iEx IGtbrtB 
 
 SEYMOUR DURST 
 
 'When you leave, please leave this hook 
 
 Because it has heen said 
 "Ever'thinQ comes t' him who waits 
 
 Except a loaned hook." 
 
 I 
 
Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library 
 Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library 
 
JAY IRVING COLLECTION 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/roguesrogueriesoOOunse 
 
The American Neivs Company, Xew York, 
 Wholesale Agents. 
 
 JAY IRVING COLLECTION 
 
FUN FOR THE HOME CIRCLE! 
 
 ISBtTMffS M0HTHLT 
 
 A MAGAZINE OF RECREATION AND AMUSEMENT. 
 
 This Publication is intended especially for the Family circle, and 
 nothing is ever admitted in its columns that would prove objection- 
 able to the most fastidious taste, or tend to have a bad influence 
 with the young. We have aimed to furnish a repast, piquant and 
 relishing, but free from the too common ingredients of profanity and 
 vulgarity. It is a journal which any father, husband or brother can 
 take and introduce to his fireside with entire confidence. 
 
 Every number of Merryman will contain contributions from a 
 large corps of contributors, embracing many of the most talented 
 and popular writers of the day, with ehoice selected matter, the 
 whole illustrated with numerous beautiful engravings by the best 
 artists. We are constantly introducing new and attractive features, 
 so that we can give only an imperfect idea of its contents ; we may, 
 however, mention some special items which have proved very popular, 
 and which we shall keep up. The first is a regular series of" 
 
 ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR PRIZE PUZZLES! 
 
 Greenbacks to that amount being distributed among those sending 
 correct solutions. This is but a single instance of the liberality that 
 has characterized Merryman, no expense being spared when it can 
 increase the attractions of our Monthly. A Prize Puzzle is given 
 every month, and solving it will furnish a most agreeable and enter- 
 taining occupation for an idle hour. A budget of Conundrums, 
 Enigmas, Riddles, Charades, etc., is given each month. Under the 
 title of 
 
 II1ISIM AMUSUUHTS, 
 
 we give an entertaining off-hand article, showing how a great deal ot 
 amusement may be had, with very little trouble or expense. 
 
 BURLESQUE UVES OF POPULAR PEOPLE 
 
 are given in a most laughter-provoking form, with comic illustrations. 
 In a department appropriately entitled 
 
 "OTJB SAFGTUM," 
 
 Merryman each month enjoys a social chat with his readers and 
 correspondents, and in a gossipy, free-and-easy manner serves up 
 whatever comes in his way in the shape of humorous items, personal 
 matters, and spicy and entertaining correspondence. In addition to 
 these, will be found almost everything that can add to the attractive- 
 ness or popularity of our magazine. 
 
 [See third Cover page.] 
 
JAY IRVING COLLECTION 
 
 THE 
 
 KOGUES 
 
 AND 
 
 ROGUEKIES 
 
 OF NEW- YORK. 
 
 A FULL AND COMPLETE EXPOSTJEE OF ALL THE 
 SWINDLES AND KASCALITEES CARRIED 
 ON OR ORIGINATED IN THE 
 METROPOLIS. 
 
 J. C. HANEY & CO., PUBLISHERS, 
 
 109 NASSAU STREET 
 1865 
 
 JAY IRVING COLLECTION 
 
2 
 
 ciation A Boston Swindle ; The " Certificate" dodge ; An 
 Agent's Letter ; An Experimental Investment 5 $2,153 for S458 ; 
 Another 8100 worth of Experience ; A Good (?) Investment and 
 it3 Nett Result ; Gold Pens ; Gold vs. Copper. 
 
 CHAPTER VH.— Gamblers and their Victims.— -Some Startling 
 Information ; Faro ; " Fighting the Tiger ;" An Ex-Pugilist in a 
 new Trade ; Spotters and Spies ; Stool-pigeons ; Government 
 Money in a Gambler's Hell ; The Tragic End ; Drudging and 
 Robbery ; The Alluring Snare. 
 
 CHAPTER VHL— Garroting and Highway Robbery.— Knock 
 down Arguments # ; A Drover " Brought to ;" The Usual Result ; 
 The North and East Rivers ; Story of a Retired Burglar. 
 
 CHAPTER IX— Pickpockets and Pocketpicking. — The "Art;" 
 Professionals and Amateurs ; A. Sweet Creature ; Polite Atten- 
 tions j Watch Gone ; Purse ditto ; A Flying Leap ; Fair Game ; 
 Epidemic Crime ; Samples ; Zeke Meets an Acquaintance ; Not 
 George ; She'd Been an' Gone an' Done it ; Kids ; Rogues in 
 Pairs ; Regular Beats ; A Lost Purse ; A new Tourist ; Civilities 
 Declined ; Hands all Around ; A Warm Clasp 5 Denoument ; Re- 
 markable Escape of a Noted Female Convict ; A Cute Trick ; An 
 Officer Out-generaled. 
 
 CHAPTER X.— The Patent Safe, and What it is.— Soldiers 
 Fleeced; Cultivating Acquaintance; Accommodation Wanted: 
 Another Game ; The Bet and the Confederation ; A Rascal 
 Spotted ; Zeke and the Sharper. 
 
 CHAPTER XI.— Pocket-book Dropping. — A Story of a Real 
 Occurrence, that shows in an amusing manner all about this 
 dodge, that didn't prove at all amusing to the hero of the story. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. — Thimble-Rigging. — The Thimble-Rigger's 
 Haunts ; The Little John ; Not There ; Sold ; How Jedediah 
 Donart was done for. 
 
 CHAPTER XHL— Concert Saloons— Their Inmates.— Sinks of 
 Iniquity ; The Original Concert Saloon ; The Melodeon ; The 
 Gaieties at Midnight ; Courtesans and Cavaliers ; Rough Capers ; 
 Brutal Treatment ol the Girls ; Next door Neighbors ; How the 
 Girls Live ; Thirty on One Floor ; The Revolting Side of the 
 Picture ; Pimps ; The Husband Game : Running Verdants in ; 
 More Floats ; Rooms and Rent ; Biographies of Some of the Pretty 
 Waiter Girls ; A Pemberton Mill Girl : A" Cruiser" by Night ; 
 Decoyed from home ; Fanny and her Irish Girl ; Frank Warren ; 
 A Visit to the Dens ; The Arcade ; Tune out of Tune ; The last 
 Resort; A Greeny in the Net; The Veiled Female: The Fast 
 Youth ; The Returned Soldier j The Human Brute ; The Key and 
 Door ; " Disappearance ;" Music Hells and their Runners ; Moral 
 Pestilence ; Proof that the Author has not Exaggerated. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV.- Social Evil— Procuresses, &c— Lost Women 
 of New York ; the Sisterhood of Shame ; How Recruits are Ob- 
 tained ; Starvation and Duplicity ; A Thrilling Story of a Fallen 
 One ; Annie's Saloon ; In the Den of the Procuress ; A Virago 
 
3 
 
 on the Rampage. Panel Gamf. — The Robbery; the Victim 
 Overwhelmed ; Embarrassing Circumstances. 
 
 CHAPTER XV.— Hackmen and their Impositions.— Modern 
 Jehu's; Extortion ; Jonathan and his Check ; An Experience at 
 a " Hotel ;" A Steep Bill ; Young Girls Entrapped ; The Brother's 
 Search ; The Girls Story ; Some Information of use to all who 
 have occasion to hire coaches, especially if strangers in the city. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. -Quacks and Medical Humbugs*— A Wonderful 
 Pill ; Modern Quacks ; How to Distinguish a Quack ; How to Ap- 
 ply the Test ; Full Exposure of " Howard Association," u Benevo- 
 lent Association," " Confessions of an Invalid," "Marriage Guide," 
 11 Manhood Restored," " Essence of Life," &c. ; the Plan of Oper- 
 ation ; Falling in the Trap ; Vtronica Quinqut folia ; An Extortion- 
 ate Speculation ; The Retired Physician ; A Cruel Dyspepsia, a 
 Wonderful Cure, and a Smart Child ; A Philanthropic Old Girl ; 
 Real and Fictitious Names of some Prominent Quack Doctors ; 
 Extract of Buchu, Elixir of Life, &c. ; Bitters, and what they are 
 composed of; " S.T.-1860 - X. :" "Sambuci Wine," how it is 
 made ; the Jersey Vineyards ; Oculists and Aurists ; Old Eyes 
 Made New ;" a Bit of Advice. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIL - Moustache Forcers, and other Swindles. - 
 The old original " Onguent" Pioneer; A Bit of Imagination ; 
 What Onguents are made of ; A Little Experience in the Forcing 
 Line ; A Free Offer, with a Hidden Trap ; " Secret of Perpetual 
 Beauty ;" Dr. Chapman's Recipe, and how it pays him to spend 
 money ; Advertising to Send it B'rce ; Something about Cosmetics ; 
 A Dangerous Prepara tion and a Heavy Penalty ; How to make 
 Pimple Banishers, Beautifiers, <fcc. ; An Inhuman Scene ; A Warn- 
 ing in Time if needed. 
 
 CHAPTER XVHL— Petroleum Swindles-Bubble Companies.— 
 How the Stockholders are Victimized.- Some account of Oil, 
 and how it was Struck ; A bit of Oil History ; Interesting and not 
 too long ; Oil Up and Down ; The Noble Well ; Explosion of a 
 Bubble Company ; Speculators in the Clutches of the Police ; 
 Rich Developments j Exposure of the United Service Company ; 
 Gen. Hancock figuring as an Oil President ; Roping in Army 
 Officers ; Full and Complete Exposure, showing how Bogus Com- 
 panies are formed, how the stock is sold, profits and expenses, 
 now the public is gulled, &c. ; A Model Account Current ; A 
 Confidential Letter, not intended to appear in print ; Alluring 
 Prospectuses ; Some Statistics and Facts about Oil, embraoing 
 considerable information in little space. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX- Gold Mines and Mining Companies.- Full 
 Warning of the Future ; The Chances of a Good Investment very 
 Small ^Dividends Out of Pocket ; An Editor Not Convinced ; 
 Sure Proof of Want of Faith ; Fortunes at Half Price ; How 
 Names of Prominent Men are obtained as Directors ; A Nice 
 Trick of the Bogus Companies Spoiled by the Assessors ; Fic- 
 titious Sales, and the Scoundrels in a Tight Place ; A Disagreeable 
 Predicament ; Obliged to Own Up ; Presidents in Demand ; 
 Market Value of a Responsible Name. 
 
4 
 
 JHAPTER XX.— Lotc Powders.— How to gain the Love of the 
 
 Opposite Sex: Prof. Rondout's " Simple" Method ; A Charming 
 Profession ; What " Love Powders" are Composed of ; The Ney 
 York Journal : The " Matrimonial and Sympathetic Card ;" The 
 Sensations Produced ; The Doctor's Love Powder Recipe ; A 
 Wonderful Drop ; Dr. Andrews and his " Vibratory Preventive ;" 
 How a P. M. was Gulled ; Amusing experience ; Catch-pennies ; 
 Secret Charms ; Human Telegraphic Batteries ; " Photographic 
 Union." 
 
 CHAPTER XXI.— Swindling Impossibilities— How to Become 
 Invisible — Agricultural Prophets — Transmutation* — Extent of 
 Credulity ; Absurd but Successful Humbugs ; How to Become 
 Invisible ; How a " Doctor" became Invisible ; A Modern Pro- 
 phet ; Changing Base Metals into Precious ones ; How " Trans- 
 mutation" is really done. 
 
 CHAPTER XXH.— Situation Agencies, etc.— Every-day Vilainies; 
 Savannah Dodge ; A Rogue Caught Through his own " Cheeki* 
 ness ;" A Man of Experience ; An Easy Business (very !) ; An Oil 
 Clerk ; Persons Wanted for the Show Business ; A Good Open- 
 ing, but not so easy to get out j Change of Pants, and a Rat Smelt ; 
 A Show closed up ; Dr. Hawkinson s Plan for Making Everybody 
 Wealthy : Agents Wanted, and what for ; Samples for 25 cents ; 
 $2,000 a Year ; Bootless Journeys. 
 
 CHAPTER XXHL— Sewing machine Swindles.— How the Swin- 
 dle is Carried on j A Regular Salary and Expenses Paid : Private 
 to Everybody ; Low Priced Machines ; Running into Danger ; 
 How a Lady was Taken in. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. — Perambulating Swindlers, etc. — Rolling 
 Stones : Wine Plants ; Tree and Plant Peddlers ; A Clean Sweep : 
 Patent Rights ; Lightning Rod Swindle ; A New Kind of " Order ;" 
 A Gas Humbug ; " Cucuma ;" A Dangerous Fluid ; Subscription 
 Agents, and Bogus Publication ; Pleasant Little Plays ; Some 
 more Benevolence, with Premiums added ; A Grand Scheme ; 
 Balsam and Blankets ; Watches and Pianos ; Ten Cents Freight j 
 The " Reliable Contraband" Surpassed. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. — Confidence Games, and Confidence Opera- 
 tors. — The Beautiful Lady who i: might have been seen ; ' A 
 Clerk Bamboozled ; Spanish Consul in Want of Pants ; Hard up ; 
 A Countryman of the Confiding Kind ; Remarkable Change or 
 Color ; A Sharp Down-Easter ; An Embryo Supercargo ; A New 
 Dodge ; A " Light" Swindle ; Physician Victimized ; A sick Man 
 on his Muscle ; An Impudent Imposture ; Mock Auctions ; Yan- 
 kee Editor taken in j Seeing the Fun ; Union Relief Association ; 
 A mean Swindle. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI.— Professional Beggars.— A Young Rogue; 
 Juvenile Beggars ; Housebreakers' Spies ; Stationery Packets : 
 Dishonest Lawyer ; Juvenile Depravity ; The Woman with small 
 Families ; Profitable Blindness ; Affecting Narratives ; A Queei 
 Unfortunate China-ware. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVH.— All About Counterfeiters «n£ Counterfeiting 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The object of this work is to point out the traps and pitfalls of 
 the great metropolis, especially to those, who, coming upon tbe 
 eights and sounds of the huge city for the first time, are confused 
 by them, ffid forget for the moment those maxims of prudence by 
 which they have previously regulated their conduct. There are 
 two classes of individuals apt to be imposed upon in the city : First, 
 those who are caught only through ignorance or innocence ; and, 
 second, those who are snared with the help of their own greed for 
 unearned gain or unlawful pleasure. As in the rest of the world, 
 the latter are the more numerous by far. To avoid being swindled, 
 then, the first rule is never to try to obtain that for a dollar which 
 is rated by the common consent of the world at four or five times 
 that value, nor to seek in the crowded city for indulgences which you 
 avoid in your own circle. When a man by direct address, or by 
 skillfully-worded advertisement, offers a large return for a trifliug 
 outlay— an article much under its value, or a certain means of making 
 a large income for a small investment— you may be sure of one of 
 two things : either that he has come by what he has to dispose of, 
 dishonestly, or that he means to cheat you. No matter in what 
 shape the proposition comes, the rule holds good. And if you 
 abandon the beaten path of virtue, you always throw youself open 
 to the operations of swindlers of every degree of skill, waiting at 
 every corner for a hint as to the proclivities of the viciim, which, 
 once obtained, they seldom fail to improve to the utmost. Never- 
 theless, entirely innocent sufferers are also plentiful. These will 
 
viii 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 always find friends and protectors in the Metropolitan Police. If 
 you are entirely ignorant of the city and want to reach a hotel - to 
 take a hack, or to do anything else in which your want of knowledge 
 would expose you to dangers to the pocket, morals or person, ap- 
 ply to the Metropolitan policeman. He is the universal friend ; and 
 although subject to the frailties of human nature, he is, by virtue of 
 his office and the system of which he is a part, a safe guide. 
 
 In the task of exposing -as we are about to do— the Rogueries 
 of the City, we are obliged to speak of certain things and in a 
 manner that may seem unnecessarily plain. But we are left no al- 
 ternative. To put the stranger on his guard, we must speak out de- 
 cidedly, and there is nothing in these pages for which we have not 
 ample official authority. 
 
ROGUERIES OF JfEW YORK. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 LOTTERIES. 
 
 " Who says Lotteries are a humbug ?" exclaimed an individual 
 
 standing upon the piazza of the House, Louisville, Ky ,— to 
 
 a number of guests there assembled ; " here I have just draAvn a 
 $10,000 prize in the Covington scheme, and all it cost me was $10. 
 Come and take a drink." The invitation would no doubt have ef- 
 fectually prevented an answer to the interrogation, had not an el- 
 derly gentleman, leaning against a pillar supporting the balcony, 
 unobserved by most of those present, quietly stepped up, and look- 
 ing the " fortunate" winner of * 10,000 in the face, coolly remarked : 
 " Young man, you lie !" This exclamation, as might naturally be 
 expected, somewhat astonished those who heard it, and all eyes 
 were turned towards the " young man" to note the effect of the de- 
 liberate insult that had been levelled at him. To the surprise aud 
 contempt of the witnesses of this little scene, the boaster of a 
 few moments before appeared cowed, and utterly unable to articulate 
 a word. ■ Leave this place immediately," resumed the gentleman, 
 " and don't let me see you here again." Without waiting to hear 
 the end of the sentence, the crest-fallen rascal (for so h<? was) skulk- 
 ed away, and the guests saw him again no more. 
 
 M Gentlemen, I see an explanation is due you. Know then that I 
 
 am detective ," (mentioning a well-known name); "that 
 
 fellow is one of the most unprincipled and cowardly scoundrels 
 that ever lived ; lie has been pickpocket, burglar, and gambler by 
 turns, and is now the chief " runner" of a lottery in this State, by 
 means of which he has victimized thousand?. His story that he 
 had drawn a #10,000 prize is a trap to catch greenhorns. I advise 
 you to look out for him, now you know him," and so saying the 
 detective quietly withdrew and re-entered the hotel. 
 
 From this actual fact may be learned the social %/ntw of a major- 
 ity of those engaged in the lottery business— unprincipled rascals 
 
 u But," interrupts the reader, " surely all lotteries are not swindles, 
 I have frequently heard of persons drawing prizes, and large ones 
 at that." Very true, but did you ever hear of the hundreds— aye, 
 tens of hundreds— who didn't draw prizes ? Can you imagine the 
 
 whose only endeavor is to fleece 
 
10 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 anxieties, heart-burnings, disappointments, of the latter ? Do you 
 think the self-gratulation and success of the one a fit recompense for 
 the misfortunes and losses of the others ? 
 
 People residing in the country, with but few acquaintances, out- 
 side of their own village or county limits, are often surprised at 
 receiving through the Post-office certain (ostensibly) literary journals, 
 containing among other things, full descriptions of the grand drawing 
 of a certain lottery to come off— say, for example, at Wilmington, 
 Delaware on " the 25th of next month," together with the price of 
 whole, half, quarter and one-eighth tickets ; also li directions how 
 to remit money." But how are the names and addresses of parties, 
 to whom these papers are directed, ascertained? In the most simple 
 way imaginable— by means of the advertising columns of the vil- 
 lage newspaper, and published Post-office lists of advertised letters, 
 hotel registers, etc. 
 
 The writer has now before him no less than ten copies of as many 
 different " lottery papers." One will do for a u sample." It pur- 
 ports to be published at Covington, Kentucky (although it is well- 
 known that it is printed in Jersey City), and is designated as the 
 " New Era." The first page contains an uncompleted story of the 
 blood-and-thunder style, with the line " to be concluded in our 
 next," at the end of the fourth chapter. The remaining columns 
 are filled with an explanation of the scheme of the " Kentucky Grand 
 Lottery, to be drawn on the 18th of October, 1864, at Covington," 
 giving the prices of tickets, method of drawing, Sec. There are, it 
 seems, some five thousand numbers, so that every holder of a ticket 
 has just four thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine chances to one 
 of obtaining the grand prize, though of course* he may come in for 
 a second, tenth or x twentieth " hit." But even then he has but 
 twenty chances out of five thousand at the best ; he may get a prize 
 but the probability is that he will not. 
 
 Herbert Laurence, a young clerk in a broker's office in New York 
 — the support of a mother and sister — had won, by many years' 
 faithful service, the approbation of his employers, and the love and 
 esteem of all that knew him. With quite a large salary and excel- 
 lent prospects, it would seem as if his path through life was to be 
 smooth, and unattended by the many dangers and temptations that 
 surround the youth of the city. In an evil hour he was induced by 
 the persuasions of a "friend" to purchase a ticket in a Delaware 
 lottery scheme. Five dollars was the sum paid for it. Once in 
 possession of the ticket, he gave it no more thought until, one 
 afternoon, he was accosted by his " friend," who wished him much 
 joy of his " good luck." 
 
 « What luck ?» 
 
 u Why, haven't you seen the lotterv numbers ? You have drawn 
 the $1,000 prize." 
 
 This unAxpected news was no less astonishing than gratifying. 
 After some delay he received two third* of the cash, the other third 
 being eat up in commissions, etc. How he spent it, or what he 
 did with it, is nothing to us. But from this time Herbert was 
 doomed. The passion for lottery-playing took possession of him, 
 
LOTTERIES. 
 
 11 
 
 body and sonl ; all the money he could rake and scrape was laid 
 
 out in the purchase of ticket?. His luck was varying. Occasionally 
 b.3 would make a " hit f* but steadily and surely his ca-h melted 
 away. HLs saving* for years were withdrawn from the*bank, and 
 squandered in the same way ; his dress became shabby and thread- 
 bare. Soon his widowed mother and uncomplaining sister began 
 to want the very necessaries of life ; still in spite of his downward 
 career, ever and anon he would resolve to give up the all-absorb- 
 ing desire, threatening to beggar and ruin him forever. ""One more 
 venture only to make up my losses"— failure again ! But wi y fur- 
 ther trace his sad career. Desperate, he embezzled from his trust- 
 ing employers the wherewithal to purchase tickets, and was detect- 
 ed. Arrest was followed by examination, conviction, and sentence, 
 and Herbert is now an inmate of the State Prison. His broken- 
 hearted mother is at rest in the grave — and his sister, God alone 
 knows her fate ! This is a true unvarnished narrative, the name alone 
 being fictitious. 
 
 Confidential letters are sent to individuals, generally enclosing 
 packages of tickets, with the idea that the fact will be published 
 abroad, and thus secure investments. 
 
 As a specimen, we give the following circular from a Lottery Agen- 
 cy in New York city : 
 
 " New York, March 22, 1865. 
 
 " Dear Sir : — As we write to you on a subject that concerns your 
 pecuniary interest, we trust that our letter will require no apology. 
 Knowing" full well that if a good Prize were sent to some person in 
 your section of the State, who would show the money, and make it 
 generally known, our business and reputation as pnze-sellers would 
 be greatly benefitted, we have taken the liberty of addressing you 
 to tender to you a beautifully arranged package of tickets, which 
 we have carefully selected and labelled for you in the enclosed 
 magnificent scheme. We do this, however, only upon condition 
 that, if successful, you use your tnjkunrt among your acquaintances m our 
 favor. You will please understand that we design this arrangement 
 to act as an advertisement of our firm, and you will therefore U ejpe<-ud 
 t-> exhibit the money, and circulate the report that you drew it at 
 H & Co.'s Lucky Office. « 
 
 " Should you be prejudiced against Lotteries and have any objec- 
 tion to receive money in this way, you, of course, will not answer our 
 purpose. Here is our otfer, and we are so certain that we know how 
 to select a lucky certificate, that if the one we select for you, does 
 not. at the very "last, draw a #5000 prize, we will send you another 
 package in one of our extra Lotteries for nothing." 
 
 The above is marked confidential, and needs no comment. TVe 
 have the original document. Need any other proof be given of the 
 assertion that a lottery is but another name for a large swindle 
 and that the u managers" are but a set of unprincipled rascals ? As 
 a fitting appendix to the foregoing, we give the following letter with 
 the real name of the writer : 
 
 v 
 
12 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 No. 19 Merchants* Exohanot?, 
 Newport, Ky., March 8, 1865. 
 
 "Mr. G 
 
 :— Dear Sir : 
 
 Your ticket has drawn a $250 prize. But as you have not paid 
 for it, you can obtain the prize only in this way : write me a letter 
 dated on the day of drawing and enclose price of ticket. As soon 
 as received I shall send the letter unopened to the managers, with 
 a note stating that the letter was mislaid in the P. 0. ; but presnme 
 they will find the money and date of order correct. They do not 
 know your ticket drew a prize, and will take the money and send 
 you a certificate. Write nothing about this letter, but enclose the 
 money and mail the letter from your P. O. 1 can alter the date of jwt- 
 mari. On receipt of the prize money, show it to your friends and 
 advise them to purchase tickets from my office. 
 
 (Signed,) J. M. Percival, 
 
 " Private and confidential !" 
 
 Isn't that a, refreshing document? 
 
 Can such unblushing scoundrels as the above, deal honestly with 
 those foolish enough to trust them ? 
 
 We might give hundreds of letters and relate scores of instances, 
 affording indisputable evidence of the fact that the whole Lot- 
 tery business is downright fraud and swindling. But we have said 
 enough to open the eyes of our readers to the prevalence of the 
 evil, and the dangers resulting therefrom. 
 
 Lottery-playing, in plain English, is Gambling — and gambling in 
 its worst form. 
 
 These pages are not written for those who are paying a premium 
 for the privilege of being swindled. They will give but little re- 
 gard to what we say ; but to those who are tempted or in danger of 
 being tempted, we sound the note of warning. Under no circum- 
 stance — under no inducement — give one cent for a lottery ticket. 
 Resist the tempter in whatever form he may appear, if you value 
 your peace of mind or the welfare of yourself and those dependent 
 upon youl 
 
 TffTs game of chance, which has grown out of the Lottery traffic, 
 is indulged in to an immense extent in this city. The trade con- 
 sists in a sub-division of the original numbers, with variations in 
 the forms, selling the tickets by arranging the position of the fig- 
 ures, &c. 
 
