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magic and real detectives-第11章

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notorious; constituting a distinct branch of the business; but the

pretenses on which human credulity is invited to part with actual

cash for imaginary benefits are innumerable。  A few specimens are

given as illustrations。







AN OLD GAME REVIVED





On the 18th of September; 1875; a fellow was arrested in West

Virginia who sent the victims whom he proposed to bleed letters

whereof the following is a copy:





〃A lady who boarded with me died on last Saturday of apoplexy。  She

left a trunk containing the following property:  One very fine

ladies' gold watch and chain; one ladies' gold necklace; six

ladies' finger rings; earrings; and a great deal of ladies'

clothing。  Among other things was a letter addressed to you。  I

suppose you to be a relative of the deceased; and want to send you

the trunk。  When Miss Thompson died she left a board bill unpaid

amounting to 20。50。  You will please send this amount by return

mail; and the trunk will be forwarded to you immediately。〃





Instead of remitting the money as modestly requested; the recipient

of one of these choice douceurs; a lady residing in the interior of

Pennsylvania; sent the letter to the mayor of the town where it was

dated and postmarked; who in turn handed it over to special agent

T。 P。 Shallcross; and he in the course of a day or two succeeded in

capturing the miscreant。



This particular form of the confidence game is very old; yet in the

year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seventy…five a swindler by

means of it succeeds not only in maintaining himself in dashing

style; but also in sporting a flashy traveling companion of the

female persuasion!



Where the letters are addressed to men; the articles reported to be

found in the imaginary trunk are changed to correspond to masculine

habits and wants。  The operators receive many singular and some

entertaining replies。  The following; dated long ago from a small

town at the South; may serve as a sample; the orthography of the

original being preserved:





〃COL。 SNOWDEN;



〃Dear Sir;Yours received; and you say John is dead。  Poor fellow!

I always expected it。  Death runs in the family。  Dyed suddenly of

appleplexyeat too many apples。  Well; I always thought John would

hurt himself eating apples。  I s'pose you had him buried。  You said

nothing about funeral expenses。  He had a trunkgold watch in it;

&c。  Well; well; what an unexpected legacy! but strange things

happen sometimes。  Never thought I should get a gold watch so。  And

he had the watch in his trunk; did he?  Poor fellow! was always so

particular 'bout his watch and fixings。  Had two revolvers。  What

is them?  I never heard John say anything about them。  Well; you

have been so kind as to write to me; just keep all the balance of

the things; you can have them; but the gold watch; send that to me

by express。  Send immediately if not sooner。〃



〃Very truly;



〃GEO。 STREAM。



〃P。 S。  My mother in law says; if you come this way; call。  She

likes to know all such good; kind folks。〃





It is safe to conclude that 〃Col。 Snowden〃 never accepted the

invitation to call from the hospitable mother…in…law。







A FORMIDABLE WEAPON





In the summer and fall of 1875 circulars were scattered broadcast

over the country; and advertisements appeared in the weekly

editions of several leading papers of New York City and other large

towns; setting forth the rare merits of a weapon of destruction

called 〃Allan's New Low…Priced Seven…Shooter。〃  As a specimen of

ingenious description; the more salient parts of the circular are

herewith reproduced:





〃In introducing this triumph of mechanical genius to the American

public; it is proper to say that it is not an entirely new article;

but that it has lately been improved in appearance; simplicity of

construction; and accuracy; having new points of excellence; making

it superior in many respects to those first made。  The

manufacturers having improved facilities for making them cheaply

and rapidly; have reduced the price to one dollar and fifty cents;

