South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-08
BE GEARS KNOW
TRICKS OF TRADE
Many Methods Used to Fleece
Those Willing to
Help.

NEW YORK. May 8.-Cnless the
police have made it unpopular since
the last time was there. New
York possesses one Of the most re-
marRable beggars' clubs in the
world.
Its members gather every even
ing in a rather quiet chop suey res
taurant in midtown almost under
the Third az. elcyated
A stranger might enter. eat his
ya-ka-mai or chicken omelet, and
depart without noticing anything
unusual
But IL one fingers and engages in
conversation it is not difficult 10 get
acquainted with the gilded pan
handlers Here are some OF the
more remarkable members:
l. The president OF the club. He
is dressed Immediately and ia good
taste. He might be taken for n
Wall 81. man"
He changes his game often, but
"a
stranger with a confident smile ne
politely requests few minutes con-
versatiOn He is a civil engineer
and has come 10 the city with
liberal check in his pocket to take
charge Of a big Job.
Well like many others he has
been foolish. He has dined and
wined not wisely but too well. IN
fact, his last cent is gone. Could
YOU help him 10 get in touch with
his friends end lend him enough to
keep mm for few hours? Glad 70
take your address and hope some
one will do the same for you some
day. Thank you again. good day.
Working this and similar schemes
this beRgar prince has made his
way from coast 10 coast many times.
always living on the fat Of the
land.
2. A typical westerner. He Is
tall. well built, about 80 years old,
and wears a flannel shirt and
large broad trimmed hat.
He takes his stand near a railroad
station and tells his victim of his
in luck prospecting for work. He
can't find a friend in New York
and is stranded and without means.
II only he had stayed in Montana,
or perhaps New Mexico
3. A man in a United States
army uniform. He. also, is tall.
Well-huilt. and strong looking. He
is clean shaven and his uniform fits
him like a glove.
His spiel" as the beggars' lingo
dub II, tells OF 1 , years in the army
and an honorable discharge. Here
he is. a man who has served his
country well and. II ne had been
injured, would receive a pension.
But nobody wants a man without a
trade. and. indeed. discharged sol
diers are looked upon with suspicion
anyway. In these days Of pre-
paredness" his game works well.
4. A soft-voiced well dressed,
ingratiating woman Of middle axe.
She frequents hotels and tea rooms,
always behaves well. and is never
ousted. because the detectives can't
get anything on her"
g. A deformed cripple. At least
ne appears so when he drags his
misshapen body through the door.
But moment later he has become
an upright sprightly man, who
briskly steps 10 a table and orders
good meal.
is his remarkable double joints
which do the trick. He takes his
stand on the landings OF elevated
railroad stations or like places and
holds out his cap. with few cheap
pencils ciutched beside. lie is really
cut OF date though. and few mem
bers Of the club would descend TO
his crude methods
The begging brothers have the
city carefully mapped in their minds
as 10 its revenue producing posi-
bilities
For instance. Broadway from
Fourteenth to Twenty ST. Is
worth 20 cents TO 40 cents an hour;
From Twenty third TO Forty second
ST. from 90 cents 20 IS: and from
Iorty-second TO Fifty-ninth St 80
cents 10 10 cents.
This does not count strikes" as
the beggars call unexpectedly large
Sits and OF course the weather and
the hour OF the day effect bust
ness"
A persistent beggar arrested and
searched here this week was found
TO have $3.50 i'm his pockets and
Pasquale Caruso. Brooklyn pro
fessionaI left $4,000 in the bank
when he died.