 Policy is a passion — a mania, even — with a multitude — especially 
 among the colored community. The infatuation that seizes a regu- 
 lar buyer is unaccountable ; the deluded victims never grow wiser 
 by disappointment, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, is 
 the inevitable result of their venture. 
 
 CHAPTER LL 
 
 POLICY PEALING. 
 
POLICY DEALING. 
 
 18 
 
 It is a curious fact that the chief method of bolstering up the 
 traffic is by dream*. The sa<je 01 Aragos was considered a wise man 
 in his day ; but your dreamer in fortunate chances is an oracle of 
 surpassing sagacity. He is consulted with as much gravity as was 
 the Delphic oracle. Dreams are sold even as an article of merchan- 
 dize ; books suggesting the key to visions, and revealing the signifi- 
 cance of lucky themes, are subjects of constant reference. It is 
 amuung to see the intense emotion pervading a crowd of colloquial 
 expectants, when a slip of the#ir.iwn numbers is secured. It is 
 hardly creditable that the expenditure of a cent or two could cause 
 such a concentration of anxiety as may be witnessed, almost any 
 day, among the workmen in many of the large establishments iQ 
 the city. Some places, such as large printing offices, keep a mes- 
 senger continually traversing the space between the depot of for- 
 tune and that of delusion. 
 
 In some of tho lower classes of policy shops it is said that rear 
 rooms are fitted up, where, amid the fumes of bad liquor and tobacco 
 smoke, dreanvrs are wooed into the realms of Morpheus, and here, 
 with minds deadened to all beside, they revel -amid such grand 
 and elevating visions as " cows mounting ladders," " eating onions." 
 " a white goat," (good sign), " a black goat," (evil omen), and 
 other animals supposed to illustrate the pecuniary premonitions of 
 the fate of the ticket. Dreaming of being hanged, naturally indi- 
 cates an elevation in life, which is nearer the mark than most peo- 
 ple suppose, though the rising torce may be hemp and not " lucky 
 gigs." It will not appear strange that among these devotees all 
 " manners of visions" are experienced, but in their waking hours 
 they absorb exclusively their attention. The principles of their in- 
 terpretations are arbitrary and unalterable. For instance, to dniam 
 of gold signiGes that the lucky number will be <; 7," and of paper 
 money " 4L" Shinplasters would seem to abound in the sleeper's 
 Elysium, and it seems a pity that he should awake to the provoking 
 realization of empty pockets. Almost every conceivable thing or 
 condition is represented by numbers, which in combination, as 
 elaborately set forth in the " Book of Oracles," would lead the 
 verdant worshipper at the " Wheel of Fortune" to believe that if 
 he perchance do dream he can put money in his purse. 
 
 To dream of a dead horse is an infallible indication ol luck. 
 Associated, as defunct nags are, with everything to the contrary, it 
 may be comforting to some minds that, having one in beatified 
 vision, is better than one in reality. Shade of Rosinante, where art 
 thou ! 
 
 Policy dealers have a literature of their own. Their Book of 
 Dreams is a? Gospel. Faith is not only pinned to its ipse dixit, but 
 its predictions are made the base of operations for all time. The 
 " Oraculum" quotes a full-bloodsd or pure African higher than a 
 mulatto. The nearer the sable-hue 1 human approaches the Caucas- 
 sian the lower he ranks in the scale. Exoert? aver that mixed 
 blood is unfavorable to success ; the presiding genius of the " ro- 
 tary movement" is always a lineal descendant of Ham 
 
14 
 
 ROGUERIES IN NEW YORK. 
 
 A colored dreamer beholding the list of drawn numbers solilo- 
 quizes in this mauner : 
 
 " Dat's 44 last — ded sure f " 11 in third station sure " 4 fust 
 can't be nuffin else." "Play 7-33 in a capital saddle, and jes' hit 
 it ;" "Nos. 23, 37, 56, is de gig." " One up for a moke." « Jes' 
 my luck ; played 9 fast in de Delaware, and it's come in de Ken- 
 tucky." " Played a horse last night (that is, foar numbers), and its 
 cum dis mornin'. Hard, very hard," &c. 
 
 "To dream of a dead negro ind%ates that 14 is the number to be 
 purchased : of a defunct wench. 5." 
 
 So it appears that Dinah is considerably below par when compar- 
 ed with Pompey. 
 
 " To dream of a man is 1 ; of a woman, 5 ; of both, 15 ; of two 
 men, 11 ; two women, 55 ; colored man, 14 ; genteel colored man, 
 
 Gentility does not appear a necessary qualification in the " land 
 of Nod." 
 <; To dream of a Dutchman, 14." 
 
 Sambo's and Hans' stock are quoted of like value on the Dream- 
 er's Exchange. 
 
 Many instances might be cited illustrative of the ruinous results 
 of this pernicious vice. We give one which will serve as an exam- 
 ple of the many, and may be the means of deterring others, similar- 
 ly situated, from entering upon this dangerou c ; % road : 
 
 The victim was the son of a country clergyman. This youth, the 
 hope of an estimable parent, was a journeyman at some branch of 
 carriage-making. He went to Philadelphia with a few hundred 
 dollars in cash, and the enticements of his neighbor over the way 
 were soon made known to him. Straightway he became a patron of 
 policies. At the first venture he won a few dollars. These he dou- 
 bled and staked again — and lost. Again he staked, and again lost, 
 until more than half of his funds were taken away from him. Made 
 desperate by failure, but still confident of success, he staked all that 
 remained, and was penniless. His destitution made him insane. 
 Surviving a long illness, he resumed his trade, but had no mind for 
 work. All his energies were concentrated upon the policies, and 
 the sad scene was witnessed of the errant lad sweeping the pave- 
 ment and doing menial service for the man who had robbed him. 
 His recompense for this debasement was the privilege of choos ng three num- 
 bers gratuitously in V e policy lift. He occupied the positiou of copyist 
 in that worthy's office, and his wasted energies were crazed into the 
 single lust of winning. How many of the miserable beings who 
 daily tread our streets could trace their degradation and ruin to 
 the policy-shop. Rum and politics ruin their hundreds, but the 
 policy-shop comprehends these evils and many more. It at first 
 blush appears more respectable, and its devotees can, in the begin- 
 ning, more easily conceal their shame. But there follows a gradual 
 weakening of ti 3 spirit and dullness of the moral perceptions, until 
 the victim begins to indulge in the intoxicating draught to drown 
 his disappointment. He has lost his habits of industry from revel- 
 ling in dreams of castles in the air, and is now either destined to 
 
MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 15 
 
 drunkenness and beggary, or to a gamblers life, with its acce<?soiies 
 of picking pockets, thieving and preying upon unsophisticated 
 countrymen, who are too often drawn into the same vicious course of 
 life. Something surely ought to be done to eradicate bo* fruitful a 
 source of sin and wretchedness as policy-dealing. 
 
 These policy shops are backed by large capital, chiefly in the 
 hands of one or two men- an ex-M.C. and a prominent hotel-keeper 
 in Jersey City. Prizes when drawn are generally paid. The whole 
 business, however, is one of the most dangerous of those classed 
 among the forbidden ; and those who follow it are inevitably led to 
 ruiu. 
 
 CHAPTER UI. 
 
 MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 What a fruitful theme for comment and curiosity are the " matri- 
 monial^ advertisements of the Herald or the Sanity Mercury I What 
 queer phases of life, and what a curious condition of social habits 
 are by them 
 
 u Revealed while yet concealed." 
 
 The fantastic style in which these advertisements are often written, 
 is no less amusing thin the announcements. A super-abundanco 
 of adjectives, describing the various qualities of the advertiser, is 
 one of the first things that attracts the eye. Variety, too, also ap- 
 pears a pre-eminent failing (or is it often a virtue ?) to the critical 
 taste. But then these advertisements are not intended for criticism 
 (but like many a painted doll) solely for attraction., Bad grammar is 
 a characteristic. The Queen's English is barbarously murdered 
 within the space of a ten-line paragraph, in a way that might cause 
 old Lindley Murray himself to start from the grave in horror. Just 
 think of a " Miss" advertising for a husband H that is good-looking 
 and don't have no faults," or a yenn* homo that needs " a comp'anion 
 through the valleys of misfortune where the wicked is always trou- 
 bling and the weary gets no rest.'' 
 
 " Broken'' French was at one time a fashionable method of in- 
 diting, as : 
 
 "To ze Belles. You.vo Mademoiselles. -Vill one of ze pretty 
 leetle femmes zat have no sweetheart, but much wishes for a ban 
 husband, address ze petite note to F., Box No. , P. 0." 
 
 Bad French and worse English ; no Frenchman ever wrote that - 
 but some scamp who thought to play off the difficulties experienced 
 by a Gaul in acquiring a foreign idiom. 
 
 "Adon's, to some Lovely Vknl's.— Don't all speak at once. A 
 young gentleman, faultless in person and manners, desires to culti- 
 vate the acquaintance of an equally pleasing companion of the other 
 sex. Address," &c. 
 
 The assurance of this fellow is really charming. He modestly 
 styles himself an Adonis and describes his personal appearance and 
 
16 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 manners as " faultless."' It is doubtful whether he found the " com- 
 panion of the other sex" equally as pleasing. We rather think not. 
 The world could not hold two such incomparable mortals. 
 This is a little different : 
 
 " Old, Ugly, and Cros*.— The advertiser wants a wife to love him 
 when he is well, to nurse him when he is sick, and to mix his toddy 
 when he wants it. Sknex. — New York." 
 
 Candid at any rate ; he deserves to have his toddy well mixed if 
 he ** is old, ugly, and cross." 
 
 "A young man*, aged 28, wishes a situation as son-in-law in some 
 respectable family. For f urther partieulars address A. F. Symkrs. 
 United States steamer Shamrock, Plymouth, Albermarle Sound, 
 N. C. ' 
 
 We trust the young gentleman will find a situation in the capacity 
 he desires, and that he will give satisfaction therein. He is candid, 
 at all events. 
 
 " Mark way for a Perfect Brtck, who, having sown his wild oats, 
 wants to settle down in a cottage with a virtuous wife to while and 
 coo away the remainder of his days. Address," &c. 
 
 " P. B.," we venture to suggest, has been a man about town— with 
 plenty of money. He has seen a good deal of the world — but has 
 become disgusted with its pleasures, and would therefore like 
 to retire and enjoy his " of. cum d«j " in peace and quiet. But to 
 do so he wants a " virtuous wife." Evidently, in f sowing his wild 
 oats,'' he has not learned to appreciate feminine virtue. We hope 
 he has by this time.— A reformed rake makes a good husband. 
 
 Now let us hear what the ladies have to say for themselves. 
 
 "Wanted— A husband.— Must be over 20 and under 35 ; have 
 plenty of money — a handsome moustache — with strong religious 
 tendencies. With such a one " Louise," a sweet girl of 20. is anxious 
 to enter the matrimonial state. Cartes exchanged if desired. Ad- 
 dress," &c. 
 
 " Louise," is very exact in her requirements. " A handsome 
 moustache, with strong religious tendencies," we imagine is very 
 difficult to find. " The sweet girl" is willing to exchange " cartes ;" 
 truly an earnest of her intentions. 
 
 " Romeo, R r meo, where art thou ? thy Juliet sighs for thee." 
 "Come fly to this bosom thou love-stricken deer." " Tarry not— but 
 fly on the wings of the morning, and greet thy bride-expectant." 
 " Want'st thou a mate for life ?" Address " Juliet" 
 
 We must take a breath after that. "0 for the wings of the 
 morning to fly to thy bride-expectant." If any sensitive young 
 man could resist such an appeal his heart must be stone indeed. 
 
 From the sublime to the practical : 
 
 i; Marry me and I'll do you good. Address," &c. 
 
 Short, tart, and to the point. 
 
 "A Widow, fair, fat, and net forty, desires a congenial domestio 
 
MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 17 
 
 partner. Possesses some furniture and a little spare cash. Charac- 
 ter unassai'able. Address W." 
 
 A dangerous woman. " Samuel, my son, beware of the vidders." 
 A strong inducement is that i: furniture?" 7 Housekeeping at once. 
 And the hint of an unassailable character ! 
 
 One more illustration. 
 
 " Hkartsj are trumps, but diamond? lead ; in other words, love is 
 much, but cash is more. Anybody that can unriddle this can have 
 an opportunity to obtain a charming wife. Send answers to 
 
 " Riddle me, riddle me this." The solution is not difficult. The 
 lady wants a husband with money ; and while she tries to love him 
 she will love his cash-box more. The adventurer is a whist player 
 evidently, but that is no guarantee of her possessing that unusual 
 qualification of a woman, (we beg pardon of the sex), that of holding 
 her own tongue. 
 
 Are these advertisements inserted in good faith, is a very natural 
 inquiry, and one easily satisfied. In nine cases out of ten. no. 
 Many of them are published by adventurers, many by de-igning 
 women, and still more by fun-loving youths. It is dangerous 
 playing with edged tools— and many a person has found himself, or 
 herself, in trouble by answering these notices. If a man wants a 
 wife a true, faithful, loving partner— he will seek her out himself ; 
 he will not advertise for her, like an article of real estate or a piece 
 of furniture ; if he wants a mistre.K he will pursue the latter course. 
 
 You foolish girl that imagine yourself in love with u Adonis' 
 and answer his advertisement, beware! You are laying a snare 
 into which, sooner or later, you will fall. Send him your carle de 
 vixiff— and then imagine how you would feel, could you see the 
 depraved rascal into whose custody you thoughtlessly and trustfully 
 gave it, exhibiting it in bar-rooms and other vile places, boasting of 
 how he has the original in his power. Would not the blush of 
 shame man'le your brow, and the tremor of apprehension possess 
 your heart ? That villain has you m his cluches. and if he pleases 
 can blast your reputation in the eyes of the world. 
 
 We address these remarks more especially to young girls — who 
 have the worst to dread from an idle indulgence in this kind of 
 amusement, and who see no harm in so doing. Put yourself in the 
 power of no one by answering matrimonial advertisements. If you 
 do, you will regret your ill-timed fool-hardiness as long as yon live. 
 As for the mm who falls into the " matrimonial net" in this 'manner, 
 we have but little compassion. He deserves his fate, and has his 
 punishment in his experience and bitter reflections. u Serves him 
 ri^'at," would be a unanimous verdict from any jury in the land. 
 Who says the hero of the following story did not really deserve 
 what he got. thouorh after all be cime off cheaper than he ought to ? 
 
 A f irmer in McHenry county. Illinois, named W . had adver- 
 tise 1 in a Chicago piper for a wife, which was replied to by a 
 dishing young law student of Toronto, ripe for fun, under the name 
 of " Helen Christopher." A warm correspondence ensued, " Helen" 
 imitating the hand and style of a lady anxious to make a good 
 
18 ROGUERIES OP NEW YORK. 
 
 match, and describing herself as an orphan of respectable family 
 connections, and of means, residing in Toronto. The correspon- 
 dence was finally broken off by W -'s neglect in paying his 
 
 postage, which in Canada amounts to something, and he married 
 some one in his own neighborhood. But the sequel contains the 
 
 pith of the story. W *& father, a minister in Vermont, and a 
 
 widower, by some means got hold of " Helen's" letters to his son ; 
 and being struck with her style wrote to her with a view of marry- 
 ing her himself. He told her that 
 
 "I am a minister of the gospel, am unmarried, buried a nice 
 little wife years ago, and have no children to tax the attention of a 
 companion. My family is provided for and off my hands. I think 
 sometimes of discontinuing preaching, and of retiring to private 
 life. My age people judge to be thirty-five, though I am older. I 
 am above the middle size of men, though not large : have perfect 
 health, and a fair position in society. My complexion is dark, with 
 dark eyes and hair ; hair not tinged with grey in the least. What 
 makes my complexion still darker, I wear a full beard and mous- 
 tache." 
 
 And queried :— 
 
 " May I ask my little girl (if I may be allowed to call her so) if 
 you are a Christian ? If you can sing and play on the melodeon ? 
 If you have good health ? What is your complexion ?" 
 
 " Helen" promptly replied, and an animated correspondence ensued, 
 resulting in the reverend inviting himself to visit Toronto to obtain 
 an interview with his fair correspondent. This was rather more than 
 " Helen" desired, and thinking it imprudent to bring the old man 
 on a fool's errand, some six hundred mile3 from his " local" habita- 
 tion, sent him a note over another name, pretending to have acci- 
 dentally found one of his letters, and to be a rival of his for the 
 affections of " Helen," and threatening him with castigation in case he 
 should make his appearance in Toronto. 
 
 Rev. J. W. wrote again to " Helen," disclaiming any wrong inten- 
 tions, and asking if his rival should exercise any control over such 
 a lady. She then replied that he might come, when he responded 
 that he would be there on the 9th or 10th of May, when he expected 
 to meet his " little girl," his dearest Helen." He arrived on the 
 day appointed, and sent his " little girl" a note, desiring her to meet 
 him at a certain hour at the corner of a certain street. He went, 
 but saw no one like the photograph " Helen" had sent him, which 
 was the portrait of a prominent actress. But the eyes of a large 
 party of " Helen's" acquaintances, who had been let into the secret, 
 were upon him. He appeared sadly disappointed, being fidgety in 
 his movements, casting wistful glances at the passers by as he 
 promenaded the streets, whilst his tormentors, for such they were, 
 could scarcely contain themselves. They were at his side at the 
 post-office, on the street, and even talking with him in the hotel. 
 
 Not finding his " little Helen," he concluded to leave town, but 
 " she " determined he should not go until he had learned a lesson. 
 With his party of friends he appeared at the station, and stepping 
 
FORTUNE-TELLING, ETC. 19 
 
 op to the reverend gentleman, as he stood on the car platform, he 
 
 held out bis hand, shouting, " How are you, W- ? How is Miss 
 
 Helen Christopher ?" Mr. J. W. became pale with rage, stamped 
 his foot on the planks, and, with uplifted hands, exclaimed, " You 
 vile rascal, how dare you play me such a trick ?" 
 Just then the train started, amid the shouts of the merry young 
 
 fellows for W and u Helen Christopher," bearing off the discoin- 
 
 fitted, foolish old lover, who will probably never get a wife by 
 advertising. 
 
 The story contains a moral, and a forcible one at that 
 
 Young man, if you want a good, virtuous wife, you will not get 
 
 her by advertising. You must seek her out and deserve her. 
 
 Young girl, your husband will come along by and by— but not 
 
 through the matrimonial columns of a newspaper ! 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ■ PERSONALS." 
 
 The "personal" column of a newspaper is a very convenient 
 method of communication. To use a hiberuicism, " though public 
 'tis private." When interviews are impossible or dangerous, and 
 where letters may be discovered or intercepted, a " personal" can 
 be read by thousands and yet understood only by the one writing 
 and the one to whom it is addressed. The opportunity thus offered 
 I for clandestine correspondence is not neglected, and is used by all 
 » classes. The procuress, the roue, the gambler, the abortionist ; 
 pickpockets, thieves, burglars, and criminals of every degree, plot, 
 intrigue and prey upon society through these " personals" — lay 
 their plans, and mature their designs. In a recent celebrated 
 divorce trial, in which the wife was charged with adultery, it was 
 proved that-the criminal and her paramour arranged their interviews 
 through a cypher personal. 
 Let us take a glance at a few of them : 
 " Ike - crack to-night at ***** st. 12 *." 
 
 This is all Greek to the uninitiated. Let a detective have a 
 glance at it a moment ; he will see through it, and interpret it thus — 
 " Ike, we will 1 crack ' (slang for ' break into ') the store in Reade 
 (five stars) street. Be on hand at 12 o'clock." The detective may 
 be wrong as to the name of the street, but he is confident that a 
 burglary is to be attempted somewhere that night! 
 
 " ' Meet me at moonlight '—Taylor's, 10." 
 
 An illicit appointment, probably at Saloon. 
 
 " How are you, Harry. Does your mother know you're out V 1 
 
 This exceedeth our comprehension. 
 
 "See ' * * * *." 
 
 The above is " seeing stars" without the aid of a telescope t 
 
 u If the young lady with the blue silk dress and white bonnet, who 
 
20 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 smiled at the gentleman in the Bleecker street stage on Monday, will 
 
 address a note to P , P. 0., she will hear of something to her 
 
 advantage." 
 
 Yes, and place herself, if she is a virtuous woman, in the hands 
 of some scoundrel, and be made to serve his own vile purpose I 
 
 " A female infant, a few days old, to be adopted out. Apply to 
 Madame R , No. street" 
 
 Some offspring of shame or dishonour, whom a noted abortionist 
 agrees to get out of the way, to save its mother the consequences of 
 her sin or folly. 
 
 "Lydia— Return to your father, and all will be forgiven." 
 
 Half a dozen words only, but what emotions and suffering do they 
 express. A daughter's fall, disgrace, repentance— a parent's curse 
 perhaps — but then forgiveness and welcome home. 
 
 And so on, day after day, similar paragraphs and sentences are 
 published, read and forgotten - while the world wags on the same 
 as ever, as if there were upon its broad bosom no such thing as 
 human trouble, human misery, or human affliction. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 FORTUNE TELLING — THE WITCHES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 Credulity, next to curiosity, is the great failing of the gentler 
 sex, and one that leads them into all manner of scrapes and per- 
 plexities. Feeling the force of this remark, it is in no wise a hard 
 task to account for the thriving business done by the " fortune tel- 
 lers" or self-styled " astrologists" of New York. With an intimate 
 knowledge of the weaknesses, desires, and anticipations of feminin- 
 ity, they are enabled successfully to carry on their avocation tc 
 their own pecuniary benefit, at the expense to their dupes, of botl 
 time and money. The infirmides and failings of humanity are un 
 changed and unchangeable, and are pretty much the same in al 
 ages and all countries. The longing to peer into the future and t< 
 see afar off the events of after-life, is as strong in the maidens an< 
 wives of to-day, as it was in the minds of their ancestors genera 
 tions ago, and this, too, in spite of our boasted " latter-day civiliza 
 tion." 
 
 It would be an interesting subject; — that of an investigation int 
 the origin, continuance and practice, of the mysteries of the " blac 
 art," or at least that branch of it devoted to the " science of astro 
 ogy but such a purpose is beyond the scope of this work. T 
 the "system" of " fortune-telling" -the snares and deception 
 practiced by the " witches of New York," as they have been appr< 
 priately called, we shall devote a few pages. 
 
 Fortune tellers seldom are heard of " out of town," though ever 
 now and then the people of some far away town, or villagt 
 are startled and excited by the appearance among them of a " sevent 
 
22 
 
 ROGUERIES OP NEW YORK. 
 
 (laughter of a seventh daughter," who. for " a consideration," reveals 
 to each and every one who may be silly enough to place reliance ia 
 her pretensions " to rule the stars," the secrets of his or her future 
 life. Occasionally a stray gipsey strolls along, and with mysterious 
 words and strange, outlandish gestures, delivers the decrees of fate ; 
 not, however, until her "palm has been crossed with silver," not as 
 a means of gain ; oh, no ! but merely for " good luck." But it is 
 not with the u customs of the country" that we have now to deal 
 with, but rather with those of the city, where fortune-telling is a 
 (il)legitimate calling, and practiced by scores of people as a liveli- 
 hood or means of gain. 
 
 All classes of society, from the judge upon the bench to the poor 
 darkey playing policy, patronize these " future revealers." planing 
 apparently implicit confidence and belief in their prophecies. 
 Clergymen have even been known to visit them, and ask counsel 
 from their dark sayings. Young and giddy girls, whose brains, if 
 they have any, are turned by the perusal of sensational romances — 
 and the so-called " light-literature" of the day, are the best customers. 
 The " foreign count," the officer in the army," or " rich planter," 
 whom the silly child believes is some time or other coming to 
 many her, is ever present in her thoughts. Herself in her own es- 
 timation a " heroine," she is ever on the look-out for the " noble, 
 brave, and handsome hero" who is to offer, on bended knees, his 
 fortune, name, and honor. 
 
 But it is not only giddy girls, ignorant servants and other foolish 
 women that thus easily dupe themselves, as hinted above; all kinds 
 and qualities of man, as well as woman-kind, consult these seers. We 
 can call to mind a respectable merchant of this city engaged pre- 
 vious to the war in a large wholesale Southern business, that made 
 it a practice to visit Madame Morrow, \ notorious character, pre- 
 vious to entering on any speculation, placing the utmost confidence 
 in her advice, and when after disastrous ventures he failed, he 
 actually attributed his ruin to a neglect of her warnings and pre- 
 dictions. 
 
 Curiosity is the plea of many visitors to these sorceresses. How 
 common it is to hear a girl say she is going to have her " fortune 
 told," asserting at the same time that the step is prompted solely 
 by curiosity, while she is perfectly aware, and her auditor also, 
 that she will swallow every word that i3 told as so much Gospel 
 truth ! 
 
 Though in direct violation of jaw, fortune-tellers exercise their 
 vocation without fear or favor. Their residences are well-known, 
 and their advertisements appear in nearly every influential jour- 
 nal in the land. We give a few specimens of the latter, clipped 
 at random, from the columns of the Herald, which appears to a cer- 
 tain extent to be their favorite organ, charging nothing for is first 
 rate notice, omitting only the residences : 
 
 " A n xa fidk AsfROLOGTST — Madame Wilson tells the object of 
 your visit, &c. Over the bakery.' 7 
 
 " Tells the object of your visit!" Wonderful woman! Madame 
 
FORTUNE-TELLING, ETC. 
 