and while the profits on a single one are necessarily small; this

price places them within the reach of all。



〃We wish it distinctly understood that this is no cheap; good…for…

nothing 'pop…gun'; and while none can expect it to be 'silver…

mounted' for 1。50; they have a right to expect the worth of their

money; and in this new improved seven…shooter a want is supplied。



〃Great care is taken in the adjustment of EACH; so that ALL are

equally good and reliable。  In their production no trouble or

expense has been spared。  An elaborate and complete set of

machinery and gauges has been made; by means of which all the parts

are produced exactly alike; thus insuring great uniformity in the

character of the work produced。〃





This remarkable implement; equally useful for peace or war; is

offered to an eager public at the low price of 1。50 each; or 13

per dozen。  On the score of cheapness; the inventor greatly prefers

the mails to the express as a vehicle for the transport of his

wares。  In fact; he declines to patronize the express companies at

all; unless a prepayment of twenty…five per cent; accompanies each

order as a guaranty of the 〃purchaser's good faith。〃



At first the enterprise succeeded even beyond the most sanguine

expectations of its projector; letters with the cash inclosed

pouring in by the hundred。  For several months; however; after the

first publication of the advertisement; 〃this triumph of mechanical

genius;〃 though 〃not an entirely new article;〃 existed only in the

comprehensive brain of the gentleman who had the greatness to

discern in the imperfect work of predecessors the germs of ideal

perfection。  Having no seven…shooters to send; he was compelled to

dishonor the requisitions of the expectant 〃traveler; sailor;

hunter; fisherman; etc。〃  While careful to lay aside the

inclosures; he entirely forgot even to so far remember his patrons

as to make a record of their names。



In due time; however; the 〃factory〃 went into operation; and the

seven…shooters were actually produced。  The mechanical 〃triumph;〃

rudely made of a cheap metal composition; is a duplicate of a toy

long used by boys to the delight of each other; and to the

annoyance of their elders。  The propulsive power resides in a steel

spring; which has force enough to send a bird…shot across a good…

sized room。  The outfit would cost perhaps six or eight cents to

the manufacturer。  A portion of the orders were now filled; the

greater part being still thrown unhonored into the waste…basket as

before。



Curses both loud and deep began to be showered on the head of the

swindler。  Complaints having reached the department; special agent

C。 E。 Henry started to hunt for 〃Wilcox & Co。;〃 of Windsor; Ohio;

for such was the direction in the advertisements and on the

circular。  Proceeding several miles from the nearest railroad; he

found the rural settlement where the factory was supposed to be

located。



Guided by various inquiries; he finally drove up to the small farm…

house where the parents of Wilcox & Co。 resided。  On entering; the

officer said; 〃I am in search of Mr。 Wilcox; of the firm of Wilcox

& Co。〃



〃I am your man;〃 remarked a youth; perhaps twenty…two years of age;

whose countenance at once suggested acuteness and cunning。  〃What

will you have?〃



〃I would like to take a look about the arsenal and gun…factory

located here;〃 replied the detective; leisurely surveying the

landscape。



〃The works are in Cleveland;〃 answered the great inventor。  〃You

can see them by calling there。〃



〃But where is the arsenal?  I understand it was situated here。〃



〃Your information is correct;〃 replied the young man。  〃That is it;

across the road。〃



Casting his eye in the direction indicated; the officer saw a

rickety woodshed about seven feet by nine in size。



Observing the smile of amused incredulity that played upon the

features of his questioner; Wilcox reiterated; with an air of half

offended dignity;



〃That's it。  We keep our seven…shooters there。  But look here;

before this thing goes any further; I want to know who you are。〃



〃Oh; certainly; sir;〃 answered the stranger。  〃You will find

nothing about me that I care to keep concealed。  I am a special

agent of the post…office department; and my business here is to

arrest you。〃



〃Why; what have I done to warrant such a visit?〃 queried youthful

innocence。



〃I shall be happy to make that point clear to you;〃 replied the

detective; 〃though I am afraid the enlightenment will come too late

to prove of much service to you。  In using the mails for the

purpose of swindling; you have violated the laws of the country;

and must suffer the penalty。〃



〃But where does the swindling come in?〃 expostulated Wilcox。  〃I

advertised a seven…shooter。  I didn't say an
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