The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1928-03-22
EASY prey FOR
ROSARY TRICK
GuliibLc Yarks in Paris Fall
Victims to Unique
Swindle.

Paris-So obvious that one would
think even siXteen-year-ol boy
wouldn't fall fer 1t, the Rosary trick"
is netting for the hundred or more
crooks pFacticing it in France at least
$l,O00000 d year. Ii seems incredible
that business men, Shrewd lawyers
in one case Il district attorney of an
American state-clergymen and sea-
soned travellers knowingly hand over
to a chance acquaintance pocketbooks
with anything from one to $4,000 and
wait for him to bring back the money,
but the facts are there.
How is it done? Here is a typical
example and one is enough because
the setting is always the same. A
young Philadelphia business man came
to Paris with his wife and started out
to see the sights.
Find the Rosary.
In the Champs Elysees, after visit
ing the tomb of the Unknown Soldier
under the Arc de Triomphe, they were
greeted by a soft spoken gentleman
whom they had met d few weeks pre-
viousIy in London, calling himself
Francis Arthur Barclay. Renewal of
itcquaintanceship was made over cup
6f tea in one of the hotels of the
Partisan Fifth avenue.
Strolling in the late afternoon down
the famous thoroughfare they noticed
a tall, distinguished looking man drop
rosary. Barclay picked it up and
handed it to the stranger who thanked
him and then hearing few words
which tie rliladelphian addressed to
his Wife, said:
why Fin really glad to meet peo-
pie v'''a talk my own language Let
me introduce myself. am Patrick
O'EIara of sydney, Australia. You
know, wouldn'tAhave lost that rosary
for million. | just got it the other
day from the holy father himself with
lis special blessing. 1t is indeed a
treasure fer Il tlevout Catholic like my
self. | cannot thank you enough"
He was about to say farewell when
Barclay interrupted.
Il, too, am d devout Catholic" he
announced, sand am more than
pleased to be of service to one of my
faith"
Everybody was introduesl and the
four returned to the tear56m There
more coniidlnces were exchanged and
The confidence game began. 1t ap-
peared that Mr.. 0'Ilara had come to
Europe from his distant home Town
of Sydney at the express request OF
the pope, who had entrusted to him
the task of distributing 100000 to de
serving charities throughout the world
Here is the money in good BalA
of England notes" he said, producing
fat wallet. land here is Il clipping
from ondon newspaper telling
about H."
Barclay showed intense interest In
the recital and the Philadelphia bust.
ness man and his wife also were keen
ly interested when the Australian went
on to say that he liked his new friends
and had proposition to make. He
would confide-confide, entrust, conf
dence were words that slipped off his
glib tongue every other minute-yes,
he would entrust to them the task Of
acting as his agents in distributing
the money.
Crooks Unmasked.
But he proceeded, Il am an Aus
tralian and | don't know much about
Europe and America and believe we
should begin by showing we have con
tidence in each other. lust to show
you, I'll let you, Mr.. Barclay, take this
wallet and walk around the block
with it, your American friend accom-
panying you While await your re
turn"
That was done and then Barclay
handed over his r0,l to O'IIara and the
American, who walked around the
block, exchanging some more conf
dences, and came back. Now came the
Turn of the IT!.!@dc!phi;n. lie exhb-'
tied American Express company tray,
elel's checks amounting to 5000. But
the man from Australia SAID he didn't
know what they were. He wanted to
see cash, French or English or Ameri-
can bills. The philadelphan went to
the express company and asked for
currency. He, told enough of the story
to the cashier for that veteran official
to be suspicious. AS the American ief
the Office with the $4,000 in French
notes, he was followed by two plain
clothes men.
The detectives grabbed O'lIara and
Barclay as The former stretched out
his hand to take the money O'Hara
was identified us a notorious crook
named William Ray and Barclay a.
his constant pal. Both are in Jail.