 '23 
 
 W., has an idea that some people may mistrust her. and so she as- 
 serts her claim as a bona fide Astrologist. Though others may be 
 humbugs, she is in good faith a perfect witch. Queer place for a 
 woman of her profession to live over a bakery — but perhaps while 
 relieving xbe hunger of the soul after knowledge, she at the same 
 time administers to the wants of the physical body by providing 
 the staff of life. 
 
 u A Real Fact — No Imposition — Madam S. from Europe, the 
 greatest Clairvoyant known, offers $5,000 reward to any one who 
 can equal her in telling past, present, and future ; shows the like- 
 ness and tells his name. Gents not admitted. Ladies 50 cents to 
 $1." 
 
 Astounding ! a mi fart, and no imposition. "Ladies," pay your 
 fee, "from 50c. to SI. according to the extent and value of the in- 
 formation/' and receive your money's worth in undiluted prophecy ! 
 u Gents not admitted." Alas ! that man must grope in a dark future 
 while weak and frail woman receives a lamp to guide her faltering 
 steps. 
 
 In order to test the wonderful powers of Madam S.. the writer 
 himself paid a visit to the lady. Being of rather small stature and 
 not a bad mimic, with a slight tigure, and quite a modulated voice, 
 (assisted by a disguise from a female friend's wardrobe, including, 
 among other articles of costume, a heavy veil), he had but little 
 difficulty in passing off for one of the gentler sex. Driving up to 
 the door of the fortune-teller's abode in a carriage, he (or she") rang 
 the front door-bell. The summons was answered by the appearance 
 of a dirty, slatternly servant-girl, who, in a rich brogue demanded 
 what ve s wanted." 
 
 " Can I see Madam S. ?" 
 
 " Sure she's ingaged — but you can walk in," at the same time 
 throwing open the door and motioning to enter. 
 
 The visitor in a moment found him=elf in a small parlor to the 
 left of the hall, scantily furnished. Seated on a sofa, he noticed 
 two ladies waiting, it afterwards appeared, for their turn for an in- 
 terview with the seer. Keeping the veil down and thus conceiling 
 his face, he picked up a book the " Oracle of Fate," and while, to 
 all appearances deeply engaged in scanning its pages, kept his eyes 
 fixed upon his companions ; and here it must be confessed, a sense 
 of the dangers of his enterprise, suddenly flashed upon him. What 
 if he should betray his sex through some inadvertent movement ? 
 suppose an accident should happen to any portion of his attire ! 
 Already a strange feeling stole over him as he beheld the glances 
 of the ladies opposite, diverted towards his feet. Following tho 
 direction of their eyes, what was his alarm and mortification on dis- 
 covering the— to him appalling fact that his (her) petti (ex- 
 cuse the slip of the pen) undergarment had slipped down before he 
 had seated himself, and was now lying in a told at his feet. To 
 stoop and gather it up was the first* impulse ; but while preparing 
 to do so, one of the females and by far the prettier, rising, ap- 
 proached, and smilling sweetly, said : 
 
24 
 
 ROGUERTES IN NEW YORK. 
 
 " Madam, your petti " there it must be uttered, " your petti- 
 coat has slipped down ; allow me to assist you." 
 
 Suiting the action to the word, she stooped down and laid her 
 hands upon the article. Qh, that the floor could have opened and 
 swallowed this unfortunate Bohemian '? What could — what should 
 he do ? Here was a fix ! No time was left for thought. What 
 next would have occurred it is hard to say, had not a door commu- 
 nicating with a back room partially opened, and the servant, pre- 
 viously alluded to, thrust her head through the aperture, with a re- 
 quest for " them two ladies to walk in." This interruption gave the 
 hero of the predicament an opportunity to partially recover his 
 equanimity, and to stammer out to his fair would-be assistant — 
 
 " Thank you, I can help myself." 
 
 A gesture from the other female, and without further ado, both 
 passed through the door, and the unfortunate victim of the " pur- 
 suit of knowledge under difficulties" left to his own reflections. 
 Once alone it did not take him long to gather up the offending gar- 
 ment and pack it away close in under his shawl. An interval of 
 half an hour perhaps, and he was beckoned into the mysterious 
 sanctum of the famous fortune-teller. A small room with a rag 
 carpet upon the floor, a small lounge in one corner, two or three 
 chairs, and a book case containing half a dozen volumes conspicu- 
 ous among them, singular to say a large Bible and two or three 
 common prints upon the walls. These were the " surroundings," so 
 to speak. 
 
 Seated in a rocking-chair near the table, immediately in the cen- 
 tre of the apartment, was a woman, apparently about forty years 
 of age. Her features, from a hasty glance, were coarse, not to say 
 repulsive, and decidedly Hibernian. Attired in a calico morning- 
 gown, none the better for wear, wich a flaunting head-dress perched 
 upon the top of hair the color of brick-dust, the presence of the 
 " .Madam" did not create a very favorable impression upon the 
 mind of her visitor. Would her prophetic ken detect the disguise 
 of her customer and if so what would be the consequence ? 
 
 " Be seated, mademoiselle," with an inimitable pronunciation of 
 the French designation, "and please to raise your veil." 
 
 The first command was obeyed at once, but the second only after 
 some hesitation. Now was the critical moment. A pause-, a rapid 
 glance from Madam — and all was well! The disguise was too 
 much for her. 
 
 " You want your fortune told ? The fee if you please." 
 " How much is it ?" 
 "One dollar." 
 
 The greenback was produced, handed over, placed in Madam's 
 capacious pocket-book, and safely deposited in the bosom of her 
 gown. 
 
 " Now, we are ready. You are not timorous nor nervous." 
 " Not in the least." 
 
 • Throwing herself on the lounge, the great " clairvoyant" was soon 
 
 in a stupor ; eagerly clutching the hand of her " dupe" she fixed 
 her eyes with a strong glare upon those of the latter, and after a 
 
FORTUNE-TELLING, ETC. 
 
 25 
 
 convulsive movement of the features, articulated the following, to 
 all appearances with great physical effort. 
 
 " You was bom in this country ; (that's not so to begin with). — 
 Your parents are dead ; (years ago). — You live by your labor ; 
 (true enough).— You are not yet 20 ; (40 last birthday) and have a 
 long life before you ; (good news). Troubles and dangers beset 
 your path. You will pass through great affliction, but will come 
 out all right in the end (satisfactory), a young man is greatly in 
 love with you (!) and would give all he is worth to marry you (!). 
 You do not care for him, however, and will never marry him (not 
 at all probable). You will not marry until you are twenty-five, 
 and then your husband will be a widower with three children (!). 
 He will treat you unkindly, but happily he will not live long, and 
 you will marry again. Between the death of your first husband and 
 your second marriage, quite a long time will elapse, and during 
 that period, dark clouds will cover the path of your life j but with 
 a brave heart and unconquerable will you will surmount the many 
 trials and temptations to which you will be exposed. The number 
 6 is very unlucky for you, (indeed !) beware of it You was born 
 in 1846 ; you will die (uttered with a voice of solemn warning) 
 when you are 56 !" 
 
 An interval of silence — a start: — and Madame came out of her 
 " trance." She had earned her dollar in about ten minutes 1 
 
 " Do you wish to see your first husband ?" 
 
 " If possible." 
 
 " The charge is fifty cents extra." 
 
 The stamp was produced. Advancing to the table Madame re- 
 moved a cover from a square box — a stereopticon, in short — and 
 bade the * Mademoiselle look in." The latter did so, and there, 
 sure enough, beheld the form and features of her intended, standing 
 out in bold relief, with the usual effect of a stereoscope. But odd 
 as it may seem the likeness was nothing more nor less than a carte de 
 via le of a celebrated actor. Whether it got into the box by accident 
 or whether Madame presumed upon the ignorance of her visitor, it 
 is hard to say. But such was the fact. 
 
 A ring at the door-bell announced another customer, and our 
 " young lady" took her departure, a dollar and a half poorer than 
 when she entered, but with " her" conviction strengthened in the 
 already entertained belief that Madame S. is not only a shameless 
 humbug, but such a poor judge of human nature that she is notable 
 to discern the character of her silly dupes, let alone their sex, even 
 when most feebly disguised. 
 
 The next on the list is a wizzard who advertises as follows : 
 
 "A. B. M . Real Astkologer of America. — Points out enemies 
 
 on sea and land ; reveals secrets no mortal ever knew before ; how 
 to be successful in any undertaking ; tells the very day you marry, 
 name, likeness and a full description of the intended husband or 
 wife. A speedy marriage, health, wealth, long life and good luck 
 to all who consult him. A written destiny by letter $1. Ladies 50c. 
 gentlemen $1." 
 
 This individual has evidently dealings with his Satanic majesty. 
 
26 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 " Reveals secrets no mortal ever knew before ;" " points out your 
 enemies on sea and land," &c, &c, and all for 50c. for ladies, and 
 £1 for gentlemen ! Is it easier to satisfy a lady's curiosity than a 
 gentleman's ? We should think not, and were we to set up in busi- 
 ness we would just reverse the charges. This individual, it is said, 
 is no stranger to the police courts, and has been more than once 
 suspected of pimping or procuring the ruin of young girls and of 
 levying black mail upon his "gentlemen" visitors! 
 But once more " tlict aux dame:" 
 
 The Original Madame B , from Paris.— Greatest Spiritual- 
 ist, Medical and Business Clairvoyant known ; has that never failing 
 secret to cause speedy marriages. 
 
 An equally great humbug with Madame S. 
 
 " Mm. M , Seventh Daughter of the Seventh Sov. — Impres- 
 
 sional medium on all the affairs of life, numbers, charms. 
 
 This woman lives on the second floor of a tenement house, in a 
 disreputable street Her business is a flourishing one, though her 
 patrons are chiefly poor and ignorant girls. 
 
 " From one learn all," and from the above a clear idea may be 
 obtained of the pretensions of New York fortune-tellers. Here is a 
 final instance : 
 
 " Your Destiny. — Mme IdaP , (just arrived from Corsica), the 
 
 seventh daughter of a seventh son, will send a correct likeness of 
 your future wife or husband, for 25 cents and a three cent postage 
 stamp ; or the likeness and post-office address of your intended, for 
 50 cents and a three-cent stamp. Be carefnl to send date of birth, 
 color of eyes and hair, and your P. 0. address." . 
 
 " All for 25 cents and a three-cent stamp to prepay postage." Is 
 it possible that there are people in this enlightened age so foolish, 
 so utterly devoid of the first grains of common sense, as to put any 
 faith in such transparent humbug ? It is not only possible, but an 
 actual fact, as the thousands of letters, passing through the post- 
 office addressed to Madame P., from all parts of the country, bear 
 witness. There are hundreds of just such impostors as she in every 
 city in the land, each and every one of whom has in proportion a 
 corresponding number of victims. 
 
 Fortune telling by cards, as a general thing, is not practiced 
 among the "witches" now as formerly. This method of peering 
 into thu future has gone out of fashion, and clairvoyancy is at pre- 
 sent the favorite method. It makes but little difference, however, in 
 what way people are swindled - as long as money, the main object 
 — can be extorted. 
 
 A profitable source of revenue is the sale of " chances" supposed 
 to possess certain peculiar qualities, such as u creating love," " pro- 
 ducing wealth," " making plain people handsome," etc. From a 
 private circular issued by a somewhat notorious astrologist we clip 
 the following catalogue of the articles for sale in this branch of the 
 profession : 
 
 " The Gypsies Secret Chabms." — Charm No. One. — " Elixir of 
 
GIFT CONCERTS AND GIFT JEWELRY. 
 
 27 
 
 Love and Sympathetic Ingredients. This is an occult wubttanee to 
 Wear over the Heart. It imparts an Influence from nim or h,r who 
 wears it. to and upon such as do not wear it, as to make them so 
 completely subject to the hirer's wilt, that they a not deny the 
 wearer's wish or will in anything. The Wearer or* the E our J L >»■ 
 holds a mo3t Weird Magical and Mysterious Power over "/>// and 
 every one upon whom he or she sets their mind, will or power. Dis- 
 tance makes no difference. I warrant it as sure and simple, and send 
 full <ecnt instructions. Price $3.39. 
 
 Charm No. 2.— Is calculated to win the affections of the oppose 
 sex. excite their admiration, and secure their undivided love. Ex- 
 plained in full directions. 
 
 Chirm No 3.— Will give you an influence over your enemies or 
 rivals, moulding them to your own will or purpose. 
 
 Charm No. 4. — Will enable you to discover lost, stolen, or hidden 
 treasure. 
 
 For each of these " invaluable recipes" the u small sum"' of five 
 dollars is demanded, or "all tour will be sent for SIS." 
 
 " Love powders," M amulets," " mystic wigs," M magic breast- 
 pins," etc., etc., go to make up the array of charms. 
 
 A majority of the fortune-tellers of New York, are nothing more 
 nor less than Procuresses or Ahortiowst>. And it is in this light that 
 warning is needed to caution the unsuspecting against them. Many 
 a girl dates her ruin, and many a wife her dishonor, from a visit to 
 the abode of one of these women. This needs but to be known to 
 serve as an admonition. Instances without number might be cited 
 to prove this assertion. Leagued with debauchees, and keepers of 
 brothels, the fortune teller spreads the net which eventually entraps 
 the unwary. Let this brief allusion suffice to place our readers on 
 their guard. To further prove by facts what we have written, 
 would be to invite details offensive to virtue and insulting to mo- 
 desty. 
 
 Avoid these " strange women." if you would save your money, 
 time and self-condemnation. Let the " future" take c ire of Itself j 
 look out for the present, take our advice, and you will be the bet- 
 ter for it, both in pocket and spirit. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 GTFT CONCERTS AXD GI7T JKWEf.RY 
 
 The day of gift book enterprises as an institution, is past, though 
 not long ago they flourished to the great pecuniary benefit of their 
 concoctors and managers. Similar and no less dangerous swindles, 
 however, have taken their place from time to time, and it is to aa 
 exposition of these that this chapter is devoted. 
 
 Gift Concerts have of late been fashionable and very successful. 
 Given ostensibly under the auspices of certain "Associations," they 
 have about them a degree of respectability that goes far to redeem 
 
28 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 them from any suspicion of chei'ery (a word not found in the diction- 
 ary) that might otherwise attach to them. A series of these u enter- 
 tainments" was recently given at the Academy of Music, which 
 netied to the projectors thousands of dollars. The same individu- 
 als, viz : u The Jewellers' Manufacturing Association" are now 
 perambulating the country, vi.-iting the different ci;ies and towns 
 of the interior, pocketing greenbacks by the wholesale. No doubt 
 the members of the " Association" will decidedly object to being 
 called sunwiterf. So we will not class them under that head, but 
 simply detail their mode of operations, leaving the reader to draw 
 his own inference of their character. The parties have already 
 been in court, as the following extract from the Boston Juumai of 
 a recent date will show : 
 
 " Yesterday afternoon Ellis H. Elias, Joseph H. Clennan. John E. 
 Wilder, James Elliott. John J. Grange, John P. A. Yail, Henry Mil- 
 denberg, J. J. Miller, Josiah Talmige, Charles S. Meyers, and Daniel 
 F. Yogle, the parties connected with the 1 New York Jewellers' As- 
 sociation,' at 192 Washington street, were before the Police Court on 
 complaint alleging that they 1 did unlawfully set up a lottery in which 
 certain articles of personal property and of value were disposed of 
 by way of lottery, and that the same parties did. under pretext of 
 a sale of admission to a certain concert, dispose of certain personal 
 property of value, with the intent to make the disposal of said per- 
 sonal property dependent upon chance by a gambling device, 
 whereby said chance was made an additional inducement to the sale 
 of said concert tickets, against the peace of the Commonwealth and 
 the form of the statute in such cases made and provided.' " 
 
 The defendants waived the reading of the complaint, and Elias, 
 the owner of" the stock in the store, was held in -2000 bonds for his 
 appearance for examination. Monroe T. Quimby, manufacturer of 
 jewelry, became bondsman for Elias. 
 
 The other defendants were held in $500 bonds each for their ap- 
 pearance at the same time, Mr. Elias becoming the : r surety, he mak- 
 ing oath that he was sole owner of the stock, worth $_0.0U0 at least, 
 in the store 102 Washington street, besides $5000 or $6000 in dia- 
 monds and watches outside of the store, his wife having a set of 
 diamonds worth -3000, and he having other diamonds and three or 
 four very valuable watches. 
 
 The Association pretends to sell a ticket of admission to one of 
 their concerts, affording the purchaser at the same time an opportu- 
 nity of obtaining an article of jewelry worth at least the value of 
 the' money, SL The gift is selected by the holder of the ticket in 
 this way. Some two or three hundred envelopes, containing as 
 many cards, are placed in a long, narrow box. in a conspicuous place. 
 Each card is in-crlbed wi h the name of some article of jewelry — 
 " one gold locket ;" i; one jet breastpin ;" " one silver salver." etc., 
 and so on. td Ih'um. The purchaser of the ticket selects one of 
 these envelopes, opens it, takes out the card, hands it to the gentle- 
 manly clerk in attendance, who forthwith presents him with the cor- 
 responding gift. u All fair and above board," apparently. 
 
GIFT CONCERTS AND GIFT JEWELRY. 29 
 
 And as to the " jewelry," the gold is washed brass or oreide.the sil- 
 ver block tin. and the " elegant jet" gutta percha : a dozen solid 
 " gold" rings, or breastpins, or bracelets of this description would 
 hardly bring a dollar in the ordinary course of trade ! The diamonds 
 — of which such an elegant display is made at the " warerooms of 
 the Association," are nothing but pas e, at the most worth but a few 
 cents, and which no respectable gentleman or lady would look at 
 for a moment, let alone think of wearing. Of course there are a 
 large number of really fine watches exposed to view in handsome 
 show-cases which the " Actuary" of the concern solemnly assures 
 visitors are for disposal ; be and his polite assistants reiterate the 
 same fact in reference to the grand pianos, to be seen and heard on 
 the premises. But who ever heard of an " outsider" drawiug a 
 "beautiful" timekeeper or a "magnificent" piano? Occasionally 
 some one d es secure these prizes, but the fortunate individual is a 
 member of the firm, and his lucky drawing is a " blind" and part ol 
 the business. 
 
 These jewellers are about " played out" as far as New York is 
 concerned, but let our country cousins beware of them, give them a 
 u wide berth" and refuse to listen to the musical voice of their charm- 
 ing, u charm they never so wisely." 
 
 It is a singular coincidence that the same day and almost at tho 
 same hour that the "jewellers" were before the bar of justice, that 
 another method of u pulling the wire," over the eyes of the public 
 should be under consideration before by the same court. We take 
 from the official record this extract, which, in itself, is an explana- 
 tion of the new manner in which the "gift enterprise" is conducted: 
 
 "John S. Andrew, proprietor of the establishment at 108 Sudbury 
 street, was arraigned on a complaint made under the same statute as 
 in the other case, but alleging a somewhat different mode of con- 
 ducting the business, wuch is as follows : Circulars are issued from 
 the conc<4rn, stating that they have a rich and valuable stock of 
 goods that have not been redeemed, which are offered for sale at $1 
 each, comprising articles valued at from 75 cents to $3. Any per- 
 son sending 25 cents can receive a certificate, which informs him 
 what he has drawn, and by paying one dollar he can secure the 
 prize, if he desires to do so. By clubbing together these certificates 
 can be purchased for about ten cents apiece. Mr. A. waived a hear- 
 ing in the case, and was held to bail in the sum of $201)0 to appear 
 when called upon." 
 
 The circulars referred to in the complaint are sent far and wide 
 through all the States and elicit many letters in reply — accompa- 
 nied by names of subscribers — each of these responses containing 
 often twenty ur more orders, with the cash therefore. Hundreds of 
 these documents were seized by the officers at the Post-Office. Here 
 is a specimen one : 
 
 " I do not send you but 31 names, they ar a fraid that the things 
 ar not what you say thar ar. If the things look well when thay 
 cum, I can get you a largar club, write to me if theare will be more 
 cloathing. if I get up a club of 250, 1 shuld like to have that watch 
 
30 ROGUERIES IN NEW YORK. 
 
 a lever hunter. I do not think You will lose ennytbing by it for the 
 nabers say it will not be wurth half prise. Let them see, Be sure 
 and ty the ticket on everything that You send becaus thar ar some 
 je^t alike and they cannot find no fait if the ticket is on every ar- 
 tikal." 
 
 No doubt these enterprises are of the purest benevolence— at 
 least such is the impression their projectors seek 10 convey. That 
 everybody who wants a gold watch for a dollar may know how to 
 get it, we copy the following extract from the advertisement - with- 
 out charge, on this occasion : 
 
 " One million certificates, bearing upon their face the names of 
 the articles as above enumerated, are each inclosed in plain enve- 
 lopes, and sealed, undistinguishable one from another, mixed and 
 placed in a repository, without choice, and they are drawn as or- 
 dered. The sealed envelopes containing certificates marked with 
 the name of the article, description, and marked price it entitles the 
 holder to, will be sent by mail to any address at 25 cents each ; on 
 receipt of the certificates, the purchaser ascertains the exact article 
 he is entitled to, which he can obtain upon the return of the certifi- 
 cate and SI to the office of the Association." 
 
 Not wishing, however, to encourage too sanguine hopes, we would 
 add an account of the success of an experiment made last year by 
 an incredulous individual, who was so curious as to find out how 
 it was these people made money by selling gold watches for a dollar. 
 He spent a hundred dollars for the " certificates" above referred to, 
 and found himself the lucky possessor of a lot of paper tickets pur- 
 porting to represent property to the value of $2,153, and this prop- 
 erty he was entitled to receive on the further payment of .^458. 
 Not wishing, however, to impoverish these rashly-benevolent Sama- 
 ritans, and reflecting, perhaps, that he had already spent $100 for 
 which he had as yet received nothing but " certificates," he selected 
 a hundred of those that promised the most valuable articles, and 
 sent them for redemption— paying another $100 for the articles. 
 He received a lot of watches, jewelry, gold pens, &c, of which the 
 nominal value was $599. 
 
 Very good investment of $200, was it not? But stop a minute. 
 "We said nominal value. As the articles were all gold and silver — 
 at any rate, professed to be — it was easy to ascertain their actual 
 value ; so they were sent to the United States Assay Office, melted 
 up, and a certificate of the net proceeds returned. And how much 
 does the ingenuous reader suppose this $599 of gold and silver 
 proved to be worth? Just nine dollars and sixty-two cents ($9 62)! 
 That was what our friend got for the Two Hundred Dollars cash he 
 had invested. And that is about what anybody will get who chooses 
 to invest money in enterprises of this kind. 
 
 The certificate-jewelry business is, in fact, under whatever name 
 carried on, nothing but a gigantic fraud, extending far and wide 
 over the country, and causing many innocent but rather green peo- 
 ple losses they can ill afford. During the war, the soldiers were 
 
gamblers and their victims. 31 
 
 cheated enormously by it. Millions of dollars have been paid for 
 
 utterly worthless stuff. 
 
 But it is not only in bogus jewelry that prizes are warranted. 
 Gold pens are held out as an inducement. What village poetaster 
 or scribler for the weekly journal — enjoying a reputation among 
 his acquaintances for " smart writing" — imagining himself a second 
 Byron or another Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., but what likes to sport a geld 
 pen with " silver ca-e" before the admiring eyes of friends or the 
 envious glances of rivals, as the instrument with which the flow 
 of melody or pathetic romance in the " Trumpetour Blower" is 
 
 produced. By such the circular of the M Gold Pen Co." 
 
 sent through the P. O. is warmly welcomed. A careful perusal, a 
 comparison of the different styles and prices, and then, of course, a 
 remittance. The pen arrives in a handsome velvei-lined box. A 
 glance and the possessor is entranced ; he tries it, it writes smoothly, 
 and forthwith it is cleaned, placed in the pocket and carelessly shown 
 by " accident" to friends. Another trial — alas ! the ink sticks ; 
 the pen corrodes ; the gold comes off ; the silver holder turns black 
 polishing faits to produce a shine, and evegtually it is apparent that 
 a swindle has been perpretratcd and that the " cheap gold pen" is 
 after all but copper or brass | thousands of these pens are sent in a 
 .week by express to all parts of the country and as many dupes 
 made to pay fifty times their value to the adroit swindlers who 
 manufacture them. 
 
 The post-master at Wakeman, Huron county, Ohio, having heard 
 of this Pen Co., sent for a circular which was at ence for- 
 warded. Selecting a certain pen he remitted the money for it j in 
 reply he received an old copper pen not worth three cents ; he im- 
 mediately remonstated in a second letter, and a third, of which no 
 notice was taken and the unfortunate U.S. official was obliged to 
 consider himself swindled. This is but an instance of many. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 GAMBLERS AND THEIR VICTIMS. 
 
 " Vice is a monster of such hideous mein, 
 
 Tbat to be hated nerds but to be seen ; 
 But s-*en too oit, familiar to the face. 
 
 We first endure, thtn pity, then embrace. 1 * 
 
 And so it is with gambling — the " sum of all vices." Like a de- 
 stroying demon guised in angel shape, or like the fabled syren, it 
 allures with fair promises and soul-enraptured desires, only to inev- 
 itable destruction, and the total annihilation of all life's brightest 
 hopes or fairest dreams. 
 
