Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-02-05
GRAFT
FOLLOWS WAKE
OF CRIME WAVE
City Rube Is Found Just as
Gullible as His Rural
Relative.
SHREWD SCHEMES USED

NEW YORK CITY-The idea. usually
so popular with city people, that all
rubes live in the country, seems to lack
force in New York this season. Too
many people are being cleverly separated
from their small change. For In the wake
Of the crime wave has come an epidemic
Of petty graft. to which the shrewd So
phisticated New Yorker has succumbed
\ IS easily as he did to last years flu,
= showing himself to be quite as gullible
as his rural relatives
Hardened shop keepers of long city
training have been buying fake furs and
paste Jewels with a reckless good ma
ture that would astonish even Il suburb.
md thousands Of canny Broadway resi-
teRts have been contributing to fake
causes with a sentimental abandon rarely
Inhibited by the citizens or small towns
n spite Of all the talk about money
being tight, beggars and fraud special
SITS are having nicer time in New York
his year than they have ever had before
Here Is the sort of thing which Is
constantly happening to enIiven the at
nOsphere along Broadway and Fifth
Avenue
The other night, a friend Of the re-
porter, a shrewd young business man in
Wall street, was on his way home when
be was accosted by a well dressed, well
uilt stranger. who stretched forth
gloved hand in delighted recognition.
I don't suppose you remember me-"
said the unknown one, with an admira BILE
mixture Of cordially and reserve. but
have seen you so often on the street.
I'm employed in the next office building
-
speak to people so readily as we do in
ny home town, but I've often wanted.
Well, I'm awfully lucky TO run into you
now, for I'm in need of help. Just had
en- accident and had to haul my car into
a garage about three blocks from here,
and now 1 ind I'm just 50 short on
the repair bill. Worst of it is ! promised
to meet my wife at the station this
afternoon. She'll be loaded down with
Christmas junk and won't have q cent
left. As soon as I caught sight Of you,
though, 1t occurred to me that you might
be able to help me out"
IEW METHOD OF
FRAUDULENT GAIN.
At this point the stranger drew forth
his wallet and disclosed a fat roll OF
ANAL bills.
I've got s5S here" he smiled drolly.
but the repair bill is SIS" Then with
engaging frankness: Il am going to ask
- you If you can let me have the extra i've
until tomorrow morning. ! can run
right over to your office from mine ia
a few minutes and hand it back to you.
That's all right" interrupted our
friend uneasily. but agreeably, taking
five spot from his much smaller roll of
bills. "Glad to let you have it. I may
need some help myself some time"
And that was the end OF the incident
except that the cordial stranger has
never been seen since, and inquiry in the
next Office building revealed no informa-
ton concerning him. But n few days
later, the morning papers warned their
readers about this particular form of
touch"
1t Is extraordinary to what lengths tho.
small fraud artist will 20 to obtain q
five spot as the young assistant of a
we'll known woman philauthropist here
ran tell you This young woman was
quietly catalOging IN her Office, the
other day when q nice-looking young
man, with soft, brown eyes and neatly
cOmbed pOmpadOur, strsrsd in immacU
late clothes, dashed ex .stedIy In the door
and asked to see Mrs. J., the young
woman's employer.
Where Is she?" he demanded his face
flushed apparently from the exertion Of
running. II must see her at once I
ran all the way up here from the hotel
down the block. Gone to lunch? Oh,
? / say, that's tough. Is there any way
can reach her immediately-you see,
I'm in a rather embarrassing predica.
ment."
I'm afraid I don't know where she is,
said the assistant. but she ought to be
back in about an hour"
what an I TO dO:" exclaimed the
young man dramatically. Perhaps you
can advise me. You see. I've asked
girl to lunch, and when We were seated
at the table down there at the hotel. I
suddenly discovered I didn't have 4 scrap
OF money on me. All in my other clothes,
you know" he explained In evident en-
barrassment. $50, knowing Mrs. J. very
well, I thought I could just run I'D here
and get loan from her, but / suppose
It's no use. 1 can't leave the young lady
waiting for an hour"
FRAUD ARTISTS GO
EXTREME LENGTH.
The young assistant was sympathetic.
She thought the young man looked very
boyish and helpless, and she felt sorry
Tor the damsel, who was about to be de-
prIved Of her luncheon with him. So
she took the SIS be said he needed from
her own purse and insisted upon his ac-
eepting 1t, ~ perfect confidence that he
would return it. as he said he would.
the next afternoon.
But when Mrs. J. returned. the young
assistant was dismayed to learn that
that good lady had nevor heard of Gavin
Courtney, the name the young man gave
nor did she know any young man who
answered his description A few days
later. however, when she described him
to the police, they seemed to he on o;1ite
familiar terms with him.
One Of the most expensive cases Of
fraud which recently occurred on Fifth
avenue In the shopping district was one
IN which that most sophisticated Of hu
mans, professional chauffeur. was
hoodwinked.
The mans employer. a very wealthy
woman. had just removed her $50 600
sable coat from storage In a furrier's
shor and upon returning to the car. Left
1t in bis care while she continued hel
shopping. As the chauffeur waited. a
stranger sauntered up and engaged him
In conversation about the town. the
weather and about various makes of cars.
Then he sauntered on and in a few sec
onds another stranger appeared on the
block, staggering in an almost forgotten
manner. The chauffeur found this sec
end nan so interesting that he failed to
see the first stranger circle the car and
"a lrr1Er he r.