The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-05-25

MONEY FOR THE POPE
Italians do the swindIlns But the
Americans Are Thought to be
Back Of the Clever
eame.

[By Henry Wood, Rome correspon.
dent of the United Press.]
ROME, May 24.-Another American
industrial invasion of Europe has just
taken place. This time it is an in.
vasion by American crooks and the
Rome police are very busy just at
present trying to put themselves fully
wise to the intricacies of the Ameri-
can confidence game and also to the
ability Of the crooks themselves to
keep clear of the city Jail.
The advent OF American crooks IN
Europe is admitted by the "Questore"
at Rome to be something of novel
ty. AS a rule, the American adher-
ents of this vocation lack the linguis-
tic ability and other accomplishments
necessary for successfully smbarking
in the international game In Italy
however, this situation is believed to
have been solved by the partnership
between the genuine American conf
dence men. and various italian crooks
who have been in the United States,
and who with their knowledge of both
Italian and English, and also general
ly French, supply any deficiencies in
the education OF their illustrious part
ners.
The advent of the gang in Italy
was simultaneous with the beginning
by the vatican of its celebration OF
Sonstantigs year. and naturally the e
Victims consist entirely 81 lns pit
grims who come to Rome to attend
the various functions that are to De
in progress during the entire year. II
is owing to the fact that practically
all of the victims up to date have
been either Americans or Canadians
that the police are convinced the
brains behind the game are those of
American confidence men, the Italian
end of the concern merely supplying
| the local information necessary.
AS a rule the game begins when
some lone American or Canadian pill
grim is trying to solve the mystery
of some ruin or remains of antiquity
with the aid of guide book. He ven
lures to ask of some one standing
near if they understand English and
not only is delighted to find that the
| person speaks English but that he is
veritable fount Of knowledge OF
everything in Rome that the pilgrim
wants to know
! The acquaintance proceeds rapidly
and within day or two the unwary
/ American pilgrim Is introduced to a
4 friend of his chance acquaintance I
/ then develops that the two strangers
are also pilgrims to Rome: that the.
have been sent here by some Ame.i,
can or Canadian diocese for the ex-
press purpose OF presenting to his
holiness one of those large contribu-
tions known as "Peters's pence" by
which the vatican is now almost en-
tirely maintained.
A little later, the American learns
that the date has been set for the
actual audience at which the two
strangers are to present to his hon.
i ness the large sum of money that has
been collected In their diocese at
home Finally the day itself arrives
and during the forenoon the two men
come in great distress to their Amer
lean acquaintance. The check which
they are to present to his holiness,
has not yet arrived, although they
have been expecting it by every mail
The audience, however. must abso-
lutely take place and the money must
be presented. Can the American
help?
Up to the present time, It seems
that all OF the Americans who have
been approached on the subject have
/ been not only fully able but WILLING
to help, They advance the amour,
Of the missing check, ranging any
where from $1,000 to $4,000, and ac
cept as security some worthless ex