 It would be easy to moralize ad infinitum upon this subject ; in- 
 deed it is hard to avoid doing so, for no admonition is too strong ; 
 no warning too often repeated, in pointing out the danger from this 
 
32 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 great quicksand of human life upon which are daily wrecked hun- 
 dreds — aye, thousands of life's voyagers. 
 
 The capital invested in gambling hells in New York alone, it is 
 estimated exceeds one million of dollars, that is, the sum annually ex- 
 pended in " running" these establishments. Were this amount laid 
 aside, year after year, by our corporate authorities in establishing 
 and maintaining some noble charity, it would be hard to realize the 
 amount of good it would do ; reflect, then, when this same sum is 
 spent in ruining and destroying reputation, honor, self-esteem — 
 piiysical and mental suffering - the incalculable injury it inflicts! 
 
 Gambling is carried on in almost every street, we might say in 
 every block in every street, and we would hardly overstate the 
 truth, as only the dissipated rich or those one day expecting to be 
 rich, are sought as desirable prey. But why is it so difficult to be 
 entrapped into the meshes of these fashionable and select gambling 
 palaces ? Simply for the benefit and ease of their patrons. 
 
 " Only this, and nothing more," to keep out the prying eyes of in- 
 quisitive fathers, brothers, sons or employers. The young clerk 
 with his $800 a year- but men spend more than that in a single 
 week at "faro," or "fighting the tiger"- would not like to be re- 
 cognized in such a place by the confiding merchant, whose money he 
 embezzles to " keep up his style ;" or perhaps the same merchant 
 himself, who so rigidly enforces upon the minds of his small army 
 of clerks the principles of honesty, rectitude and temperance, would 
 feel rather awkward in encountering one or more of these young 
 men by accident at a " roulette" board, gambling, swearing and 
 drinking ! 
 
 Between Chambers street and Grace Church in Broadway, we 
 could point out at least a hundred of these "hells," and thus per- 
 haps warn the heedless, the careless or the reckless from the toils 
 of the spoiler ; but, even if we did so, the proprietors would re- 
 gard our work with favor, and perhaps buy up the whole edition as 
 a first-class advertisement. So, in this instance at least, we must de- 
 cline to satisfy a pardonable curiosity, which, under other circum- 
 stances, we would be happy to satisfy. 
 
 One man— formerly a well-known pugilist—" backs" no less than 
 fifteen " houses" in New York alone, with others at two or three 
 fashionable watering places, each and every one of which requires 
 a capital of not far from $100,000 per annum to support it. And 
 yet he grows rich and can count his fortune at a million of dollars. 
 He has reduced his business to a complete machine. Gambling 
 places are open and secret : that is there are those in which games 
 of chance are played in the broad Yignt of public scrutiny, with lit- 
 tle or no attempt at concealment, and the aristocratic salon, to which 
 admittance can be gained only by introduction, or presentation by 
 those having special entree, backed up with social recommendations. , 
 To the mass of young men there is but little danger to be appre- r 
 heuded from the latter. A regiment of spotters— spies if you will — 
 are in the employ of his agents, whose business it is to hang around 
 the hotels and watch the arrivals. With the manners and accom- 
 plishments of gentlemen, these stool-pigeons ingratiate themselves 
 
GAMBLERS AND THEIR VICTIMS. 
 
 into the confidence of those having money, and by false promises 
 and professions ingratiate themselves into their confidence, and stick 
 to their " friends" until the last dollar is plucked, and the last cent 
 in the possession of their crafty employer, whom they serve with a 
 fidelity unequalled, for it is to "him they owe their fine clothes, their 
 pockets full of cash, and lives of ease and luxury. But it is not 
 only rich strangers they keep their " eye teeth'* sharpened for: the 
 fast city youth, whose silly old father trusts him with thousands at 
 a time." is" legitimate prey, and under their tutelage, throws away, 
 night after night, the earnings of years and the requited toil of "a 
 lifetime ! The paymaster in the army is a gudgeon worth catching, 
 and during the late war many of their proiession gambled away the 
 money entrusted to their care, with which to pay off the battle-worn 
 soldiers of their country. Major P., a resident of Philadelphia, 
 through the influence of a Senator, received an appointment in 1SG4 
 as paymaster in the — th regiment of P Volunteers, in Sher- 
 
 man's army. A man of irreproachable character personally, and of 
 undoubted loyalty, he was sent several times by the Treasury and 
 War Departments on missions, involving the custody and expendi- 
 ture of large sums. On one of these he chanced to visit New York, 
 and put up at the St. Nicholas. Being a life-long resident of Phila- 
 delphia, and having seen many of the dark shades of life as deve- 
 loped in the Quaker City, he had but few. if any, fears of becoming 
 the victim of designing rascals. A number of officers were at the 
 same hotel, and with several of these the major became quite inti- 
 mate ; one in particular strongly commended himself to his tastes, 
 
 a Captain Scott, of the artillery. With the latter R visited the 
 
 theatres on his first night in town, the opera on the next, and so on. 
 His last night in New York at length arrived, and sitting conversing 
 with his friiend, accepted an invitation to take a stroll. A request 
 to step into a handsome mansion to see an acquaintance, was unhe- 
 sitatingly complied with, and in a few moments the pair were seated 
 in a large apartment, furnished in a most magnificent style— Brus- 
 sels carpets on the floor, paintings and mirrors on the walls, chan- 
 deliers of beautiful design and ornament, sofas of solid mahogany, 
 etc. An introduction to those present, with whom Captain Scott ap- 
 peared well acquainted ; a splendid supper, with the choicest viands 
 and wines, aud then an adjournment to a backroom, where " friend- 
 ly games of chance*' were in progress. To a request to play just 
 for amusement, he gladly acceded ; the notes are put up, only ten 
 dollars aside, and he wins. Another game, larger stakes, and he 
 again wins ; a third, with still larger ventures he loses. The play 
 becomes exciting, the luck variable ; at last fortune takes a strong 
 turn against him ; he keeps on losing, losing, losing. Brandy is 
 called lor and drank copiously ; he is reckless, his ill-luck makes 
 him desperate : his last dollar is gone ; a thought — he pulls out the 
 money confided to his care by the government, hoping to recover what 
 he has already squandered. Thousands of dollars are placed upou 
 the table, covered, played for, and— lost. Ihe last stamp is swept 
 up by the remorseless ; ' dealer ;' 7 a sudden consciousness that he 
 is ruined, that he has forfeited reputation, honor, confidence— all 
 
34 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 that a man holds dear— flashes upon him. More brandy, a revolver 
 is drawn, a sharp report, and another suicide is standing before the 
 Judge's throne. 
 
 It is hard to understand, let alone describe, the rationale of gam- 
 bling, the impulse, the infatuation that possesses the victim of the vice. 
 
 Pursuing it like an touts fatuw, only to their own destruction, in 
 spite of the counsels and admonitions of those that see the end of 
 their career, these blind, wilfully blind slaves of their own cupidity 
 and lust after dross, rush madly into the abyss yawning in their 
 path. This passion, for such it is, has its beginning in ninety-nine 
 cases out of a hundred in the social circle. Playing cards or domi- 
 noes for " drinks," " cigars," or " oyster stews," is gamhimg, though 
 a majority of those who daily and nightly indulge in this practice 
 will possibly deny this assertion. " Betting" is another form, and 
 one that is still more dangerous J a taste for acquiring money easily 
 and without labor is thus developed, and when once developed 
 there is no resisting the future influence which it exerts. Our coun- 
 try friends are apt to indulge in this " betting" process to a great 
 extent, and it is to this desire that so many of them owe their loss 
 of character as well as loss of money at the gaming table. 
 
 It is seldom, however, that Verdant is worth plucking by the 
 " aristocratic" gamblers, they do not look after such " small fry." 
 All gambling houses are not exclusive. As I before hinted, they 
 abound everywhere, and those of the " lower class" present the 
 greatest danger to the inexperienced. Such places are to be found 
 in the neighborhood of Chatham street or iu the vicinity of the 
 Bowery, and, like concert saloons or lager bier " gartens." are as 
 abundant as blackberries in August. Here the rattle of dice is 
 heard all day and all night long, and it is here that so many are 
 fleeced out of small sums which they can ill afford to lose. Un- 
 scrupulous rascals hang around the doors and around the bars, ever 
 on the alert to catch and plunder, and they are not always particu- 
 lar as to the means they employ in so doing. Drugging or a 
 knock down blow, and then robbing, is a part of their trade— often 
 resorted to when their " customers" fail to " bleed" at the card ta- 
 bles. It is in such dens that crimes and outrages are committed, and 
 into which strangers are enticed and gouged. Keep away from 
 these pitfalls ; on no condition suffer yourself to be induced' to enter 
 them, and to the polite attentions and requests of friends to come in 
 and " take a drink" or " a hand at cards," turn a deaf ear or your 
 fate is sealed. 
 
 In concluding this subject, heed a few words of timely counsel. 
 
 Gamble nop at all — do not acquire a bad taste for games of 
 chance ; for if you do you are surely " booked and ticketted" for 
 destruction. Play a friendly game of whist or euchre with those 
 you know or those you can trust ; but as you value life, happiness, 
 and have hopes of prosperity, touch not a card where the stake is 
 for money. Do not rely upon your moral courage to stop at a cer- 
 tain point in your career ; remember you cannot control yourself, 
 and if you once give yourself up to the devilish passion you are 
 lost. Again, gamble not at all ! 
 
GARROTJXG AND HIGHWAY ROBBERY. 35 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 OARUOTIXG AND HIGHWAY ROBBERY. 
 
 Certain streets and localities in New York bear very hard repu- 
 tations as haunts of crime, and as such are generally avoided by 
 those having knowledge of this fact. Thus, for instance, who would 
 venture into the classic regions of the " Five Points," after a certain 
 hour of the night, without an inward apprehension of personal vio- 
 lence or maltreatment ; or what resident of the city would like to 
 trust himself in the purlieus of Cherry or Water streets after dark 
 if he could help himself? So much for personal knowledge, and 
 with this guide it is very easy to avoid danger. " Forewarned is 
 forearmed." But in the case of the stranger, who knows not one 
 street from another, how different ! To him, with the exception 
 perhaps of one or two, all streets are alike, and with no friendly 
 monitor to warn him. is it any wonder he is often exposed, not only 
 to insult and maltreatment, but also to robbery and perhaps mur- 
 der? Take up a newspaper any day in the week and read the lists 
 of "affrays, highway robberies, assaults," &c., filling its columns. 
 Here, for example : 
 
 Attfmptpd Robbvry.— William Jones, employed on the steamship 
 City of Dublin, while passing down Laurens street, late last night, 
 was knocked down and rendered insensible by a blow from a slung 
 shot in the hands of one of a party of men who rushed upon him 
 from a neighboring alley. Before the thieves could possess them- 
 selves of his watch and money, the scoundrels, frightened at the ap- 
 proach of officer Conley, of the Eighth Precinct, ran away. The 
 wounded man was restored to consciousness, and then taken on 
 board his vessel. 
 
 Happily for the unfortunate man, a policeman was at hand: 
 otherwise the poor fellow would have fared worse at the hands of 
 the rogues ; as it was he got off" quite easy. 
 
 Frank Hannan, a well-known butcher and drover, arrived from 
 Cincinnati with a consignment of hogs, via the Erie Rail\^y. '"Stock" 
 being in demand at Allertons drove yard, he soon had the good 
 luck of dispensing of his " drove," receiving therefor one or two 
 " cool thousands." Being obliged to return to the West at an early 
 hour next day. Frank resolved to pay a visit to the theatre. Seven 
 o'clock accordingly found him in a parquette seat anxiou-ly await- 
 ing the rising of the curtain. Engaged with the tragic utterances 
 of Stanley, delighted at the witty sallies of Fox, and absorbed in 
 the mysteries of the three five-act dramas on the programme, the 
 evening passed rapidly away. Leaving the theatre, our friend, feel- 
 ing decidedly elevated from the effects of certain drinks imbibed 
 u between acts," unfortunately for himself, lost his way, and in- 
 stead of continuing up the Bowery to Canal street, to Earl's Hotel, 
 where he put up, "brought to" in Centre street, not far from the 
 
36 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 Tombs. A little " incoherent," he did not perceive he had got out 
 of his reckoning for some time, but on discovering the fact, looked 
 about for a policeman for directions. While endeavoring to disco- 
 ver one of these " guardians of life and property," he was suddenly 
 felled to the ground by a blow from behind, and the next moment 
 became wholly unconscious. At length after a time his reason be- 
 gan slowly to return ; and by degrees he awoke from the, what 
 seemed to him, horrid dream, perfectly awaie of a stunning pain in 
 his head, and a whirling sensation through his brain. Staggering to 
 his feet, he for a moment leaned against a neighboring post, and en- 
 deavored to collect his thoughts. At this moment a Metropolitan 
 approached, and thinking him intoxicated, conducted him to the 
 station-house. By this time his mind had become clear, and he re- 
 lated what had befallen him. With the advice of the sergeant on 
 duty he searched his pockets, and found that he had been robbed of 
 every cent of money he had that day received, and which was placed 
 loose in his pantaloon pockets ; and not only of his money, but even 
 of his coat, hat and vest, and necktie, with a valuable gold pin. 
 Somebody had noiselessly approached him, and quietly knocked 
 him down, and while insensible from the blow relieved him of his 
 property. Frank was kindly cared for at the station-house until 
 morning. Diligent search was made by the police for the pepetra- 
 trator or perpetrators of the outrage, but with the general result — 
 no success. 
 
 But it is not only in " lanes and by-ways" that highwaymen are 
 to be encountered ; for while preferring the dark and unfrequented 
 streets, they are still not averse to " a job" even in gas-lit Broad- 
 way and the crowded avenues, and this, too, despite the vigilance 
 and watchfulness of our " wide awake" police ! 
 
 When an " emergency arises," and one of these villains finds him- 
 self no match for his intended victim, or when his attempt to "quiet," 
 by a blow, is frustrated, the ruffian makes no hesitation in using 
 " cold steel" to prevent an alarm or to make sure of his work. A 
 pistol is seldom employed for this purpose, as the report is apt to 
 attract attention, but the knife is an easy and certain weapon. Still 
 your highwayman will rarely go so far as to attempt murder, for a 
 wholesome^ear of the scaffold or State prison, should he be caught, 
 is before hi? eyes. Preferable to the steel, and far superior to the 
 pistol or revolver, is the " slung -shot," a well-directed stroke from 
 which effectually prevents, for the time being, any "factious oppo- 
 sition." The " sand bag," a narrow pouch, filled with sand, is often 
 employed in the same way and for the same purpose. 
 
 GARROTTXG, 
 
 Of which our readers have often heard, has long since become un- 
 fashionable, though it is still occasionally practised. Its very un- 
 frequency, however, makes it all the more dangerous. The phrase 
 is of Spanish origin, and derives its name from a machine by which, 
 in the West Indies and Central America, criminals and political of- 
 fenders are choked to death. As its name signifies, it is literally 
 choking, and any one who has had the misfortune to undergo the 
 
TIIE TRAGIC END. 
 
 See Paje 34. 
 
38 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 operation at the hands of ^ew York ruffians, can testify to the lite- 
 ral interpretation of the word. 
 
 Garroters work upon scientific principles, with a perfect know- 
 ledge of the physical anatomy of the body. A child can tell you 
 the effect of stopping the breath even for a short time. Two of the 
 gentry approach their intended prey ; one of them seizes him, at 
 the same time passing his arm around the neck of the " customer," 
 jamming the lower against the upper jaw, thus preventing an out- 
 cry, while his companion appropriates the personal property of the 
 helpless stranger. The work is generally finished by a blow upon 
 the cranium, causing insensibility, affording an opportunity for the 
 robbers to make good their escape. Garroters are seldom merciful, 
 their operation is the very refinement of cruelty. 
 
 One of the most aggravated cases of this species of robbery is 
 that of an ex-captain of one of the New York and Liverpool pack- 
 ets, who, passing through South street, on his way to his vessel, late 
 at night, was seized in the manner described above. Possessing 
 great muscular strength, Capt. B — made a stout resistance, knock- 
 ing down one of his assailants, and would have doubtless made bis 
 escape had not one of the ruffians —there were four of them— thrown 
 a nouse around his neck and pulled it tight, depriving him of all 
 consciousness, and nearly suffocating him. 
 
 Captain Harrison, of the 14th U. S. Regulars, quartered on Gover- 
 nor's Island, at the earnest desire of a warm personal friend, ac- 
 cepted an invitation to an evening party. The mansion of his host 
 was located in Fourteenth street, and "it was an early hour in the 
 morning when he left for the " Island." He had ordered a 
 boat to await him at the Battery at three o'clock, and it was now 
 two ; so it would require a brisk walk to be "in time," the stages 
 having long since ceased running. Striding a bee-line down Broad- 
 way, the gallant captain used his legs to great advantage, and was 
 already within sight of Trinity, when three men rapidly rushed by 
 him. Turning suddenly, one of them asked him " the hour," but 
 before he could reply, another threw his arms around his body, 
 tripped up his feet and laid him sprawling on the sidewalk. A third 
 coolly seated himself on the breast of the prostrate man, clutching 
 the throat of the latter with his fingers, while the others rummaged 
 his pockets, possessing themselves of whatever valuables they could 
 find. Advising the captain to keep perfectly still the rascals polite- 
 ly bade him " good morning." and before he could recover irom his 
 surprise or raise an alarm, vanished around the corner. 
 
 These ruffians do not always escape unscathed, but now and then 
 receive their deserts. The practice of carrying arms is a dangerous 
 one, and one that cannot be too severely reprehended. The temp- 
 tation to use a pistol or dirk is often very strong, and not easily 
 resisted, involving serious consequences. Still it cannot be denied 
 tha< the possession of a weapon has, in hundreds of cases— even in 
 great and crowded cities— preserved life which must otherwise have 
 been sacrificed io lawlessness or cupidity. At one time the " gar- 
 rote" excitement prevailed to an alarming extent in New York. 
 Scarcely a night passed but one or two fijgrant— and generally 
 
CARR0T1NG AND HIGHWAY ROBBERY. 
 
 39 
 
 more — assaults were made, until it was absolutely considered unsafe 
 to be abroad after a certain hour. Men whose business called them 
 abroad at night, generally went armed as a matter of self-protec- 
 tion. It was during this period of alarm that a friend of the writer's, 
 and a well-known New York editor, was on his way up town from 
 his office, when he was attacked in Fourth street, near the Parade 
 Ground, by three scoundrels, one of whom attempted the " garrote" 
 game. Seizing the u man of the quill " by the throat, the latter was 
 for a moment powerless ; bat quickly recovering himself, pushed 
 his hand rapidly into his breast pocket, and before the would-be 
 robbeis became aware of his intention, drew a revolver and dis- 
 charged the contents of one barrel, at almost point-blank range, at 
 his immediate assailant. The ball entered the shoulder of the rascal, 
 shattering the blade, and causing an ugly though, not dangerous 
 wound. Alarmed at the report of the revolver and the noise of an 
 approaching officer, the villains fled, leaving our editor master of 
 the situation. The wounded man was tracked by the drops of blood 
 from his injured shoulder, and subsequently arrested, convicted, 
 and sent to the Sing-Sing prison, where he did the State service for 
 several years. 
 
 The low grog-shops and " taverns" along the North and East 
 River3, and in other disreputable quarters of the city, should be 
 avoided by all who have the least respect for themselves or regard 
 for the safety of their personal property. In these dens the unsus- 
 pecting, by means of drugged liquors or by other equally potent 
 influences, are first rendered insensible, then robbed, and finally 
 turned out pitiless and penniless to obtain what satisfaction or in- 
 demnity they can. 
 
 Several illustrations might be given of the frequency of these 
 cases, but as they are, after all, but repetitions of each other, and 
 may be read day alter day in the public prints, we will merely 
 remark that, by a little timely prudence, wisely exercised, together 
 with a moderate degree of sobriety, but slight apprehension of dan- 
 ger from highwaymen, garroters, or footpads need be entertained. 
 
 STORY OP A REIIRKD BURGLAR. 
 
 Several years since a portly and amiable gentleman, of winning 
 manners and irreproachable habits, apparently well supplied with 
 that wealth so necessary in the eyes of many to social distinction, 
 came to the village of "\Iount Vernon, purchased a handsome prop- 
 erty, and fitted it up in a manner showing refined taste and judicious 
 culture. His family, among which were two pleasant and accom- 
 plished young ladies, became as popular as himself. At all parties 
 they were the sought for guests. The gentleman himself was, if not 
 the oracle, at least the premier magnate of the neighborhood. Our 
 portly magnifico was a captain by colloquial brevet —whether of the 
 army or navy was never determined and was a manufacturer of 
 dry-goods, he said, talking of the "mills" and "machinery" in a glib 
 and knowing manner. 
 
 Recently, however, some impertinent outsider began to whisper. 
 The whisper grew to a sound audible to careless ears. The audible 
 
40 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 sound deepened to a loud tone. The aristocratic maker of calico, 
 
 the imposing captain, the urbane magnate of the village, was no 
 more nor less than a successful burglar, now retired from his pro- 
 fession, who had served his term of three years in the Pennsylvania 
 Penitentiary. Napoleon of the jemmy and wrench, he had never 
 operated himself, but like a high official, had done his work by de- 
 puty. By his lieutenants, he had led his army in a raid against the 
 moveables of the people. Shrewd enough never to operate at 
 home, he spent his gains in the manner of a gentleman ; and but for 
 an accidental interloper, might have lived and died in the odor 
 of sanctity, and have been buried amid the lamentations of the 
 villagers, who would have emulated his ostensible virtues. It is 
 po-sible, indeed, that he had entirely retired from the active prose- 
 cution of that branch of the fine arts that had brought him fortune ; 
 it is even possible that he might have repented of his former life, 
 though he held the proceeds of his skill and genius, and enjoyed 
 their use. Be that as it may, his crime found him out, aud its conse- 
 quence followed him. But his associates, who were taken with his 
 manners, and charmed with his virtues, and who dovetailed legs 
 with him under the same mahogany, who shall paint their consterna- 
 tion when the truth came out ! 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 PICKTOCKCT3 AND PuCKETPICKIXO. 
 
 " Pockettickixg" in the metropolis, has been reduced to an art— 
 brought to a state of perfection and system that is difficult to com- 
 prehend. Indeed it may be looked upon as a regular profession- 
 one that requires the greatest skill, dexterity and perception. Were 
 but a tithe of the ingenuity required for an adept in this important 
 branch of " living by one s wits" exercised in some honorable busi- 
 ness, it is unquestionable but that it would redcund to the posses- 
 sors' social position and profit. 
 
 Pickpockets may be divided into two classes, the professionals 
 and amateurs. It is with the former that we have more particularly 
 to deal, as the more dangerous. The " trade" is plied by both 
 sexes ; and as may be supposed, females are far more expert and 
 successful than their male co-workers, their natural discernment, 
 enticing manners, and readiness to take advantage of circumstances, 
 rendering them eminently qualified for the work. 
 
 A crowd is the pickpocket's opportunity; a political meeting, 
 procession, or review is a perfect "God send" to the fraternity, 
 who never fail to attend, confident of reaping a rich harvest, with 
 but little fear of interruption or detection. Public conveyances- 
 cars and stages — afford a wide field of operations. The latter are 
 " worked " for the most part by females dressed in the most fash- 
 
PICKPOCKETS AND POCKETPICKING. 
 
 41 
 
 ionable style, with the manners and " airs" of a leader of the ton* 
 Is it at all surprising that suspicion seldom attaches to their pre- 
 sence until with their booty they hare made good their retreat? 
 
 Riding up a Filth avenue stage one pleasant afternoon not long 
 ago, the attention of the writer was attracted by the personal ap- 
 pearance of quite a handsome young lady sitting nearly opposite, 
 if he entered the vehicle at the corner of Caual street, dres&ed in the 
 latest Parisian style, her many charms of lace and figure displayed 
 to great advantage by the taste evident in the selection and mike ,.p 
 of her wearing apparel. The " dear creature" was quite captivat- 
 ing ; so indeed thought a gentleman near the door, at least judging 
 from his actions. Hastening to make room for the fair damsel be- 
 side himself, he gallantly extended his hand to assist her in mount- 
 ing the somewhat steep steps of the stage— a civility she rewarded 
 by a smile and u thank you, sir," that must have made his heart 
 jump. Extending her crinoline in smooth folds on each side (the 
 seats being but partially occupied), the young lady lowered her 
 veil and relapsed into a state of blissful contentedness. Many were 
 the admiring glances bestowed upon her by her neighbor, who 
 seemed quite smitten, as he slowly edged up to her. To a request 
 if he should hoist the window at her back, she, with the most charm- 
 ing naivete, assented, and leaned forward the better to enable him to 
 do so. No sooner, however, had he again taken his seat when she 
 suddenly pulled the strap, stopped the stage, got out, and was soon 
 lost to view. Happening to again direct my attention to the gentle- 
 man, I saw his watch-guard banging loose, and called his observa- 
 tion to the circumstance. Instantly he exclaimed, " My watch is 
 gone !" His next impulse was to place his hand in his pocket, and 
 to his dismay discovered that his wallet also was missing ; the 
 charming young lady had quietly appropriated both ! The victim 
 frantically jerked the strap — such a tlying leap and the last seen 
 of him he was talking to a policeman' on the subject of his loss. It 
 is more than probable he recovered neither his timepiece nor his 
 money, but instead received practical admonition of the "deception 
 of appearances," and the danger of admiring feminine yraces, pretty 
 and unknown faces ! 
 
