The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-06-28
scores Of Americans Arc Fiseced
Every Year In Paris BY
the same Old
Game.
ARE NOT HA = j
Most Of the Victims Are People who
Are supposed to bs
Blsssed With
Brains.

Correspondent Of the United Press
PARIS, June 27.-Scores Of Ameri
cans are victimized annually by the
simplest Of gold brick schemes here
according to nsul-General Alexan
cdr M. Thackara who has requested
the United Press to warn the tourist
public Of the danger.
1T is positively amazing" he de-
clared, "the number Of victims who
come to me asking me to take the
matter up with the Paris police. !
have been In Paris but short time
yet have had six cases Of robbery to
investigate"
At this point q clerk entered the
consul-generals private Office with q
handful Of documents. He has been at
the consulate for years
There have been hundreds OF cases
since ! have been here" he told me.
And they are all alike"
The surprising thing" the consri
/ general went on, lis the victims OF
these robberies are mot what We in
America call 'hayseeds. They are
usually well-trxvsiled, well-fead. In
telligent-appearing men, as worldly
wise AZ you or Il have but one ex-
PLANTATION to offer. They are either
drugged or hypnotized, or both"
DO you mean literally hypnotised?"
he was asked. Literally hypnotised,
yes. can't account for the swindles
in any other way. for. as say. the
victims appear to be men who don't
usually fall for gold bricks. why"
he exclaimed, lone victim was func-
tionary Of the United States govern
ment. / won't say in what depart
ment, whether civil or military. But
he was in q position reached only by
men OF more than the usual amount
OF brains. After that, what il one to
think?"
The swindle is old enough to have
patriarchal beard. The police know
1t by the rich uncle" or LEGACY to
the pope" confidence game. Here is
the sworn statement Of a victim:
On Saturday night was sitting
q cafe In front OF the central rail.
way station. A well dressed man
came and sat down near me. I see
by the button you are wearing that
you are an American he said, after q
while. Yes replied. He claimed
to be from st. Paul. told him 4
was from Ohio. He was very nice,
quite pleasant, and talked intelligent
y on various American subjects
PRESENTLY he said he had to go home
he asked me how long expected to
be In Paris and remarked that he
would like to see more of me while
here. He suggested that we might
meet on the terrace at the Cafe Ter
minus at o'clock the next night.
About $3.50 o'clock the next even
ing took a walk and saw the Ameri-
can and q second man on the terrace.
me latter said he was from New
Zealand. He, like myself, was inter-
ested In the mining business. We had
very interesting conversation. We
agreed to meet the next morning. /
AS was having my coffee both men
came In and sat down with me. The
nrst man met finally got up saying
ne mad business to attend to but
asked us to have luncheon with him
q o'clock. refused as l was hav-
ing breakfast and It was about II
o'clock then. The other man and ]
vent for q walk.
we went to an oyster bar and had
drink. While we were talking,
slender young man 1T nearby table
turned and asked: Excuse me but
0on,t speak French. VIII you tell the
water for me that 1 should like some
MIX! l said certainly and gave the
0foer. Come and sit here with u.s.
Wy companion said to the slender
man. So he sat with us. He intro
auced himself as an 1rishman, from
Ouoiin. He told what fine time he
! sss having in Paris incidentally men,
.oning having spent several hundred
dollars. His rich uncle, In Colombo,
y said, had died and left him q for
(Continua6 IN na9n Al ,