usually falls for It, He hands over about
$21 or So to the suspicious one Of the
party. and. accompanied by the other.
starts of to get change. After they have
proceeded little way in the direction OF
a bank, a crook will drop in a nearby
barroom and tell the farmer he will await
him there. Five minutes later he has re-
Joined his companion. while the farmer
arrives at the bank to find the purse con-
tanning lot of Confederate money
The market and its vicinity is also the
stamping ground Of the crook who lies
in wait for the green coiored youth who
comes to Washington to get job. These
slick men will accost him and ask him If
he wants q good position. or course, ne
falls over himself in telling them that
is just what he is looking for. The men
will then state that they work for an en-
ployment agency and that for 81 or s. they
will get him a good situation. He usual
ly passes over the money. They viii
then give him a letter to the person who
is to employ him. The victim will
wander off to the address on the envelope
to probably find 1t a vacant lo;.
The short-change artist used to find
easy picking in Washington. but lately
one never reads OF this class pull
ing off anything here. His pet scheme
was 20 enter a drug store. He would
tell the cashier that he wished to send
away some money by mail and request
her to give him ten-dollar bill for the
same amount In change. The cashier