 Places of amusement are favorite resorts of the " gentry," where, 
 in the crowds that pour out of the theatres and minstrel halls, their 
 nimbleness enables them to relieve unsuspecting individuals of 
 superfluous articles of jewelry, wearing apparel, such as gloves, 
 handkerchiefs, &c. Ladies are the principal sufferers from pick- 
 pockets of their own " gender," and should therefore, when abroad, 
 never for a moment, no matter where they may be, in a store, stage, 
 car, or crowded thoroughfare, become careless or forgetful ; for if 
 they do they are likely to repent. Do not rely upon your adroit- 
 ness in concealing your money or other valuables ; prying eyes are 
 coveting, and itching fingers longing, to seize upon thein. Remem- 
 ber the mysteries of your dress are no mysteries to those female 
 " profeseionals ;" they know as well as you do where your purse is 
 concealed ; or if they don't, it won't take them long to find out. 
 Bnt suppose you depend upon other and more open means of pro- 
 
42 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 tection -you carry your portrnonnaie in your hand, with a strong 
 
 clutch thereupon surely it cannot then be* cut. " Lay not this flat- 
 tering unction to your soul ;'' a detention at a street crossing, a 
 jostle., a snatch from behind, and despite your precaution your 
 money is gone ! You turn to look for the thief ; you see numbers 
 of people around ; can you tell who committed toe theft ? 
 
 Gentlemen ' with prominent watch-guards or protruding breast- 
 pins are fair game, and are daily made to pay the penaly of a vain 
 desire ot display. 
 
 Certain kinds of crime now and then become epidemic for a 
 while : thus, a short time ago, a fashionable method of pocketpick- 
 ing was to first render the victim insensible by means of chloroform, 
 and then 11 go through*' him or her at leisure. ' Take the case of Miss 
 Simons, who on leaving an Eighth avenue railroad car at the corner 
 of West Broadway and Lispenard street, was accosted by a neatly 
 dressed female, who politely inquired the way to the Astor House, 
 at the same time dexterously flirting a pocket-handkerchief, the 
 effect of which latter proceeding was to cause Miss S. to fall insen- 
 sible to the sidewalk, while the adroit thief made off with her valu- 
 ables. The pickpocket, in her haste, dropped her handkerchief, 
 which, when picked up by a policeman, was found to be strongly 
 impregnated with chloroform. This chloroform game, however, is 
 now out of date, and seldom practised. 
 
 The above is but a sample of the many methods adopted by the 
 u members of the profession" to " come it over ' strangers. A great 
 deal is left, however, to circumstances and surroundings, of which 
 the rogue is always on hand to take advantage. It is therefore im- 
 possible to lay down settled rules and regulations, whereby visitors 
 to, or even citizens familiar with, New York, may avoid experiencing 
 loss and inconvenience at the hands of the class of rascaLs now un- 
 der consideration. A few words of advice, however, may not be 
 inappropriate. 
 
 In the first place, never make a display of money. Eyes are 
 around and about you, watching every" motion. Jf you have 
 purchasing to do, take only the amount necessary, and leave what- 
 ever you have over at your hotel or wherever you maybe stopping. 
 
 Avoid crowds ; keep away from all gatherings as much as possi- 
 ble : do not let a desire to see what is going on induce you to push 
 and elbow your way into the midst of a motley assemblage, parti- 
 cularly at a street crossing. 
 
 Give the "'cut direct" to all agreeable strangers or warmly in- 
 terested "friends,"' male or female. The pertinence of this sentence 
 was forcibly felt by Henr* Thompson, a native and life-long resi- 
 dent of the quiet, slow and old-fashioned village of Peekskill, West- 
 chester county, York State. Harry had alreadv attained the ago 
 oi 2% in comparative ignorance of the attractions and dangers, 
 pleasures and pains of ;he great world be\ ond his village. Perhaps 
 his ambition, if such it can be called, would never have been roused 
 into an inexpressible j earning to visit the great Eabel on Manhattan 
 Island, had it not keen tor the glowing account given by his fellow* 
 workman (Harry was a moulder), Zeke Samson, on his return from a 
 
PICKPOCKETS AND POCKETPICKING. 
 
 •13 
 
 protracied visit to the city. Zeke had "seen the elephant" in 
 company with his city cousin, and had thus escaped the pitfalls and 
 dangers which usually await the innocent rustic on first " coming 
 to town." Now. among the young men of the village, the hero of 
 this story had attained an enviable reputation for cufenea?, as the 
 Yankees have it, and anv one who could*" come it over" him in any 
 shape or form might consider him-elf "some pumkins'' indeed. In 
 addition, llarrv was "some on his muscle," and the recognized 
 champion of the place. With these qualifications, is it strange that 
 he had an excellent o, anion of himself and of his own " qualities," 
 and expected others to have the same? 
 
 Listening, time and again, to Zeke's many and varied adventures 
 (slightly exaggerated), a strong de-ire seized Harry to take a jaunt to 
 the city. Talking to the " old man" on the subject one night, his pro- 
 ject received his warm approbation, as his father thought it was about 
 time his son had seen something of life ; so, without much ado, it was 
 settled that he should go and remain for a wee >. Monday morning 
 saw our friend on Broadway, gazing and wondering with open 
 mouth at the multitudinous attractions of that famous thoroughfare. 
 Now, there aie some very pretty girls in Peekskill, and one in par- 
 ticular had magnetized Harry's affections ; but " out of sight out of 
 mind," and away from his Dulcinea, he was at liberty to admire the 
 many charms of the fair Broadway promeuaders. Constitutionally 
 bashful in the presence of the gentler sex, it is not surprising that 
 every now and then encountering the glance of some "pretty dam- 
 sel," he should find himself actually blushing ; and after fairly 
 -trembling, " paancy his pheeliuks" then, on being accosted by a 
 demure looking maiden, clad in the 
 
 " Habiliments of woe — 
 
 with the prettiest of faces and the most perfect of figures, who, in a 
 prattling tune, kindly inquired after the state of his health; how 
 long he had been in town ; how the old folks were, etc. Complete- 
 ly taken by surprise, Harry faltered, blushed, stammered, and at 
 last managed to blubber out : 
 
 " Ain't -you - somewhat— mistaken Mrs. Miss " 
 
 " Not in the least," replied the lady, taking his arm ; " I am very 
 well acquainted with you" throwing, as she spoke, such a glance 
 from the well-directed batteries of her bright eyes as made Harry's 
 heart leap up into his throat — " but I do believe you really don't 
 know me." 
 
 By this time the couple had walked a block or two ; the girl — for 
 she hardly seemed more — leaning quite confidentially and trustingly 
 on his arm, keeping up a sharp volley of small talk which her 
 gallant found it impossible to interrupt. To tell the truth, he was 
 not a little confused in not being able to identify the stranger, but 
 rather pleased at the idea of having such an agreeable companion. 
 
 Just as on the point of again inquiring into the unknown's identity, 
 he was surprised at hearing a slight scream and the exclamation— 
 partly in alarm and partly in seeming wonderment - 
 
 " Heavens, you are not George after all : you are a stranger 1" 
 
44 ROGUERIES OP NEW YORK. 
 
 Before the words were fairly uttered, the girl vanished down a 
 by street, leaving Harry speechless from astonishment and embar- 
 rassment. Recovering in a moment, he looked around for his agree- 
 able acquaintance ; but of course she was not to be seen. 
 
 Amazed at the singularity of his adventure, his first impulse was 
 to place his hands in his pockets when, horror of horrors ! he dis- 
 covered that his right pocket was r«m est inventus ; in plain English, 
 was gone ! A sudden idea struck the hitherto unsuspecting coun- 
 tryman—the girl was a thief ; she had not only completely bam- 
 boozled him secured his wallet — but had actually cut out the 
 lining where it formed the pocket ! 
 
 A quiet chuckle to himself soon threw a new aspect upon the 
 affair. The abstracted wallet was an old one, and contained nothing 
 but a lot of old letters and receipts, Harry's cash being in his 
 tobacco-box, where he had unwittingly placed it for safe keeping 
 before going out. The " biter was fairly bit," though of course our 
 Peekskill acquaintance could claim but little credit therefor. The 
 neat way in which his pocket was cut out though, showed him that 
 the smartest people are sometimes " done brown" when they little 
 suspect the operation ! Harry remained in New York the whole 
 week, but took uncommon care to avoid too close familiarity with 
 good-looking ladies " dressed in black." 
 
 " Kids" is the technical name of young pickpockets, and a very 
 dangerous class of youngsters they are. Their modut op randi is for 
 two or three— sometimes more - to keep together, and by pushing 
 against the object of their plot and diverting the victim's attention, 
 secure whatever plunder they can. It often happens that one of the 
 gang is seized ; but that avails but little, for the stolen property has 
 been quickly transferred, and is, by the time the loss is discovered, 
 beyond the reach of recovery. 
 
 Very often pickpockets operate in couples, and mutually assist 
 each other. If one is detected, he generally manages to transfer his 
 booty to the accomplice, who makes off with it while his friend in 
 custody is loudly declaring his " innocence." 
 
 " Henry Robinson, residing in Hudson, while leaving the cars at 
 the depot in Thirty-second street, caught a rascal with his hand in 
 his pocket, and handed him over to a policeman. Mr. R.'s pocket- 
 book, however, was missing, though not found upon the prisoner. 
 The latter had no doubt passed it to an accomplice." Similar para- 
 graphs may be read daily in the public journals. 
 
 This business of " plucking verdants" is not confined to the streets 
 alone. The various steamboat and railroad lines converging at this 
 city are " worked" to a great extent. Certain parties have their 
 " beats" well understood among the " fraternity," which, to infringe 
 upon, is a violation of " laws" sacred as those of the " Medes and 
 Persians." 
 
 An over-cautiousness in seeking to avoid the tricks of pickpockets 
 sometimes leads to ludicrous mistakes — as the following incident 
 will show though, as we said before, too much real vigilance 
 can seldom be exercised by the ignorant or unsuspicious of the char- 
 acter of travelling companions or transient acquaintances. 
 
PICKPOCKETS AND FOCKETPICKING. 
 
 45 
 
 A lady travelling by the land route between New York and 
 Boston, was unfortunate enough to lose her purse containing a 
 considerable amount of money, which was undoubtedly appropri- 
 ated by a gentlemanly person who occupied the seat next to her, but 
 who left during the time the train was passing through the lcng 
 tunnel going into New York city, having managed to pick the 
 lady's pocket during that time undetected, as half an hour previously 
 the purse was known to be safe. 
 
 In recounting her loss to a friend, who was soon after about to 
 make the same journey, the danger of gentlemanly-appearing men 
 occupying the next seat to unprotected females, and, in fact, the 
 danger of trusting to appearances at all, was strongly dwelt upon. 
 
 The new tourist was particularly cautioned to beware on going 
 through the tunnel at New York, and. being thoroughly admonished, 
 concluded to keep her pocket-book grasped in her hand during that 
 perilous passage. The lady started :— sure enough, a gentlemanly 
 looking personage, on the arrival of the train at Springfield, solicited 
 permission to fill the unoccupied seat beside the fair traveller, which, 
 according to the rales of travel, could not be refused. The stranger's 
 manners were those of gentlemanly ease ; his costume was plain, 
 serviceable, and adapted for travelling. He was polite j he offered 
 the lady his newspaper — it was coldly declined ; he volunteered a 
 few remarks, which received only chilling monosyllabic responses. 
 In fact, he made no progress whatever in becoming better acquaint- 
 ed with his neighbor, and evidently giving it up in despair occupied 
 himself with his newspapers and a cheap novel. The lady had 
 almost forgotten her travelling companion, as well as the advice of 
 her friend, when the recollection of both suddenly flashed upon her 
 as the train entered the Cimmerian darkness of the tunnel. 
 She hurriedly fumbled for her pocket, but the finding of ■ lady's 
 pod et amid the folds of her dress is often a matter of difficulty, and 
 now in the impenetrable darkness seemed doubly so. Nervously 
 she felt in the direction where she supposed that appendage was, 
 till at last the aperture was reached and her hand thrust in to gra-p 
 and hold her pocket-book safely till the train should again emerge 
 in'o daylight, when she encountered the gentleman's hand in her 
 pocket. Whether to scream for assistance, to seize the intruder, or 
 in fact what to do she scarcely knew ; however, acting upon a 
 sudden resolution, she seized the hand and held on, determined to 
 show t 1 e villain delected in the very act on emerging to the light. 
 
 The train rolled slowly— it seemed, so slowly on, that it seemed 
 a3 if the end of that terrible tunnel would never be reached she 
 clutched the intruding hand with a firmer grasp, which made no 
 especial efFori, o relieve itself, probably knowing how useless would 
 be the struggle, or else, as both were "ungloved, feeling content to 
 rest in the soft, warm clasp that encircled it. At length, however, 
 the cars emerged into daylight, which found both lady and gentle- 
 man anxiously looking towards each other, the lady's face wearing 
 a frightened, anxious expression, and the gentleman's a curious and 
 puzz:ed one as he gazed into the startled eyes of ms companion. 
 " Sir !" she began indignantly, tightening her grasp, when, chancing 
 
46 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 to cast her eyes down, she found, oh terrible circumstance ! hrr hand 
 in. the oulvde pocket of his coat, desperately grasping his hand, which it 
 had encountered. 
 
 The lady was covered with confusion at this unloosed for turn of 
 affairs, and the gentleman, who was a man of discrimination, saw 
 the encounter was accidental, and that each had probably received 
 pickpocket impressions of the other from it. Mutual explanations 
 at length ensued and cards were exchanged. 
 
 We have now given, in brief, an outline of the manner in which 
 pickpockets, to a great extent, " operate," and if any of our readers 
 fall victims to their arts and traps they do so knowingly and after full 
 and proper warning. 
 
 REMARK AB LE ESCAPE OP A NOTED FEMALE CONVICT. 
 
 The expedients resorted to by pickpockets, shoplifters, and others 
 of the fraternity, to escape from the toils of the law, when they 
 have the misfortune to become entangled therein, are often very in- 
 genious. The following, of recent occurrence, will give an idea of 
 the perfection of the plans sometimes invented, and the skill dis- 
 played, in carrying them out. 
 
 On the 3d of May last, Mary Brown, alias Frances Stanley, a 
 shrewd shoplifter, who is well known to our criminal authorities, 
 was arrested for committing a theft at the store of Messrs. A. T. 
 Stewart & Co., and locked up by Justice Dowling for trial. Mary 
 was subsequently indicted for grand larceny, and being arraigned, 
 pleaded guilty to the indictment, when Recorder Hoffman remanded 
 her for sentence. A day or two afterwards the self-convicted crimi- 
 nal was taken to court for sentence, but for some reason judgment 
 was not pronounced. The officer having her in charge started back 
 to the Tombs, but when on the corner of Centre and Chambers 
 r.treets, Girard P. Hale, alias Smith alias Cahill alias George Wilson, 
 then at large, but now under conviction for breaking into the resi- 
 dence of Mr. Henry F. Vail, cashier of the Bank of Commerce — 
 jostled against him, whereupon the officer turned to see what was 
 the matter. At that moment his prisoner, Mary Brown, who was close- 
 ly veiled, slipped from his side, and her place was filled by another 
 woman of similar size, and dressed like Mary in every important par- 
 ticular. Not suspecting anything wrong, the officer with his substi- 
 tute passed down Centre street to the corner of Worth, and at that 
 point the woman started towards Broadway. She was gently re- 
 minded by the officer that she was his prisoner, and requested her 
 to proceed to prison without giving him further trouble. In reply, 
 the officer was told that he would do well not to insult a respectable 
 lady, or else she should be compelled to report him to his superiors 
 and her husband for punishment. The woman then raised her veil, 
 and to the officer's surprise and horror, he discovered that instead of 
 having Mary Brown in charge, he had a strange woman whom he 
 had never seen before. In his excitement the officer allowed the 
 woman to go about her business, and started rapidly down Centre 
 street in search of Mary Brown, who had so shrewdly given him the 
 slip ; but he was unable to find her. A few days since District At- 
 
THE PATENT SAFE AND WHAT IT IS. 
 
 47 
 
 torney Hall called upon Capt. Jourdan, of the Sixth precinct, and 
 asked him to make an effort to arrest the fugitive criminal. The cap- 
 tain took charge of the case, and subsequently received informa'ion 
 which led him to believe that Mary was secreted in a certain house 
 near Yonkers, up the Nor;h River. Captain Jourdan accordingly 
 took with him officers Wooldridge and McDonald, of his force, and 
 proceeded to Yonkers. After watching the house in question tor 
 several hours the convict was discovered and arrested, much to her 
 regret. She was brought to the city and committed to the Tomb*. 
 Mary was about to bid adieu to her home and friends and sail for 
 California, she having secured a passage on the steamer about to 
 sail for the land of gold. The woman who so obligingly took her 
 place beside the officer is said to be from the city of Rochester, 
 where some years ago she was convicted as an accessory to a brutal 
 murder, and sentenced for a long term in the State prison. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 TTTE PATENT SAFE AND WHAT IT IS. 
 
 Soldiers passing up the Hudson River Railroad are encountered 
 in the vicinity of the depot, and one of the confidence men c;il;ivates 
 his acquaintance, then asks him to drink, and soon becomes engaged 
 in quite an interesting conversation. The soldier is as^ed about his 
 regiment, his furlough, or if he is discharged or on a parole, how 
 far up the road he is going, and numerous other questions, all 
 aiming at one point— to ascertain how much money he has. While 
 thus engaged in conversation, a third gentleman, who plays the part 
 of a merchant, steps up, and, tapping the other confidence man on 
 the shoulder, requests him to pay a bill of two hundred dollars, or, 
 perhaps, three hundred dollars, which he has against him j but he 
 has nothing but a five hundred dollar bill, and the merchant, unable 
 to change it, does not see what he is going to do. The debtor a^ks 
 the soldier if he can accommodate him, by changing the bill, 
 or let him have two or three hundred dollars, as the case may be, 
 and take the five hundred dollars as security. In nine cases out of 
 ten the soldier bites at the bait thus thrown out. and hands over the 
 money, and takes the five hundred dollar bill as security. The 
 gentlemen then ask him to stand where he is until they step into the 
 saloon and get a receipt. This he does, and they enter ; the door 
 of the saloon closes, and that Ls the last seen of the swindlers. The 
 soldier waits, and waits, but they do not make their appearance, and 
 he learns that he has been victimized. Thus has many soldiers been 
 swindled of late, the confidence men making their escape in a sort of 
 an underground railway or alley which brings them out in Thirty- 
 first street, a coiisiderable distance from the late scene of their 
 operations. 
 
48 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 If this game is not successful, another is tried, and the " patent 
 
 safe'' is brought into play. It consists of a small brass ball embel- 
 ished with rings, very much like some of the marbles used by school 
 boys, for what they term u bullies." This brass ball is, to all appear- 
 ance, solid, but to the initiated it is soon made hollow, by pressing 
 on a certain inner circle, when the centre of the ball drops out, 
 which is of the shape of a small cone. The bottom of the cone may 
 be unscrewed, when a little chamber is revealed, in which is a long 
 piece of white paper, carefully folded and secreted. The other end 
 of the cone— the top of it— can be unscrewed, and a second chamber 
 is revealed in which is a second piece of paper. This constitutes what 
 is known as the " patent safe," a game which is played as follows : 
 
 One gent has possession of the ball, and shows it to a stranger, 
 who is finally, by the advice of a third party— who appears on the 
 scene, and who is an accomplice of the first man— induced to bet 
 that the ball is solid ; $250, *300, or $500 is bet, and the money 
 put up. The confederate looks at the ball, and unobserved by the 
 countryman, or whoever the intended victim may be, abstracts one 
 piece of paper, and closing the aperture hands back the ball. The 
 confederate now urges the countryman to bet that there is no paper 
 in the ball, and offers to "go halves." The countryman, in almost 
 every instance, is sure to make the bet, when behold ! the first cham- 
 ber is opened and no paper is there. The countryman claims the 
 money, but wait— the second chamber is opened and there is the 
 paper, which decides the bet, and the countryman walks away a 
 sadder but a wiser man. 
 
 These are the games which have been going on for some time in 
 and around the Hudson River Depot, and despite th.? exertions of 
 the officers stationed there, no clue could be obtained of the guilty 
 parties. Soldiers and travellers Were visiting the twentieth Ward 
 station house daily, and lodging complaints. .Finally, Captain 
 Walling gave the matter into the hands of the efficient detective, 
 officer James Irving, who proceeded to elucidate the mystery, and 
 bring the confidence operator before the bar of justice. For five 
 days and nights the indefatigable Irving pushed the matter, and 
 kept his lynx eyes open in all dirctions. Finally his perseverance 
 and determination was rewarded by spotting a man, whom he 
 thought rather a suspicious character, and becoming convinced that 
 he was' one of the alleged confidence men, he consequently took 
 him into custody and conveyed him to the station-house. There he 
 gave his name as Henry Grifford, his legitimate name being James 
 Watson. Officer Clow, of the Twentieth Precinct, at the same time, 
 arrested Geo. English, the notorious thief. On the way to the 
 station-house, Watson endeavored to escape from officer Irving, but 
 the latter drew forth what he familiarly termed his "pop," and at 
 once brought Watson to terms. On the following morning the par- 
 ties were ta^en before Justice Ledwith, when Watson was com- 
 mitted in default of $2,000 bail, he being identified by two soldiers 
 who had been victimized by him, named Wm. Shadlow, of the 1st 
 New York, a native of Saratoga county, and Peter Fort, of Herkimer 
 county. English, who could not be identified, was discharged. 
 
THE PATENT SAFE AND WHAT IT IS. 
 
 49 
 
 It sometimes happens that these sharpers, in the prosecution of 
 their business, come across persons who, being unusually quick at 
 " smelling a rat," or having gained by experience (generally dearly 
 bought) an insight into these little operations, and it occasionally hap- 
 pens that the scamps come out second best in the encounter. A case 
 in point is the following : 
 
 Not far from Springfield. Illinois, resided a tall, lank specimen of 
 humanity in the person of Ezekiel Yance — a raw, good-natured 
 specimen of the Western backwoodsman. Now Zeke, as he was 
 called by his relations and acquaintances, was a warm supporter of 
 Mr. Lincoln during the canvas resulting in the first election of that 
 gentleman, and worked hard within his limited sphere for the suc- 
 cess of his candidate. Having materially assisted Mr. L. in reaching 
 the Presidential chair, it was but natural that Zeke should desire to 
 see him take his seat. The 4th of March, accordingly, found our 
 Western friend in the national capitol. After witnessing the inaugu- 
 ration ceremonies, Zeke paid his respects to th* new Chief Magistrate 
 at the grand reception, and then prepared to start for " hum." A 
 sudden idea altered his determination, however, and he concluded 
 that, having gone so far East, it would never do to return without 
 having been to " York." At six o'clock next morning Zeke arrived 
 in Jersey City, and in half an hour more he was safely domiciled at 
 the Howard Hotel. Now, our friend was not green by any means : 
 he had seen a good deal of human nature in its different phases, and 
 knew a thing or two about the ins and outs of New York life, for it 
 was not his first visit to the city j still he was " hail fellow well 
 met" with any and every one ; indeed this was the weak point in 
 his composition, and his readiness to trust and confide in total 
 strangers, had more than once brought him into diffiulty. 
 
 Zeke was an ardent lover of out-door sports, and seeing in the 
 Daily News an announcement of a match game between the Atlantic 
 and Mutual Base Ball Clubs, at the Elysian Fields, Hoboken, that 
 afternoon, he determined to be on hand to witness the match. On 
 the ferry boat, armed with a ; 'long nine," he was soon puffing 
 clouds of smoke from between his lips, when he was accosted by a 
 well-dressed, gentlemanly-appearing mau, who, in a few words, 
 called his attention to a notice posted directly over his head outside 
 • the cabin door, that " No smoking was allowed on that side of the 
 boat." Thanking the polite stranger for his kind consideration, 
 Zeke changed his base to the gentlemen's cabin, where he was soon 
 enjoying the weed to his heart's content. He was soon approached 
 again by his attentive mentor, who, taking the vacant seat next to 
 him, entered into quite an agreeable conversation, the upshot of 
 which was a mutual agreement to visit the ball grounds together. 
 When near the Sybil's cave, the legend connected wherewith, as re- 
 lated by his companion, Zeke was greatly interested. The couple 
 were accosted by a third party, whom we shall designate as stranger 
 No. 2 ; No. 1 was delighted to meet his friend, and was pleased to 
 introduce him to the gentleman from Illinois. No. 2 had come into 
 possession of a remarkable curiosity — a little ivory ball made in 
 China, where, in an enlarged form, it was used as a safe. No. 1 ex- 
 
50 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 pressed a desire to examine it ; opening it, he privately showed 
 Zeke a small piece of paper contained in the compartment exposed 
 to view, which he carefully removed and threw away before return- 
 ing the ball to its owner. A light conversation springs up upon 
 the merits of the " ivory" and the safety of its contents. No. 1 of- 
 fers to bet No. 2, after a little bantering, that the piece of paper 
 supposed to be deposited in the safe is not there ; the latter accepts 
 the bet — $200 dollars — and puts up his stakes ; No. 1 discovers 
 that he has got but $50 ; would his obliging acquaintance from out 
 West lend him the balance ; he will give him half the money he is 
 sure to win. Anxious to oblige, Zeke produces the cash — nearly 
 all he has about him — hands it to his acquaintance, who covers the 
 other party's money ; the safe is produced, opened, and there mira- 
 bile diclu ! is the identical piece of paper previously thrown away. 
 Zeke's friend has lost, and he himself is one hundred and fifty dol- 
 lars out of pocket. Never mind says No. 2 : come and take a drink. 
 The trio enter the hotel at the Elysian Fields, where they have, by 
 this time, arrived, and the lucky winner calls for drinks. At this 
 point No. 1 asks to be excused a moment ; in a short time No. 2 
 begs the same favor, and both are gone— gone for good—*' never to 
 come back any more !" We will not dwell upon poor Zeke's sur- 
 prise, alarm, and indignation when he became conscious of the 
 swindle that had been perpetrated upon him. Suffice it to say that 
 he did not wait to see the game of base ball, which had inadvert- 
 ently cost him so dear, and did not again lay eyes upon the owner 
 and exhibitor of the Chinese safe, nor subsequently fall in with hig 
 polite acquaintance of the ferry boat. 
 
