Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-24
FUNERAL CHAsERs CHEAT 1
WAR WIDOWS. IN ENGLAND
SwindlcrS, Who Study CasuaIt
Lists, "1raffic" on Bcreavcd
WOmcn'S Sentiment.
SELL ALLEGED SOUVENIR
Ono Trick Is to Offer to Deliver Do;
Said to Have Been Bought u
Husband Before He Went
Front.
TBy international News Burcau.1

TBy International News Burcau.1
LONDON. February 23.--More liri
can now be shed on the methods ,
that most offensive and dctestablc OF a
iinpostors. the man who callously 81
lccts his prey through the medium
the casualty lists.
Several cases have come under noti,
in which tho bcrcavcd woman has bee
cozcncd or badgered into buying fro1
persons her lancntcd husband ncvd
heard Of the personal souvenirs al,
sacred "reminiscences" they allcEe Il
left behind
The trick requires no brilliant mag
nation nor great ingenuity. as the FOL
lowing examples will show. Tho fir!
letter was from a sharp in Bedminstcl
ana II reached Yorkshire widow folj
days after the announcement that Id
husband had been killed in action.
Dear Madan.-I was very much CT
up when heard OF your poor hus
bands death. lie was a thorough spoI
and straight ms 4 die.
He was very warm friend of min
and the day before he went to Franc
splendid little fox terrier. His Inter
t!on vas TO bring II home when u
came on leave. and he laughed who
he said II would be nice surprise Il,
you.
AS he was my dear friend I on
asked 70 for the dog. but evcryboc
knows he is worth t2o. Iagrecd TO boar
the dog until your husband called fs
him. and 10 buy new collar WIG
the name on. which have done.
II hope YOU can settle UP with nd
for your dear husbands sake; ne too
such pride in his pretty dog. TIL
bills is: for the dog. 70; four month
board. 80; collar and name. 8 shiIl!ngs
Please send treasury notes In REGISTERED
letter. ] VIII send dog OF Same days
The widow was naturally unstrur'
over her bereavement. and to her w
settled head the letter plausib.
enough. but an astutc friend checke
her just "a she vas falling into n
trap. Tho statcmcn, was wholly a COZ
coction iror, beginning TO end.
There is certainty some milk in ~
same ccConut. or the benevolent dc
owner would not be wasting time. pa %
man who IS pushing sorrowir,
widows. mothers and sisters pref
hard re-enforccs his norid fables vii
camera. lie Is OF the very cor
'nonost kind OF carnivora. ahoundi,,
in the garrison towns or making ID
lair close by the training camp. III
abiding nainstay Is the casualty Ii.I
and hot on the heels OF II family c!
lamity the stricken household max
a discovery like this:
Dear Mrs. with sorrow "
have noticed the name OF - in II
latest list OF killed. and We send 81
sincere sympathy. We also might me
ton that ne was Photographed by ,
twice. on the last occasion only a III
hours before ne sailed for the fro,l
He saw the proof and was very mud
pleased with II. but ne left before tn
photos could be finished y
we Will send them on 70 you on r,
ccipt OF 10 sh!lllngs and 6 pence pos
age. and YOU viii be pleased with the
as we'll as satisfied at having dit
charged the dcccased's obligation"
The last photograph and tho "oblIE
ton" are The two hooks that gr!p IL
victim in this hcartless fraud. and ma r.
people who could Ill afford the mond
have been "stung"