 Zeke's experience is but a repetition of that of hundreds of others 
 who have been bled in precisely the same way and through the 
 same means. If any reader of this book should ever fall a victim 
 to the " Patent Safe" game, he deserves to suffer for his greenness, 
 for green, indeed, must he be, if, with the example given here, he 
 puts too confiding a trust in street or ferry-boat acquaintances. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 POCKETBOOK DROPPING 
 
 " Honesty is the best policy," is an adage more " honored in the 
 breach than in the observance." Were the teachings contained in 
 this homely proverb laid well to heart by those who affect to despise 
 them, and look to other rules of conduct for success in life, it is in- 
 conceivable how comparatively few disappointments or perplexities, 
 not to say disasters, would be met with. But human nature is, and 
 always will be, the same, and the worst trait in this same human na- 
 ture is the inborn propensity of taking advantage of our neighbors, 
 of profiting by their afflictions or misfortunes, and turniDg to good 
 
POCKETBOOK DROPPING. 
 
 51 
 
 account their temporary or permanent embarrassments. This is a 
 fact well known to the professional swindler, and one that he is not 
 slow to make the most of ; his operations are for the most part 
 ba<ed upon this principle, which aids him not a little in his nefa- 
 rious designs. These remarks are introductory to the consideration 
 of the heading of this chapter, the " Pocketbook Dropping"' game. 
 
 This trick is a favorite card with the New York rogue, and one 
 seldom played to disadvantage. Verdant Green, Esq., from Housa- 
 tonic, delighted at the idea ot securing the tempting treasures par- 
 tially revealed as the contents of a well-stuffed wallet, would not 
 think twice in giving therefor whatever money he might have about 
 him finding, too late, however, that he had but paid the penalty 
 exacted by designing scoundrels from just such simpletons as him- 
 self. Of late years this game has not been so commonly practiced ; 
 but this very circumstance renders it all the more necessary for 
 strangers to be upon their guard. 
 
 Here is an illustration of the way in which victims are caught by 
 the pocketbook bait : 
 
 Mr. B. has been for many years employed in the office of an even- 
 ing paper, and is thoroughly posted on all the ins and outs of me- 
 tropolitan life. Sitting one day in the counting-room of the " Ex- 
 press" establishment, then at the corner of Wall and Nassau street, 
 he was startled by the sudden appearance of a man rushing down 
 the steps (the office was in the basement), holding in one hand a 
 plethoric pocketbook, and grasping with the other the handle of a 
 well stuffed valise. The individual appeared to be laboring under 
 great excitement j the perspiration was pouring from his forehead 
 in streams, for it was mid- August, his shirt collar- which he had 
 doubtless put on, well starched, the same morning was lying flat 
 over the lappets of his vest ; his neck-tie had slipped around, wrong 
 end foremost; while his waistcoat was rolled up, in large wrinkles, 
 revealing a roll of dirty linen midway between the waistband of 
 his unmentionables ; as for his face and expression of countenance, 
 they are indescribable. With panting breath and forced utterance, 
 he ejaculated in a voice resembling the grating of a steam saw-mill : 
 
 "Sold— by— a— darned - dirty — cuss ; is - this— a— pcrlice office?" 
 
 Sinking exhausted in a chair, he awaited a reply to his interroga- 
 tion. B., after recovering somewhat from his astonishment, and in- 
 forming his visitor that he was in a newspaper, not a " perlice" 
 office, politely inquired the cause of his perturbation. 
 
 Handing the pocketbook to B., the latter opened it, and found 
 therein numerous bills of the denomination of "50's" and " 100's" 
 on the Union Trust, and several western wild-cat banks. Alight 
 suddenly broke in upon him, and turning to the stranger, he said : 
 
 " I see what is the matter with you. You have been taken in and 
 done for." 
 
 " Jes' so," replied the Yankee, for such he undoubtedly was, with 
 a pronunciation and air that would have made John Owens die 
 with envy. " Jes 7 so, and I calkilate you know it.*' 
 
 By this time quite a crowd had collected around the swindled 
 man, and many jokes were cracked at his expense ; these, however, 
 
52 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 he appeared not to notice, paying little or no attention to tbem, but 
 ■wailing with intense anxiety to liear what B. was about to say. 
 
 44 Let me see," said the latter ; 44 you left you? hotel a short time 
 ago, ('Yes,' uttered the poor fellow,') and while looking into the 
 store windows, (' Jes' so,') admiring the goods there displayed, a 
 well-dressed man (' Darn his picter,') in a great hurry, dropped that 
 pocketbook at your feet. Ticking it up, he asked you if it was 
 yours ; you hardly knew what to say, but finally blubbered out thai 
 it wasn' t. Opening the wallet he displayed to your astonished eyes 
 the treasure it con.aincd, (' Yes, he did,') saying that he would like 
 to hunt up the owner of the money, but was obliged to leave for 
 Philadelphia by the next train, just about starting. 1 However, I'll 
 tell you what 1*11 do,' said he ; f the pocketbook will be advertised 
 to-morrow — give me twenty dollars — you can have the wallet, and 
 go and claim the reward.' You were at once taken with the propo- 
 sition, paid over the money, and found yourself bit." 
 
 A groan from the unfortunate Yank bore witness to the faithfinl- 
 ness of the description. 
 
 44 Take my advice," continued B., " go to the detectives' office un- 
 der the City Hall, make known your loss, and perhaps you may re- 
 cover your money. Let this be a lesson to you, never again to put 
 confidence in New York rascals, nor seeii to 4 speculate' at the ex- 
 pense of another's supposed loss." 
 
 Finding but little sympathy expressed for him, the recipient of 
 B.'s admonition thanked him for his counsel, took his departure, 
 and was never seen again, at least in that vicinity. 
 
 After reading the above no further warning will be needed, to in- 
 duce the unwary to be on the lookout for similar designs upon their 
 pockets, or for those greedy, but fjreen individuals, ever on the alert 
 for a "cute spec," to ta'<e care lest, now and then, with all their 
 smartness, they are bought and sold 44 dirt cheap." 
 
 CHAPTER XTI. 
 
 THIMBLE TUGGING. 
 
 Thimble rigging is a trick as 44 old as the hills ;" its existence is 
 coeval with the turf itself, and is the natural and almost inevitable 
 accompaniment of horse-racing and jockeying. But the knight ot 
 the thimble does not confine himself to the vicinity of the race 
 course ; he is to be met with at the ball or cricket grounds at Ho- 
 boken ; occasionally on the ferry-boat ; now and then near the 
 Central Park, (never in it, for the vigilant metropolitans that keep 
 watch and guard over that favorite resort, would, if they caught 
 him within their precincts, soon terminate his operations ;) once and 
 a while he is to be seeu near the City Hall, especially on holidays 
 or when a procession is to be reviewed by the City" Fathers. In 
 short, wherever there is a crowd there is he also. 
 
THE CLAIRVOYANT AND HER DUPE. 
 
 Sco Tage 21. 
 
54 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 The " Little Joker" is a very simple trick, and yet, from its very 
 simplicity, all the more succeisful in entrapping the unwary. The 
 apparatus is (occasionally) a small stand, three brass thimbles and 
 a iittle bull re.-ernbling, in size and appearance, a green pea. Often 
 the former is dispensed with, and the crown of a hat or the knees 
 used instead. The '-'Rigger," in the most nonchalant manner im- 
 aginable, places the ball apparently under one of the tliimbles in 
 plain view of the spectators, and oilers to bet any sum that " it isn't 
 there." Our friend from the country who is looking on - an inte- 
 rested spectator— is astonished at such a proposition, and looks 
 upon the individual making it as little better than a fool 5 for didn't 
 he see the ball placed under the thimble, and therefore must it not 
 be there still ? His idea on this point is soon confirmed —a bystander 
 take3 up the bet, the thimble is raised, and there sure enough is the 
 ball— just where he knew it was ! 
 
 Again the ball is covered, and once more the bet is offered. Eager 
 to prove his sagacity, our friend produces a "V"or a "X spot," 
 and covers the sharper's money. The thimble is raised, a moment 
 of expectation, a single glance, and the ball is gone! A shout of 
 laughter from the swindler and his confederates standing around, 
 announce the fact that the gentleman from the rural districts has 
 been " sold." Pocketing, not his money, but his loss, the victim 
 walks away disconsolate, painfully conscious that he has been 
 " done," not only out of his cash, but has had the wool pulled over 
 his eyes in a (to him) most incomprehensible manner. 
 
 The following is a case in point : Jedediah Denart, a native of 
 
 , Connecticut, " came to York" on business for his " old man," 
 
 who kept a " notion" store. Jedediah was particularly instructed 
 to look out for sharpers, and to keep his " eye-teeth cut," as he had 
 been intrusted with some two or three hundred dollars, with which 
 to make purchases. Arriving in New York late at night he put up 
 at a second-class hotel in Greenwich street. At the breakfast table 
 next morning, he became acquainted with an agreeable stranger, 
 who, after a pleasant conversation, invited our hero to go out and 
 see the sights. The invitation was promptly accepted, and arm in 
 arm the pair were soon sauntering up Broadway. Sundry "'smiles" 
 were indulged in, and after a mutual consultation, a trip to the 
 Fashion Course to witness the races was resolved upon — " Flora 
 Temple" and " George Patchen" having been entered for one of 
 their famous matches. Soon after arriving upon the ground, the at* 
 tention of Jedediah was attracted by a large crowd forming a semi- 
 circle in front of an empty dry goods box, behind which an attenu- 
 ated specimen of humanity, whose principal capital in trade seemed 
 an uncommonly large supply of the " gift of the gab"— was vocife- 
 rously inviting the spectators, as he dexterously fingered the thim- 
 bles and ball, to bet upon the " Little Joker." Now, our Connecti- 
 cut youth had frequently " heard tell" of this same game, and re- 
 ceived several warnings from his respected " parienfc" against being 
 " sucked in" by this very swindle. Curiosity, however, was a strong 
 feature in his character, and despite of an inward distrust of his 
 own conduct, he approached the crowd, and was soon laughing 
 
CONCERT SALOONS — THEIR INMATES. 55 
 
 with his companion at the remarkable ease with which several 
 
 " green uns" were taken in. At this point his "friend" expressed 
 a desire of trying his luck, and accordingly bet fifty cents that the 
 ball was under the second thimble, which proved to be the fact. 
 Greatly elated at this success, Jedediah, forgetting the many warn- 
 ings received, boldly staked a five dollar greenback, and of course 
 lost. Astonished and chagrined at his ill-success, he laid down an- 
 other "legal tender," with the same result. He now began to 
 u smell a rat," and turning to his friend of the hotel, found he had 
 vanished. Aware that he had been duped, he sensibly concluded 
 to leave the place, and in a short time was back at his hotel, a sad- 
 der but a wiser man. It is perhaps needless to say he did not see 
 the great race, nor anything more of his attentive friend. 
 
 The above is but one case out of a thousand, and Jedediah mere- 
 ly a representative of a numerous class, who never will learn wis- 
 dom save in the costly and bitter school of experience. 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 CONCERT SALOONS THEIR INMATES. 
 
 " Sinks of iniquity" is the fitting appellation of the hundreds of 
 " concert saloons" with which the leading thorougfaresot New Tork 
 are cursed. Man traps, woman traps, regular "nets of the Devil," 
 as the Puri.ans would say- these hells flourish, flaunting their 
 hideous nakedness in the very face of the community. Repeated 
 have been the efforts made to suppress them, but thus far uselessly. 
 
 Of all the dangers surrounding the unwary of both sexes, leading 
 to all kinds of excesses and crime, we unhesitatingly place these 
 " saloons" in fiirst rank. How many a young man, entering upon 
 life with fair prospects and honorable character, has had his whole 
 existence blasted, as it were, by early visits and the results arising 
 therefrom to these painted sepulchres ? How many a fair, once in- 
 nocent girl dates her ruin from the moment, at the persuasion of 
 others, she suffered her foot to cross the fatal threshold of one of 
 these moral Golgothas ? 
 
 It is now some eight years, perhaps, since the first establishment 
 of the kind opened in New York, under the name of the"Melodeon," 
 at the old Chinese Assembly Rooms, on Broadway. The manager 
 was a Pbilade^hian, and had a similar institution — and has now — 
 in that city. The " Melodeon" itself was a weak imitation of the 
 London concert saloons, with all their vices and none of their re- 
 deeming qualities. From this beginning have arisen and prospered 
 the hundreds of " casinos," " bagnios," arcades," " palaces," &c, 
 which now live and thrive upon the dregs of society. By all means 
 the most notorious of New York concert saloons is the infamous 
 " Gaieties," in Broadway, near Houston street. It was the propne- 
 
56 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 tor of this establishment that first inaugurated the " pretty waiter 
 girl" attraction that has since proved so immensely " popular." In 
 the zenith of its success, whole columns of the morning papers were 
 taken up with advertisements of the " beauty, grace, ability," &c, 
 of the female attendants, who, it was unblushingly announced, were 
 " most attentive and complaisant upon the wishes of visitors." la 
 the meaning of the words quoted plain ? What brothel would or 
 could advertise the nature of its business in more comprehensive 
 language ? A visit to this establishment was lately made by a gen- 
 tleman connected with the press, who gives the following account 
 of what he in part witnessed : 
 
 The high fashions of the M Gaieties" are only to be seen after mid- 
 night. Prior to that period, though the proceedings are lestivious, 
 yet they are conducted with a semblance of good order. After 
 tweWe o'clock: at night, however, the courtesans who domicile therein 
 lend the charm of their presence to the attraction, restrained from 
 an earlier appearance on the festive floor, by apprehension of a 
 possible recognition by some of their former dupes who might 
 chance to be in attendance. At this period of the nighithe company 
 also embraces delegations from the dem -monde of Green, Mercer r 
 Wooster, Crosby, Elm. Houston, Thompson and Sullivan streets, ac- 
 companied by their gav cavaliers. I was, of course, prepared to see 
 some rough capers, but certainly none so intense as those witnessed. 
 " Ain't yer going to dance?" inquired a bloated creature of a friend 
 in company. " No, sir," he replied, " not a dance." " What are yer 
 going to do? If yer did't c ime in to dance, yer'd better git out and 
 make room f >r ihem as will. Dar ver hear?" To this officious per- 
 sonage my friend replied, " that it "he did not want a stye raised over 
 his eye, he had better dry up," which mild advice he at once ac- 
 cepted, and was soon after heard in another part of the room vocifer- 
 ating, ' take yer places for a cawdriU" (quadrille). Then one of these 
 •present stepped up to a very pretty girl of about seventeen, and 
 ,asked her to dance with him. "Not if I know myself," was the im- 
 mediate reply. ''My man don't allow me to dance with loafers."" 
 : Scarcely had she uttered the words, when the ruffian gave her two 
 joiolent kicks in th°- stomach, which sent the poor girl screaming to the 
 corner of the bill. The dance, how ever, went on " fast and lurious*' 
 until the music ceased. 
 
 This is the " model concert hall " of America ! and these aban- 
 doned females specimens of the "beautiful and agreeable young 
 ladies whose charms are so attractive !" 
 
 Immediately adjoining the " Gaieties" is a rendezvous for thieves, 
 pickpockets, courtesans el id cmne, genus ; and as this is the head- 
 quarters for a large number of the " pretty waiter girls" employed 
 in other saloons, we give a somewhat lengthy description of it from 
 the pen of the writer already referred to. It is difficult to read such 
 loathsome details without an inward shudder of disgust, but to omit 
 them would do no good ; publishing them may, perhaps, serve as a 
 "warning and admonition : — 
 
 This upper floor was in all respects most disgusting. There 
 were thirty courtesans on one floor, embracing twenty-four rooms. 
 There were women from Ireland. England, Scotland, France and 
 Germany, old, young, middle aged Some were confessedly pretty, 
 
CONCERT SALOONS — THEIR INMATES. 
 
 57 
 
 others, with suitable clothing, would pass for good-loolang, while 
 others were to the la-t degree unconditionally repulsive. The ob- 
 scenity of their language, and the utter filthiness of their personnel, 
 were enough to send revulsion through the coarsest organization. 
 With ulcerated arms and necks, swollen limbs and eyes sickeningly 
 bleared and bloodshot, we leave the reader to fill up the outline. 
 These are the creatures that entrap the unwary of the opposite sex, 
 fleecing them morally, physically and pecuniarily. 
 
 The furniture consists of a bedstead, washstand, bowl and pitcher, 
 bed and bedding, carpet, lounge and stove. The lady proprietress 
 of this Broadway establishment provides the furniture together 
 with a peck of coal a day and a light at night. On the day of this 
 visit thirty-three girls were counted on this attic floor. 
 
 The next floor below the attic is occupied by street girls, each of 
 whom has a lover she supports on the wages of degradation. It is 
 alleged by those supposed to know that the " husband game" (de- 
 scribed elsewhere) is carried on here quite extensively. A man is 
 run in here after ten o'clock at night, when the lights are put out. 
 Admission fee is exacted before the verdant one enters the room, 
 and just as he is about accommodating his garments for a conve- 
 niently shady slumber, a knock is heard. The affrighted "lady," in 
 dishabille, imploringly begs the deluded gent, to get out of another 
 door and come ag liu another time, to which he of course, under the 
 peculiar circumstances, gladly consents. In ten minutes after, the 
 same " free-and-easy" lady can be seen promenading Broadway in 
 search of another " flat." 
 
 BOOMS AND RENT. 
 
 The rooms on this floor are let at from fourteen to seventeen 
 dollars a week, gas and coal included. The next floor below is 
 occupied by what the proprietress of this den of thieves and prosti- 
 tution calls married men and their wives, but in reality is occupied 
 by bounty jumpers and their mistresses. 
 
 Here are the biographies of two or three of these pretty waiter 
 girls. Kate Austin was born in Lawrence, Mass. She was engaged 
 in the Pemberton Mill at the time of the accident, when so m.iny of 
 the girls there employed were killed. She left Lawrence with -a 
 man named Foys, who took her to the house of Madame Philip 
 Emerald, Boston. Here she " shook" Foys and took up with a man 
 named Osborn, with whom she went to Washington, where she put 
 up at Mary Hall s house. She remained in Washington a year, 
 when she came to New York, and put up at No. 107 Greene street 
 Here she becime acquainted with Bill Johnson, a bounty jumper, 
 and lived with him until he was seized by an officer last summer, 
 and sent " to the front." After his arrest, she went back to Boston, 
 and lived with oneMitty Cowen, in Eadicott street. When she came 
 back to thi3 city, she took rooms at G18 Broadway, where she now 
 resides. 
 
 Mary French, living on the same floor, is known in Boston by the 
 name of Mary Floyd. She has served three years in prison at South 
 Boston, and has been in this city since September last Lately she 
 
V 
 
 58 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 has resided at 618 Broadway. She is in the house all day, and 
 " cruises" at night. 
 
 Sarah Merrill is a native of Manchester, N. H., where her parents 
 still reside. She was decoyed from her home by a fellow named 
 Dodge, who took her to Boston and put her in a house on Harrison 
 avenue, from which she got married to a fellow named Phelps, now 
 in the army. She has never been a street cruiser, but soon will bo 
 if she lives long at 618. No. 19 is a rough room, and is continually 
 filled with bounty jumpers, pickpockets, and loafers from the Gaie- 
 ties. The landlady lives on this floor, and seems indignant if any 
 oue hints that she is the mistress of a house of prostitution. But we 
 would say to her that 618 Broadway is not only one of the most in- 
 famous houses of prostitution, but one of the most God-forsaken 
 retreats for thieves in this city. We doubt if its equal for versatile 
 and accomplished villainy and shame can be any where produced, 
 and we mildly assert that Madame E., drawing her " internal re- 
 venue" from thieves and courtesans, can't well help knowing it, as 
 she lives in the house and knows that the only way those women 
 have in paying the big rent she demands of them, is by prostitution 
 only. 
 
 In room G, on the next floor, three of the most depraved young 
 cyprians in the house hold forth. Fanny Chapman is at the head of 
 this household. She is a tall, raw-boned Irish girl, is quite a fight- 
 ing character, and thinks nothing of hitting her companions over 
 the head with a bottle or tumbler. She boasts extensively of her 
 influence with the patrolmen on that beat, claiming that she is all 
 right with them. The second is " Frank Warren" (as she calls her- 
 self), a young girl about twenty years of age. She was born in 
 Maine, and has worked in the Lowell (Mass.) mills. From there 
 she went to Boston, where she took lodging at Charley Babb's, in 
 Portland street. After acquiring a notorious reputation in " the 
 modern Athens," she was directed to leave the city or adjourn to 
 the House of Correction. She adopted the former alternative and 
 came to New York, where she became acquianted with a thief 
 named "Billy Banks." Banks has lately been sent to State Prison 
 for four years, and Miss Warren is now the chere amie of one Smith. 
 " Frank Warren ' is a vulgar and profane young creature, whose 
 language and practices are worthy of a Five Points stroller. The 
 third of these graces is known as " Red-head Julia, a girl of some 
 eighteen years. She is said to be " under the protection" of a per- 
 son called " Japanese Tommy." So much for these three divinities. 
 
 There, reader, when induced to enter one of these " hells," think 
 upon the above, and if in defiance of the warning therein conveyed 
 you do, then on " your own head be the consequences." 
 
 Assaults, robberies, and murders are of frequent occurrence in 
 these " saloons ;" and as for pockefcpicking, that is a legitimate part 
 of their business. The places on Broadway have apparently cer- 
 tain redeeming qualities, and the proprietors of one or two in par- 
 ticular go so far as to assure their patrons that " a police force is 
 alwa\s on hand to preserve order!" This announcement has a 
 negative truth in it, for the police are sometimes to be seen, but only 
 
CONCERT SALOONS— THEIR INMATES. 59 
 
 when their services are required to arrest some notorious character, 
 or to prevent a breach of the peace. 
 
 Let, us enter one of these concert halls, reader, and for the sake 
 of satisfying our own curiosity, to "see what is to be seen." Do not 
 follow the example, however, another time, even if you have the 
 desire, after this visit. 
 
 Proceeding up Broadwaj at eleven o'clock, p. m., on the right 
 
 hand side. -When near tile comer of G street, we notice just 
 
 above the entrace to a cellar, a flaming transparency, with the in- 
 scription " Madame B 's arcade." Going down a few steps we 
 
 find our view of the interior obstructed by a large screen, painted 
 white, with the almost nude figure of a " dancing Venus," coarsely 
 painted thereon. This screen is placed across the entrance a few 
 feet from the door, obliging us to flank it a la Sherman, and enter 
 the hall by going around it. We find the floor handsomely covered 
 with matting and oil cloth. On the right hand side, nearest the 
 door, is the bar, over which presides a genius of the male sex, whose 
 chief attractions consist of a decided " red head" and an immense 
 paste breastpin stuck in the bo3om of a ruffled shirt. The bar is 
 well furnished, and any drink called for, from beer to champagne, 
 can be instantly obtained. A significant feature, and one that easily 
 arrests the attention, is a formidable Colt's revolver, a loot in length, 
 suspended immediately over the sideboard. This weapon, it may 
 be observed, is not placed there as an ornament ; it is in itself a 
 monitor, warning those inclined to be disorderly of the danger of 
 carrying their boisterousness or ruffianism too far. On the walla 
 are black engravings of the French school, fit ornaments for the 
 place. But while we are taking this casual survey, one of the at- 
 tendant nymphs, with a great scantiness of clothing, affording dis- 
 play for bare shoulders and not unhandsome ankles, appears, and 
 in a voice of affected sweetness, wholly at variance with her brazen 
 countenance and impertinent air, asks us to take a seat, and " what 
 we'll have." We modestly ask for u two ales," which are soon 
 placed before us and paid for. While quietly sipping the beverage 
 we will take a glance at our surroundings. Back of the hall— we 
 are sitting at a table near the centre of the apartment— on a raised 
 platform is an asthmatic pianoforte, upon which an individual with 
 threadbare coat, colorless vest, and faded nankeen pantaloons is 
 thumming away for dear life. Out of tune himself, he tortures the 
 poor instrument in away that threatens its instant dissolution, rend- 
 ing its heart-strings and causing it to shriek with agony, wailing 
 out the " tune that the old cow died to." This is the only 
 piece of music the performer is acquainted with, judging from the 
 persistent manner in which he cling3 to it. What he lacks in musi- 
 cal knowledge, however, he makes up with intention, and thumps 
 away quite manfully, only stopping now and then to call for 4< a 
 drinK," with which to recruit his exhaust energies. 
 
 But we have come to behold the chief attraction of the establish- 
 ment—the " pretty waiter girls." 
 
 Looking around, we see, perhaps, twenty females in various styles 
 of dress — some in " Turkish" costume (supposed to be hourts, no 
 
60 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 doubt) ; others attired as " Spanish peasants ;" and others still in 
 plain evening attire. The latter are for the most part far from 
 "possessing charms," and from their looks have long since outlived 
 their beauty; but what they lack in this respect they make up in 
 others. The girl that waited upon us on our entrance again ap- 
 proaches, and seeing our glasses empty takes them away to be re- 
 plenished. She soon reappears, and in response to our invitation 
 takes a seat beside us, while we enter into conversation with her. 
 She is a fair sample (excuse the mercantile term) of her class, and 
 her history is a history of a majority of her associates. Not unpre- 
 possessing in appearance by any means, Ellen — that, she tells us, is 
 her name — is twenty-two years of age ; was born in the village of 
 Tarry town, resided with her parents until she was eighteen, when 
 her father died ; leaving her mother with her youngest brother, she 
 came to New York to seek employment. On arriving in the city she 
 obtained a situation in a millinery store ; remained there but a short 
 time ; was out of work ; had no friends, no money ; would not go 
 back to her mother, who was poor ; saw an advertisement of Madame 
 
 B for "pretty waiter girls ;" answered it; was engaged in the 
 
 saloon ; seduced (partly by promises, and partly by threats) by one 
 of the frequenters of the establishment, and has since led the life of 
 a prostitute! Ellen told her story without the least emotion, and 
 when asked about her mother, carelessly replied, "she supposed the 
 old woman was dead by this time." 
 
 Such are the effects of vice and a life of infamy upon the noble 
 feelings and natural impulses of the female heart. With an excla- 
 mation of " Oh, there's my man I" our attendant suddenly left us, 
 and joined an individual who had just entered the apartment, and 
 we did not see her again. 
 
 At a table nearly opposite to our own, are seated a couple, one 
 at least of whom, to even a casual obseiver, is a stranger to the 
 place and its surroundings ; there is no doubt of it. Wholly en- 
 wrapped in the beauty and grace of his female companion, he is 
 totally oblivious to all passing around ; she is exerting all her arts 
 to entice " greeny" into her net, and before long will be counting 
 the amount of his cash, while he, her dupe, will be, too late, reflect- 
 ing upon the depravity of pretty waiter girls. By this time the sa- 
 loon is crowded with men and women of all degrees of social 
 standing. Here is the man about town, the hanger-round of the ho- 
 tels, in clothes of unexceptionable cut and make, talking earnestly 
 with a female, whose drawn veil conceals her face ; perhaps some 
 unfortunate victim of his lust, or probably his mistress, came to 
 plead for justice, or for her week's allowance of money. Yonder i3 
 a youth of, as Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., would say, " some eighteen sum- 
 mers," young in years, but old in sin, who supports on his knee a 
 nymph du pave, with whom he has entered from the street, and upon 
 whom he is spending his last quarter's salary, or the proceeds of 
 an investigation into the till of his employer. In that corner is the 
 returned soldier, who has just been paid off, and who is now ex- 
 pending the hard earned pittance of the Government upon some be- 
 painted and bedizened courtesan, while perhaps his wife and family 
 
CONCERT SALOONS — THEIR INMATES. &1 
 
 are suffering for want of the common necessaries of life. A cry of 
 pain, followel by a burst of brutal laughter, causes us to turn our 
 eyes to the corner just in time to witness a woman fall to the ground 
 felled by a blow from the clenched fist of the brute with whom she 
 has been quarrelling. A moment, there is silence in the hall ; but 
 only for a moment j the girl is picked up by one of her compa- 
 nions, a few rough jokes at her expense, and all goes on as before. 
 Such scenes are of too frequent occurrence to provoke comment. 
 Observe that couple descending the steps j a handsome, almost no- 
 ble loo ing man. but upon whose countenance is stamped the mark 
 of a dissolute life ; upon his arm a female, her face hidden from 
 view by a dark veil. They advance to the bar ; the gentleman 
 whispers a word in the ear of one of the girls j a meaning smile 
 flic .er3 over her face as she hands him a key, with which he opens 
 a door in the end of the room and disappears with the female. 
 Reader, you have seen half a dozen similar couples arrive and vanish 
 through the same door ; do you know the why and wherefore of 
 this proceeding ? Madame B.'s saloon is one of the most notorious 
 asK'gwition kotmt* in New York. We might go on and notice more 
 fully the various personages and scenes constantly varying in this 
 house, but we have neither space or time at present ; besides the 
 tas 1 ; is not an agreeable one. So let us leave the murky atmosphere 
 of the " crib," and once more breathe the pure air of lleaven. 
 
 The u music halls" of Chatham street, the Bowery, and Green- 
 wich and other streets are little better than brothels ; their proprie- 
 tors and u runners" are scoundrels of the deepest dye — always ready 
 to pouuce upon whatever prey fortune may throw in their way. 
 Were but the crimes committed in these places even in a single 
 night made public, they would present a list frightful to behold. 
 Scores of men that have " disappeared" have been traced to these 
 concert saloons — where the inference is that they have been drugged, 
 murdered, and then robbed ; their bodies thrown into the river, to 
 be " found drowned" — with finally a " corporation" burial. And 
 as for the poor girls drawn by force or intrigue into these moral cess 
 pools, their fate is worse than death itself, and too horrible to dwell 
 upon. 
 
 Steer clear of these quicksands and whirlpools, young man, or 
 young woman, if you would avoid the shipwreck of your reputa ion, 
 virtue, and perhaps life. Yield to no temptation to enter a concert 
 saloon— no matter what the circumstances— and if your resistance 
 avails, you will have escaped one of 'he greatest, if not the greatest, 
 of the many perils with which the metropolis abounds. 
 
 Young men — young women — on no account, under no circum- 
 stances, enter one of these concert saloons! Shun them as you 
 would a pestilence, for they are but the gates of death, the highway 
 to moral annihilation ! 
 
 The following resolution (showing that we are fully justified in 
 the preceding remarks) was offered at a recent meeting of the Com- 
 mon Council of this city. It is doubtful, however, whether the 
 saloons will be suppressed by law, and they will probably continue 
 
62 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 to offend public decency as long as people can be found to patron- 
 ize them : 
 
 By Alderman O'ftrien — 
 
 MTiereas The establishment of " concert saloons" in this city is a 
 serious evil, and tends in a marked manner to the increase of im- 
 m Tality and crime, as they are frequented and patronized by the 
 lowest, "most degraded and abandoned characters, thereby rendering 
 it positively dangerous to reside in their vicinity, as well 'as being a 
 positive annoyance to every well disposed o tizen haying occasion to 
 pass them particularly if compelled to do so, as is frequently the 
 case, at a late hour in the evening ; and as their number is now fear- 
 fully on the increase, and the annoyance is growing to be insuffer- 
 able, be it 
 
 Resolved, That the Commissioners of Police for the Metropolitan 
 Police District be, and tbey are hereby, requested to take such de- 
 cided steps as will remedy the evil, by causing the " concert saloons'' 
 to be abated as public nuisances, tending to the destruction of public 
 morality ; or if that cannot be legally effected, then they will take 
 such measures, by establishing a strict police surveillance over such 
 *• saloons/' as will prevent them from continuing to be what they 
 now most assuredly are, offensive in the highest degree to public 
 decency. 
 
 Which was adopted by the following vote : 
 
 Affirmative— Aldermen Flynn, Gedney, Ryers, Brice, Masterson, 
 Ottiwell, Brien, Farlt-y and Van Voorhis— 9- 
 Negative— Aldermen Moore, Aorton, Shannon and McKnight — i. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE SOCIAL EVIL, PROCURESSES, ETC. 
 
 Volume upon volume, aye, whole libraries, have been written 
 upon the origin, progress, and prevention of the great " social evil" 
 in large cities, but with what good result ? To-day, in New York 
 alone, within the shadows of hundreds of church spires, and beneath 
 the sound of numberless Sabbath bells, there are, it is computed, 
 between thirty and thirty-five thousand lost women ! 
 
 Just think of it for a moment, and then imagine the amount of 
 human misery— physical and mental suffering — compassed, as it 
 were, into the daily lives of the members (individually and collec- 
 tively) of this great sisterhood of shame ! But we have not the 
 heart to moralize upon this subject : we are dealing with facts and 
 things as they are, not in flights of fancy or things as they should be. 
 
 The average life of a courtesan is from three to five years, seldom 
 beyond ; consequently it follows that within that space, this vast 
 army has to be racruited and replenished, to be constantly renewed, 
 in short. Disease, suffering, and premature death, make sad havoc 
 in the ranks ; the gaps must be filled up, and all means are resorted 
 to to accomplish that end. 
 
THE SOCIAL EVIL, PROCURESSES, ETC. 63 
 
 It is safe to assume that no woman voluntarily, of her own free 
 will, adopts deliberately the life of a courtesan— surrenders her 
 honor, that priceless jewel of the sex, for the sole purpose of wan- 
 tonness or profit. There may be cases where inborn depravity 
 overcomes the natural feelings of virtue ; but they are the excep- 
 tion, not by any means the rule 5 then how and where are so many 
 ministers to man's rapacious passions procured ? The answer is a 
 read) one — through the designing arts and wiles of regular pruccj- 
 ueks and procukesses, whose whole business is to entrap the unsus- 
 pecting, ruin the innocent, and pander to the vile appedtes of de- 
 based and sensual men. 
 
 " A woman lost to virtue is a fiend indeed." Once the fatal Ru- 
 bicon is passed, downwards, rapidly downwards, is her progress, 
 intil the lowest depths of sin and crime are reached. This must be 
 realized to understand how one woman can deliberately plot and 
 plan the ruin of another solely for personal gratification or gain. 
 
 Procuresses are confined to no condition of life, nor to any stage 
 of society ; they are to be found moving in our " first circles," and 
 
 f dying their trade in the gilded mansions of the rich as well as wa.- 
 aying the daughters ot the poor, or seducing, by their blandish- 
 ments, the unsuspecting children of poverty. With the middle classes 
 of the community, so to speak, however — sewing girls, girls from 
 the country, emigrants from abroad, and unprotected strangers gene- 
 rally, are their principal dealings. Hundreds of the former, by neo-s- 
 sity — the prospect of actual starvation in many instances— are forced 
 or persuaded, year after year, to leap into the vortex which swal- 
 lows up all alike, and from whose capacious maw there is no rescue ; 
 while others, by specious promises, by false protestations and damn 
 able intrigues, are led into the same fatal snare. These abandoned 
 women are aided in their schemes and tricks by the low cunning of 
 villains of the opposite sex, who, working in unison with them, sys- 
 tematically entrap, by a regular course of proceeding, seduce, and 
 forever ruin their unsuspecting prey. Personal appearance and 
 suavity of manner, with a tongue smooth and slippery as an adder's, 
 it is not difficult for one of them to attract the ilotice, form the ac- 
 quaintance, and eventually destroy the character of her who is fool- 
 ish or confident enough to trust to his protestations or pretensions. 
 
 A little circumstance that befell a gentleman of Brooklyn lately, 
 cannot fail to be of interest here. Mr. L. is a gentleman whose busi- 
 ness detains him until a late hour at night. Returning from the 
 office, (in William street, New York,) when near Fulton Ferry, he 
 was accosted by a female closely veiled, who desired him to accom- 
 pany her " home." I'erceiving at a glance that she was, as General 
 Bu'ler has it, " a woman of the town, plying her vocation," his first 
 impulse was to shake her off, and bid her begone ; but something 
 in the tone of her voice prevented, and he entered into conversation 
 with her. Raising her veil, L. perceived in her face marked traces 
 of early beauty, now nearly obliterated by the effects of dissipation, 
 while her language was couched in terms that gave evidence of 
 once careful culture and refinement Being something of a philan- 
 thropist by the way, he interrogated the girl in a kind and fatherly 
 
64 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 manner as to the reason for her course of life. The only reply was, 
 to his surprise, a burst of tears, instead of the brazen answer par- 
 tially expected. 
 
 "Come with me, you child," said our friend, and taking the un- 
 resisting arm of the unfortunate within his own, he retraced his 
 steps to his office. Calling up his man Thomas, who had retired for 
 the night, he ordered him to bring refreshments from a neighboring 
 saloon, of which he induced the girl to partake. 
 
 " Now let me know how one so young has been induced to lead 
 such a shameful life." 
 
 'J Oh, sir, God bless you for your kindness. It is but a short story, 
 and one that will not interest you. My name is Henrietta Long ; 
 my father, who was quite wealthy, lived at Stamford, Connecticut, 
 at which place he conducted a large and flourishing business. An 
 only child, and motherless — my mother died when I was but six 
 years old — I was the recipient of every care and attention. I never 
 knew what it was to want for anything. Two years ago my father 
 died suddenly ; the loss was a heavy one to me, more especially 
 when it became apparent that he had left me almost penniless, his 
 affairs having become greatly involved. I had no relatives, and but 
 few friends, so 1 was forced to earn a scanty livelihood by wording 
 in a factory at Norwalk, whither I proceeded. Toiling day and 
 night for just enough to keep body and soul together, I soon be- 
 came dissatisfied, and resolved to go to New Yorli, where I had heard 
 it was easy to obtain a decent living. In a day or two I arrived 
 here, friendless and almost penniless ; no one to advise me, no one 
 to warn me of the temptations that surrounded me on every side. 
 I was soon, unknown to myself, on the broad road to destruction. 
 Standing on the pier soon after leaving the boat, I was accosted by 
 a demon in the guise of a woman, who pretending to take an inte- 
 rest in me, invited me to her house, there to remain until I could 
 determine what to do. 
 
 " With soft words and honeyed speech, I was induced to accompa- 
 ny her to her house, and there— well, it is the old story, sir. You 
 can imagine the rest ; but I did not fall without a struggle. Day 
 after day 1 resisted the temptations set before me, but in vain. 
 Twice I endeavored to leave the house, but without success. Vio- 
 lence accomplished what entreaty and threats could not. One night 
 after I had sobbed myself to sleep, my room was entered by the 
 hostess accompanied by a man, and ere I could help myself I found 
 myself a vile, dishonored thing— such as lam now." 
 
 L. listened with the utmost interest to the sad recital, and when 
 it was finished, implored the hapless narrator to abandon her dis- 
 graceful calling, but without success. 
 
 " What hope is there for me— I am lost, body and soul !" was her 
 exclamation ; " but God bless you once again, sir," and she was 
 gone. L. followed her, but ere he reached the street, she had va- 
 nished in the darkness of the night. He never saw her again. 
 
 The above is no over-drawn sketch ; it is not exaggerated, but 
 falls short . of 'eit-aUty. Not three months ago, in the — Dis- 
 trict Po&,o -ouri, wu known procuress keeping a place known 
 
THE SOCIAL EVIL, PROCURESSES, ETC. 65 
 
 as " Annie's Saloon," in Greene street, between Houston and 
 Bleecker, was arrested on complaint of one of her intended victims, 
 whp managed to effect her escape from her den. The story by the 
 girl is substantiated by affidavits. A stranger in New York, she was 
 engaged by Miss " Annie" as a seamstress, taken to her house, and 
 there treated in the most barbarous manner because of her refusal 
 to bargain her honor for gold. Her private apartment was violated 
 at all hours, and entreaties — and, when they tailed, threats - lavish- 
 ed upon her. But in vain ; the girl was determined to preserve her 
 honor. Twice she endeavored to leave the premises ; bat each 
 attempt to escape was frustrated. At last, through the assistance 
 of a ge , I man we use the term for want of a better— who was in 
 the habit of visiting the place, she obtained her liberty. Touched 
 by her beaoty and innocence, he demanded that she should accom- 
 pany him from the house. This permission Miss Annie refused, and 
 he had actually to force his way to the street with his companion — 
 the virago standing knife in hand to bar his passage ! The woman 
 was subsequently arrested for detaining the girl's trunk. With tho 
 utmost brazenness she insisted that that article, with its contents, be- 
 longed to her, and had been loaned to her « boarder," as she called 
 the owner. 
 
 But it is not in the cities alone that these bloated spiders spin 
 their webs and twine their nets. Their operations are extended to 
 the country, as rich " widows," " sea-captain's wives," etc. Aided 
 by their male pimps and confederates, with specious promises and 
 dissembling arts, they unfailingly secure their prey from among the 
 inexperienced daughters and sisters of moral society. 
 
 PANEL GAME, ETC. 
 
 The man who seeks or accepts the company o" depraved women, 
 at once exposes himself to every species of rob jery, as well as the 
 moral degradation and physical ills. No matter how specious ap- 
 pearances may be, robbery of some kind is almost sure to follow 
 any association of the kiud spoken of. Not one case in a hundred 
 is reported to the police, for the victim is very properly too much 
 ashamed of the circumstances under which he has been plundered 
 ever to make the circumstances known. Yet a sufficient number of 
 cases come before the police to enable them, not only to know the 
 modus operandi of every kind of thieving, but even a personal know- 
 ledge of the principal operators. 
 
 The Panel Game, as it is technically called, is practiced only 
 upon those who seek the degrading companionship of lost women. 
 A movable panel in the wall or partition of a room, concealed by a 
 picture frame or something similar, enables a confederate to rob 
 without entering the room. Should the plundered party discover 
 his loss before leaving the place, he does not know who to ac- 
 cuse, he has neither seen nor heard any one enter. 'I he door i3 
 locked — nothing is disarranged. He is confused, and uncertain. 
 Should he suspect any trick which he knows not how to fathom, he 
 thinks of the police. Then he is overwhelmed with shame at the 
 situation in which he is found. Sometimes he overcomes this feeling 
 
GO 
 
 ROGUERIES OP NEW YORK. 
 
 and informs the police, who in one iase in five, perhaps, may suc- 
 ceed in recovering his money ; and the public is regaled with the 
 name and adventures of the man. But in most cases the victim 
 bears his grief in silence. 
 
 Of the o:her tricks and traps adopted among these forlorn women 
 we will not here speak. If not always thieves or pickpockets them- 
 selves, their male companions almost invariably are, and their 
 crimes are treated in another place. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 HACK MEN AND THEIR IMPOSITIONS. 
 
 " Astor Housf f " St, Nicholas " New York ff " Ride right 
 up f u this way, -sir," and a thousand and one similar cries 
 greet the traveller on his arrival in New York, while countless 
 hands seize his baggage and countless whips are thrust into his 
 face by way of adding emphasis to these vociferated exclamations. 
 " Running the gauntlet," in Indian fashion, is nothing to dodging 
 the hackmen that surround the railroad and steamboat depots, in- 
 tent upon a " fare," as a passenger is technically designated. Un- 
 happy is the unfortunate wight who, unsuspicious of danger, falls 
 into the clutches of these modern Jehus. They know no pity j have 
 no spark of humanity within their callous bosoms ; regarding the 
 traveling community as their lawful prey, they are ever on the alert 
 to, vi et armis, possess the corpus of whomsoever designing fate may 
 be uncharitable enough to throw in their path ; and once seated in 
 their vehicles, "abandon hope ' unless your courage is great and 
 your wallet well lined — for you will need the former to stand their 
 impertinence, and the latter to meet their exorbitant demands. 
 
 To avoid the toils and snares of these carriage drivers is, how- 
 ever, an easy matter for those that are accustomed to visit the city 
 on pleasure or business. All they have to do is to get into the 
 coach with the name of the hotel upon it to which they want to go, 
 then they are sufe ; but it is not every one that knows this fact, or 
 that can put up at a hotel, and it is for this class that these papers 
 are mostly written. 
 
 Second and third-rate hotels do not keep their own coaches, and 
 guests have to find their own conveyances or walk thither, hiring 
 some one to carry their baggage if it is light. This is, perhaps, 
 the safest way for those acquainted with the city ; but those who 
 are unfamiliar with localities and streets are generally forced, by 
 necessity, to trust to the tender mercies of hackmen. 
 
 Extortion is the great fall back of the u cabby." Some days he 
 stands on his corner or near the " depot" from early in the morning 
 until late at night without a fare ; this is a day lost ; but he is not 
 the kind of individual to repine at this ; he calmly awaits Ms first 
 
HACKMEN AND TTTEIR IMPOSITIONS. 
 
 67 
 
 passenger, who arrives perhaps by the night train from Washington 
 or Boston, and is in a harry to get; to his hotel, and coolly charges 
 him enough for his services to reimburse him for want of patronage 
 during the day. 
 
 Who has not heard the story of Jonathan, who received a check for 
 his baggage on the train which brought him " to town," and gave it 
 to the hackman in payment for a ride ; and how the latter secured 
 verdant's baggage in spite of the latter's indignant and forcible pro- 
 testations. This is an apt illustration of the esprit of the New York 
 hackraen. 
 
 Numbers of these coach drivers are employed as runners for 
 boarding houses and bogus hotels, and it is in this view, rather than 
 in the light of extortion, that they are to be regarded. It is their 
 interest to procure customers for other rogues, no less rascally than 
 thememselves, but who employ other means to defraud the unsus- 
 pecting. The adventure of a young gentleman from the interior of 
 Long Island has a bearing on this point. Innocent as a lamb, and 
 unsophisticated as a three months' old babe, John — no use in giving 
 his sirname— came up to M York" on business. Not being very well 
 off in this world's goods, and possessing but little cash, it was of 
 course his aim to u use that little well," and make it go as far as it 
 could. Economy he was obliged from necessity to consider, and 
 what could be a better way of practicing it than in going to a cheap 
 hotel. He signified his intention to a hackman, who at once t rust 
 him into his vehicle, swung his valLse in after him, and forthwith 
 was off at a smart pace. Drawing up in front of a tumble-down 
 house in the lower part of Greenwich street, he assisted his passen- 
 ger to alight, demanded a dollar, gave up his valise, and pointing 
 
 to the building, said u there's the hotel ; the proprietor is a 
 
 friend of mine. Just say I sent you, will yon ?" and mounting hi3 
 box was off. Entering the barroom of the place, John was not very 
 favorably impressed with the general appearance of the room and 
 its inmates. A dirty, smoky apartment, tilled with men, apparently 
 sailors, seated at tables, drinking, cursing and swearing, made our 
 friend conclude that he had got into the wrong box ; and he was 
 about to beat a retreat, when he was accosted by the proprietor, an 
 ill-favored man, in his shirt sleeves, who "wanted to know his 
 business." 
 
 " Is this the Hotel ?" asked John. 
 
 u It is, indeed ; do you want a room— come this way ;" and before 
 John coul 1 utter another word he found himself following the 
 " hotel" keeper up a narrow staircase to a room above — six by nine, 
 with a small trunk in one corner, » broken-down washstand, and a 
 dilapidated stool. John confessed to himself that such accommoda- 
 tions must be cheap indeed, and that by a little temporary inconveni- 
 ence he should be able to save a little more money than if he had 
 gone to a better furnished or more comfortable hotel. In the 
 morning, on stepping up to the " bar" to " settle," what was his 
 surprise and indignation at receiving a bill, in wretched chiro- 
 graphy and execrable English, footing up the modest sum of eleven 
 dollars and seventy-five cents ! 
 
68 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 " There must be some mistake here," (to the proprietor of the 
 
 "hotel.") 
 
 " We never make mistakes here, sir ; the bill is correct"- and 
 taking it he read off the items as follows : — 
 
 "But I paid my hack hire— and besides, I had no supper last 
 night." 
 
 " I know nothing about what you say ; how do I know you paid 
 your 1 coachman and the supper was cooked for you if you did not 
 eat it." 
 
 By this time the indignant " guest" was surrounded by quite a 
 large crowd of the hangers on around the premises, and, fearful of 
 getting into serious difficulty, he produced the money from his 
 scantily furnished purse, counted out the amount, and, taking his 
 baggage, departed. 
 
 Suppose our Long Island friend had refused to accede to the 
 exorbitant charges demanded? Well, his baggage would have 
 been seized and held, and he might have considered himself fortu- 
 nate to have got off without suffering personal violence. 
 
 Young girls are favorite victims of hackmen, many of the latter 
 being in the employ of the keeper of brothels or assignation houses. 
 Under pretence of taking them to boarding houses, or respectable 
 " houses of entertainment," they readily entrap their innocent dupes 
 into ruin, and eventually lives of shame. 
 
 The Chicago Journal, a short time since, contained an account of 
 the mysterious disappearance of a young lady of that city who had 
 set out for New York to visit a relative. Day after day passing, and 
 nothing being beard from her, her parents became alarmed, and te- 
 legraphing to New York, inquired of the relative in question if 
 Henrietta had reached her destination. A response announced the 
 startling fact that she had not, but that her visit was anxiously 
 awaited. A brother of the young lady, in company with a detective, 
 at once started East, and on reaching the metropolis at once sought 
 traces of the missing girl. Their search for a time was fruitless, 
 but with the assistance of a detective from the City Hall office, they 
 soon got upon her track ; they discovered the hackman into whose 
 vehicle she had got upon leaving the cars. The f ellow at first round- 
 ly denied knowing anything about her ; but threats of the Tombs 
 soon brought him to his senses, and he at once " owned up," and 
 conducted the anxious brother to the- house where he had conveyed 
 the missing girl, a rendezvous for notorious characters of both sexes. 
 Henrietta, after many evasions on the part of the mistress of the 
 establishment, was brought into the room where her brother was, 
 her virtue happily preserved, and her maiden honor unblightedl 
 Her story was a brief one : she reached New York at midnight, en- 
 
 nack hire 
 Supper . . 
 Lodging . 
 Breakfast 
 
 $2 00 
 ..3 00 
 . .3 00 
 ..3 75 
 
 $11 75 
 
See Page 60. 
 
70 
 
 ROGUERIES OP NEW YORK. 
 
 tered a hack, giving the residence of her relative ; after a long ride, 
 the coach drove up in front of the house from which she had been 
 taken. Unsuspectingly, she entered, never having visited her rela- 
 tive before, and, when too late, found she had been entrapped. 
 Firmly resisting the many endeavors, entreaties, as well as threats, 
 to surrender her honor, she had been confined in her room and for- 
 cibly prevented from leaving its limits. What her fate eventually 
 would have been there is but little doubt, for she must before long 
 have succumbed to the persecutions of her jailors. 
 
 We give below Article IIL of the ordinance relating to hac'<men, 
 which will be found useful for reference, not only by strangers, but 
 in many instances by residents of the city. The ordinance also re- 
 quires that the number of the owner's license shall be conspicuously 
 displayed on the hack or carriage, and that the name and residence 
 of the owner shall be given if requested by the passenger. Should 
 any attempt at extortion be made, all that is required is to firmly 
 insist on your rights, and if necessary, to enter a complaint at the 
 Mayor's office of any violation of the ordinance. We call especial 
 attention to section 24, by which it will be seen that, should the 
 driver demand more than his legal fare, he loses his claim to any 
 remuneration. Strangers can always obtain any desired information 
 and assistance from any policeman : 
 
 ARTICLE m. 
 
 § 21. The prices or rates of fares to be taken by, or paid to, the 
 ow ners or drivers of hackney coaches or carriages, shall be as fol- 
 lows, to wit : 
 
 1. For conveying a passenger any distance not exceeding one mile, 
 fifty cents ; for'conveying two passengers the same distance, seventy- 
 five cents, or thirty -seven and a half cents each ; and for every addi- 
 tional passenger, thirty-seven and a half cents. 
 
 2. For conveying a passenger any distance exceeding a mile, and 
 within two miles, seventy-five cents ; and lor every additional pas- 
 senger, thirty-seven and a half cents. 
 
 3. For conveying a passenger to the new Almshouse and return- 
 ing, one dollar ; and for every additional passenger, and returning, 
 fifty cents. 
 
 4. For conveying one passenger to Fortieth street, and remaining 
 half an hour, and returning, one dollar and a half; and lor every 
 additional passenger, fifty cents. 
 
 6. For conveying one passenger to Sixty-first street and remaining 
 three-quarters of an hour, and returning, two dollars ; and for every 
 additional passenger, fifty cents. 
 
 6. For conveying one passenger to Eighty-sixth street, and remain- 
 ing one hour, and returning, two dollars and a half; and for every 
 additional passenger, seventy-five cents. 
 
 7. For conveying one or more passengers to Harlem, and return- 
 ing, with the privilege or remaining three hours, five dollars; or to 
 the High Bridge, five dollars, with the same privilege. 
 
 3. For conveying one or more passengers to King's Bridge, and 
 
QUACKS AND MEDICAL HUMBUGS. 71 
 
 returning, with the privilege of keeping the carriage all day, five 
 dollars. 
 
 9. For the use of a hackney coach or carriage by the day, with 
 one or more passengers, five dollars. 
 
 10. For the use of a hackney coach or carriage by the hour, with 
 one or more passengers, with the pivilege of going from place to 
 place, and stopping as oJten as may be required, one dollar an hour. 
 
 11. In all oases where the hiring of a hackney coach or carriage 
 is not, at the time thereof, specified to be by the day or hour, it 
 shall be deemed by the mile. 
 
 12. For children betw een two and fourteen years of age, half price 
 is only to be charged; and for children under two years of age, no 
 charge is to be made. 
 
 13. Whenever a hackney coach or carriage shall be detained, ex- 
 cepting as aforesaid, the owner or driver sball be allowed after the 
 rate of seventy-five cents an hour. 
 
 14. For attending a funeral within the lamp and watch district, 
 two dollais; and to the Pottersfield, three dollars; which charges 
 shall include lor the necessary detention and returning with passen- 
 gers. 
 
 15. Every driver or owner of a hackney coach, carriage, or cab, 
 shall carry, transport, and convey in a»d upon bis coach, carriage, 
 or cab, iu addition to the person or persons therein, one trunk, 
 valise, saddle-bag, carpet-bag, portmanteau, or box, if he be re- 
 quested so to do, for each passenger, without charge or compensa- 
 tion therefor ; but for every trunk or such other articles above 
 named, more than one for each passenger, he shall be entitled to 
 demand and receive the sum of six cents. 
 
 § 22. In case of disagreement as to distance or price, the same 
 shall be determined by the Mav or. 
 
 § 23. The owner of any hackney coach or carriage shall not de- 
 mand or receive any pay for the conveyance of any passenger, unless 
 the number of the carriage, and the rates and prices of fare, shall be 
 fixed and placed in a manner herein a ter directed by section 30 of 
 this chapter, at the time such passenger may be conveyed in such 
 carriage. 
 
 § 24. TJie owner or driver of any hackney coach or carriage, shall not 
 be entitled to receive any pay from any person from whom he shall have 
 demanded any greater price or rates than he may be authorized to receive, 
 as aforesaid. 
 
 § 26. Upon the trial of any cause commenced for the recovery of 
 any of the aforesaid prices or rates, it shall be incumbent upon the 
 plaintiff or plainuffs in such action, to prove that the number and 
 prices or rates, were placed and fixed in pursuance of the provisions 
 of this chapter, at the time the services were rendered for which 
 the suit may be brought. 
 
 § 26. No owner or driver of any hackney coach or carriage in the 
 city of New York, shall ask, demand, or receive any larger sum than 
 he or they may be entitled to receive, as aforesaid, under the penalty 
 of ten dollars for each such offence, to be sued for and recovered 
 from the owner or owners, or driver of any such hackney coach or 
 carriage, severally and respectively. 
 
72 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 QUACKS AND MEDICAL HUMBUGS. 
 
 Of all the varied forms in which humbug and rascality appears, 
 none does more injury, or leads to more misery, than the operations 
 of the self-styled " doctors," who cluster in all large cities, but more 
 especially in New York. A story is told of a quack who, in days 
 gone by, prepared a pill which he assured the public was a sure 
 protection against earthquakes. It is said that hundreds of persons 
 swallowed his statements and the pill at the same time, and that he 
 reaped a rich harvest from his credulous dupes. Perhaps this 
 scheme for raising the wind might not work equally well in our day ; 
 not but that we have seen many statements equally absurd, gotten 
 up by modern quacks and as readily gulped down by the modern 
 public. That men can be found so lost to all feelings of humanity 
 as to make a regular trade of preying upon the afflictions and suffer- 
 ings of their fellow creatures, may lower our estimation of human 
 nature, but it is, nevertheless, true. Quack doctors are usually men 
 of little or no education, and blessed with about an equal supply of 
 conscience and honesty. Individuals of this class have been, time 
 and again, exposed, and the public warned against them ; yet they 
 still flourish and draw their toils around new victims every day. 
 Very many persons are utterly unable to distinguish between 
 quacks and respectable practitioners, and editors and others often 
 receive letters of inquiry whether this or that doctor is reliable or 
 not, from those who may have been cautioned against certain ones of 
 the craft, but are unable to form any general rule to judge by. To all 
 such we would say that the simplest, surest and safest test is what 
 the man says of himself. In applying this test, however, one pre- 
 caution should be observed, and that is, the more he blows his own 
 trumpet the less is he to be believed. Respectable physicians never 
 parade themselves before the public through advertisements or 
 circulars. The mere announcement of where he may be found is 
 the utmost a respectable member of the profession will venture upon ; 
 anything beyond this may be safely considered so much evidence of 
 quackery, and the longer the advertisement, generally, the greater 
 the humbug. 
 
 There is probably no reader of this book who has not, at some 
 time noticed advertisements in various journals, headed " Howard 
 Association," " Benevolent Association," " Private Diseases," " Con- 
 fessions of an Invalid," "Marriage Guide," "Nervous Debility," 
 " Manhood Restored," " Essence of Life," and innumerable similar 
 notices. These are all, without exception, humbugs and swindles. 
 The plan of operation is essentially the same with all Either 
 through curiosity or some other cause, persons are induced to send 
 for the pamphlets or books issued by the advertisers, and many 
 thousands of copies are distributed, gratuituously or at a very low 
 price, throughout the country. The object of these publications is, 
 
QUACKS AND MEDICAL HUMBUGS. 
 
 73 
 
 first, to pander to the vitiated curiosity of boys and youth, not only 
 by the u pictorial illustrations drawn from life," but by speciousness 
 of argument and reasoning and statements, to mislead the mind, 
 inflame the immagination, corrupt the heart, and eventually degrade 
 the whole character. It has often been noticed that among the 
 students who attend a first course of medical lectures, there are a 
 large number who imagine themselves the victims of each successive 
 disease, as it is presented in course by the lecturer. And any person 
 not versed in medicine can scarcely read any book on any* disease, 
 without beginning to imagine that he has more or less of its symp- 
 toms. In fact, medical biography abounds with notices of the 
 deaths of men from the very diseases, the successful treatment of 
 which made them famous ; leaving us to suppose that imagination 
 has something to do in causing, or at least in aggravating, some 
 human maladies. It is not surprising then, that youths in their 
 teens, or just entering manhood, in reading a treatise strongly 
 depicting the ultimate effects of certain symptoms, alleged to be 
 connected with certain conditions of the system, should run riot in 
 their fears, and throw themselves helplessly into the hands of 
 those who seem to know so mucL on the subject, and by their 
 own accounts have had such remarkable success in their line. 
 The youth in his fright appeals to the author of the book to save 
 him from the impending ruin and disgrace. A fee is extorted, and 
 remedies are sent ; these remedies are invariably worthless, and in 
 most cases injurious. In some instances there can be no doubt that 
 the medicine is intentionally calculated to aggravate disease, if it 
 already exists, or to induce it if it does not exist j whatever may be 
 his real condition, the patient is made to believe that the reason the 
 remedies do not have the desired effect is that his case is more des- 
 perate than was supposed, and that more powerful and more ex- 
 pensive medicines must be used. These are procured, and weeks 
 and months are passed in fruitless experiments. As time goes by 
 the victim gives way more and n ore to dispair, and having ex- 
 hausted all the money he can procure, he is plainly told by the 
 sharper that there is no hope for him, and he either applies to some 
 respectable physician, as a drowning man grasps a straw, or resigns 
 himself to his fate, or perhaps seeks refuge in a suicide's grave. 
 Who can say how many of the suicide's chronicled by the press are 
 brought about in this manner ? 
 
 Some time ago we saw a long article in the X. Y. Tribune, re- 
 commending the root of Veronica quinquefoli i , as a grand panacea for 
 scrofula in all its forms, and soon after we noticed in the Rural 
 New Yurhr, another article by the same author. On reading these 
 articles we suspected that there was a cat hidden under the meal, 
 and upon making inquiry, we ascertained that the writer of the ar- 
 ticles was selling the root at three dollars an ounce, or two ounces 
 for five dollars. The price of the article in the New York drug and 
 herb stores, is less than one dollar a pound! The editors of the 
 Tiibune and Rural New Yorker have unwittingly allowed the use 
 of their columns to aid a private and extortionate speculation. It 
 is a sort of spasmodic revival of an old thing which has been before 
 
74 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 the public in one way or another for the past twenty years. The medi- 
 cine in question is the root of a plant, the proper botanical name of 
 which is Veiomca Vogimca, and has been called fsptandra Virgit iea t 
 and Veronca quinqiirfolin. The common name is Culver's Root, and 
 it is sometimes called Indian physic. Though not very common 
 around' New York, it is abundant enough through the West. 
 
 In regard to the medicinal qualities of the plant, we have only to 
 say, that it is much used by the so-called " herb doctors," and it 
 possesses powerful cathartic and emetic properties. We judge it to 
 be altogether too active an agent to be used unadvisedly. If one is 
 ill enough to require a medicine of this kind, he is in a condition to 
 need the advice of an intelligent physician. 
 
 We find by an occasional advertisement in some journals pub- 
 lished at distant points, that 
 
 "Dr. James, a well-known retired physician, discovered, while in 
 India, a sure remedy for Consumption. Bronchitis, Colds, etc. To 
 help suffering humanity, the recipe will be sent lor two stamps to pay 
 expenses." 
 
 He may truthfully say he is well known. His plan of operations, 
 and that of many others of his class, have been repeatedly exposed. 
 Upon applying for the remedy you will receive a pamphlet record- 
 ing marvelous cures, with the information that you can best procure 
 the prepared remedy by forwarding a dollar or more to him, or his 
 agents, and upon taking said remedy you will discover that both 
 it and yourself have been sold and that the advertiser has made all 
 the profits. 
 
 This " retired physician," who may sometimes be met under 
 the name of a ° retired clergyman," must be of far-reaching benevo- 
 lence and immense practice, for we have found his advertisements 
 in Irish, English and Australian papers, his offices being respectively 
 in Dublin, London, and Melbourne. There is in fact a rogue in each 
 city who practices this gouge. The retired physician in this country 
 was a young fellow named Erown, utterly without knowledge of 
 medicine, and very ignorant of most other things, excepting the 
 gullibility of the public to whom he appealed. His business was 
 destroyed by public exposure and the surveillance of the police. 
 This same philanthropic gentleman has more recently been before 
 the public under the title of " Dr. 0. Phelps Brown," who was " con- 
 fined to his bed" so many years by that cruel dyspepsia, and who is 
 advertising that he was eventually cured " by a prescription of a 
 mere child"— very knowing child! His bump of benevolence is 
 still as large as ever, and he still desires to benefit suffering human- 
 ity—for a pecuniary consideration. 
 
 The following is but another specimen of the same kind of fraud : 
 
 " A lady who has been cured of great nervous debility, after many 
 years of misery, desires to make known to all leliow-sufferers the 
 sure means of relief. Address, enclosi*g a stamp, Mrs. M. Merritt, 
 P. 0. box 368, Boston, Mass., and the prescription will be sent free 
 by return mail." 
 
 These " unhung villains" almost invariably advertise and skulk 
 
QUACKS AND MEDICAL HUMBUGS. 
 
 75 
 
 under fictitious names, having sense enough, for a wonder, to be 
 ashamed of their disreputable business, and to entertain a wh<>lo- 
 some fear of the police. As you care for health and money, shun 
 them. 
 
 A man by name of Dr. H. Warner personated the following " Boc- 
 tors" : — " Dr. H. Monell & Co.," i>ew York ; "Dr. Wallace Mortuor," 
 New York ; " Dr. Tracy de Lorme" (the u Great Curer ot Consump- 
 tion"), New Yors ; M Lebnur & Dayton."' New York. 
 
 A man by name of Duval was "Dr. Bovici," Albany ; " Dr. Bre- 
 vot," Albany ; " Dr. Rees," Albany ; " Dr. Mozart,'' Albany j and 
 "Dr. Tawis^i," Albany. 
 
 Dr. Lockrow is u Dr. La Croix," Albany ; " Dr. Henslow," Al- 
 bany, and u Dr. Hurdon," Albany. 
 
 " Mrs. Merritt," Boston, the dear creature who had recovered 
 from a distressing nervous debility, and wanted to sell the stulf 
 " what did the cure," was nobody but a lazy lout of a man ! 
 
 Dr. Sam'l. Henderson is " Dr. Bland," New York ; " Dr. Hankin- 
 Bon," New York ; and " Dr. Hawkinson & Co.," New Y'ork. 
 
 Of the following names, some are real, others not. At all events 
 the swindlers that made use of them were abated by the police. 
 
 Dr. Mellville, New York ; Dr. Spencer, New York ; Dr. Ru-h, 
 New Y'or< ; Dr. Duval, New Y'or< ; Dr. Bryant, New York; Dr. 
 Burnett. New Y'or.t ; Dr. S. Ruse, New Yor < ; Br. E. Anderson, Al- 
 . bany, New Y'ork ; Dr. M. Mozart, Castleinn, New Y'or.i : Dr. M. 
 Reyno, Troy, New Y'Or ; ; Dr. La hnlle, New Yor c ; nenry G. Dur.v- 
 ley, New Y r or.< ; H. C. Garold, Nei7 Yor< ; Henry G. Smith, New 
 Y'ork 5 James D. Bentley, New York ; Henry S. Lane, New York ; 
 and many others. All ot whom would have* been made wealthy by 
 the verdant ones in due time, had not the authorities interfered. 
 
 The various medicines advertised under the titles ot u Elixir of 
 Life," " Extract Buchu," and innumerable other names, are all 
 worthless. They generally consist of a compound of molasses and 
 Croton, flavored with cheap drugs, and made '-pleasant to the tas:e" 
 by the addition of a little whisky. In some instances the remedies 
 are positively hurtful. The u certificates" with which their merits 
 are backed are in almost every instance forgeries. The proprietors 
 of a much puffed " cure" were lately exposed in an attempt to me 
 the name3 of some prominent editors of this city, as references, with- 
 out athority. 
 
 The many varieties of Bitters, so much advertised at present, are 
 merely the cheapest, poorest quality of whisky or rum, diluted with 
 water, and disguised by a flavoring of cheap, and ofien damaged, 
 drugs. The mysterious ingredients supposed to exert so beneficial 
 an influence upon the human system, exist only in the imaglna ion 
 of the quacks who compound the nasty washes. The habit of using 
 these compounds as beverages is a most pernicious one, and almost 
 inevitably leads to habitual intemperance. They generally purport 
 to be of great assistance to digestion ; so far from this being the 
 the case, they invariably injure the digestive powers. They are 
 generally patronized by those who, from continued dissipation, 
 have lost all energy and vigor, to whose jaded systems for a time 
 
 JAY IRVING COLLEOTION 
 
76 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 these injurious beverages give a stimulus, only to leave them more 
 
 pros. rated than before. 
 
 Tue " Sambuci Wine," recommended as a valuable remedial agent, 
 is an ardcle tbat ordinary people would call 4< elderberry wine/' and 
 being no more or less t <ul •• e;derberry wine," our readers can judge 
 its medicinal properties for themselves.* 
 
 .During tne ripening season of these berries a lively time is had by 
 the boys and girls around Passaic, Bergen, and the adjoining couu- 
 tie3 of .New Jersey, in gathering this not " imported-from-Portugai'' 
 fruit, at the tolerably liberal figure of one cent per pound, wtiich 
 is paid by the proprietor of the mythical "vineyard in New Jersey." 
 It may not be amiss, to tell our readers, that a palatable beverage 
 called " wine"' is made from the elderberry, and if, in the manufac- 
 ture, a small quantity of " Jersey Lightning'' be added, a mixture 
 peculiarly resembling the much vaunted ,; Sambuci" is obtained, 
 and that, too, at a cost very far below one dollar per bottle. The 
 newspapers are paid to insert puffs of this Sambuci compound, and 
 nine-tenths of the editors probably do rrot know or care whether 
 the statements are true or not We have read some outrageous 
 yarns concerning this wine, of persons believing it to be the i urest 
 kind of Port: of what the London 7'i»»e» is supposed to have said 
 about it, rnd of its wonderful medicinal properties; all of which 
 to any one who has suen: a little time in the coun ies aforementioned, 
 seems, to speak somewhat mildly, sligb'iy on the order of nmnve. 
 
 The various advertising oculists and aurists advertising in the 
 newspapers are, without any exception, humbugs. They in no case 
 know more of the diseases which they profess to treat, than any 
 competent physician, and generally much less. Their charges are 
 exorbitant, and the patient seldom receives any lastiug benefit from 
 them. The more n2w-fangied machinery these persons possess, the 
 more cer:ainiy are they impostors. The 4< old eyes made new'' 
 pamphlet is merely an advertising circular of a machine of very 
 doub.tul value called tue eye-sii"rpcner. We pre nine our readers' 
 eyes are sharp enough .opieven„ them paying for a mere adverting 
 circular. 
 
 We trust that public opinion will soon compel all respectable 
 journals to exclude the adveiiisements of the^e scoundrels from 
 their columns. Many papers already have refused to insert them, 
 and a number have labored to expose them. Among these we may 
 mention the A'uer.can Agricu turi >, of tbb city, which has labored 
 faithfully to protoct its readers from being swindled and deceived. 
 As a general rule, put no trus' in a medicine that purports to cure 
 every thirg, or muny unrelated diseases ; put no confidence in a phy- 
 sician who advertises anything beyond his address and ihe diseases 
 which he treats : nor in a beverage which, while it exhilarates or 
 intoxicates, professes also to be a good medicine. 
 
 •Elderbe r . currant, and other home-made wines . re inn c it 
 srh eft taken in m deration, we le.i-vi, a d all are made easily and 
 sim] 1. . For rec pes, by wit ch to in lt ;e th>se. and other harmless 
 and reiieaiiiug beverages, see u Seciets Worth Knowing." (Adv. on 
 cover.> 
 
MOUSTACHE FORCERS, ETC. 
 
 77 
 
 CHAPTER XYH. 
 
 MOUSTACHE FORCERS AND OTHER SWINDLES. 
 
 h-^Lr d K- r ll re P robabl r al1 fam »iar with the following river- 
 papcr a s S : aPPejred ** * l0Dg ^ fa ^ ° f tbe d ^ 
 
 by W X OniuPn} V »Sn e r S Mouc;tache forc ed to prow in six weeks, 
 aL?\ J "S uent . which will not stain or injure the skin. 11 a buttle 
 Sent to any part of the country. R. G. G— T No. ' lie. 
 
 Master FuEnnr, as ite Views fre tm AnrNATiON) hts ArrE\R\NCE 
 
 A*TER A PROPOSED APPLICATION OF THE GhtEAT (>NU L hNT.'' 
 
 This announcement has no doubt been a most tantalizing tempta- 
 tion to youths in their teens, and young men who had found°a faithful 
 use of the razor unavailing to convert them into " bearded monsters n 
 
78 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 Why do babies cry after the moon? Why does all the world want 
 what it can't get? Why have boys of sixteen, or thereabout, such 
 an inordinate desire for beards? And why, when the gift would be 
 most acceptable, does the hard-handed dunie insult them with a 
 sprinkling of peach-furze instead ? And why, when years have ma- 
 tured the hirsute harvest, doe3 the desire for it disappear, and the 
 man become involved in expenditure of time and money to get rid 
 of that appendage which, as a youth, he would have gloried in ? 
 
 For several years this pioneer of the onguent business had the 
 field almost entirely to himself. Lately, however, numerous parties 
 have sprung up in "all parts of the country, and the papers aje now 
 filled with the announcements of innumerable compounds for stimu- 
 lating backward nature to the performance of her supposed duties. 
 Each of these articles is claimed by its manufacturer io be the best, 
 the only reliable, the " warranted effective or money refunded.' 7 
 In one instance we notice an advertiser recommends persons "not 
 to waste their money for worthless articles," but to be sure to send 
 for his compound. The truth is that all the articles advertised to 
 promote the growth of the beard are humbugs. They are composed 
 of very stimulating ingredients, generally cantharides, and blister 
 and burn the skin so that in some instances painful sores are formed. 
 
 We met an acquaintance once with his face bandaged up, and 
 concealed with a number of handkerchiefs. He complained of 
 toothache. AVe met him a week after with the same supply of 
 bandages, and the same account of toothache. We ascertained after- 
 wards that instead of being afflicted with an affection of the teeth, 
 he had been experimenting with one of these nostrums, and had 
 raised, not a beautiful set of whiskers, but a huge blister on each 
 of his chee\-s. Being rather ashamed of the affair, he had resorted 
 te the little fiction of toothache to conceal his mishap. 
 
 Judging from appearance^, these onguent and lotioD chaps drive 
 a flourishing trade. We trust we have said enough to prevent thoso 
 who read this book from being taken in by them. 
 
 The offer made by one advertiser to send a recipe free for effecting 
 the desired result, is also a humbug, worked in the same manner as 
 the free medical recipes exposed in the preceeding chapter. 
 
 The wish on the part of the female portion of humanity to look 
 well, is a most praiseworthy desire, but it should not lead them to 
 become the dupes of swindling manufacturers of dangerous cosme- 
 tics. The following advertisement we clip from a paper of recent 
 date. The dodge is the same as in respect to all other free recipes: 
 
 "Secret of Perpetual Beauty— The beautiful a't of enameling 
 the skin will he sent/m in the Journal of Beauty. This enamel will 
 give the skin a soit, charming, pearl li tee tii,t tuch as can only be 
 lound in youth. It will not wash < tf, or injure the s^'in. Will remn'n 
 permanent lor years, a^d cannot be detected. Address, w.'th stamp, 
 frof. B B.,Parkman, Ohio. ' 
 
 The same remarks will apply to the following " communication" 
 which appears in the special notice column of numerous journals : 
 
 "Editor of the Hkrald— Dear Sir: With your permission I wish 
 to say to the readers of your paper that I will send by return mail, 
 
MOUSTACHE FORCERS, ETC. 
 
 79 
 
 to all who wish it (free) a recipe, with full directions for making and 
 using a simple Vegetable Bj'm that will effectually remove, in ten 
 days, Pmpies, Blotch, Tan, Freckles, and all impurities of the skin, 
 leaving the fame soft, clear, smooth and beautiful. 
 
 •'I will also mail free to these having Bald Heads or Bare Faces, 
 simple directions and information that will enable them to start a 
 gruwth of luxuriant Hair, Whiskers, or a Moustache, in less than 
 thirty days. 
 
 "All applications answered by return mail without charge. Re- 
 spectfully," &c. 
 
 The hair-dyes advertised and sold by so many druggists and 
 manufacturers, all contain nitrate of silver, sulphur, oxyde and 
 acetate of lead, sulphate of copper, and other noxious substances. 
 One preparation made by several hundred different persons and 
 by as many different names, is composed principally of lac sulphur 
 and su^ar Of le.id. It is probably as harmless an article as is known 
 tat, restoring ho hair, but we advise our readers to use as lit-le of 
 any article of the kind as possible. The preparation named can be 
 made at a cost of a few cents, and it is hai^l worth while to pay 
 trom one to five dollars, the usual price charged. 
 
 " IIOPE DEFERRED MAKETH THE HEART SiCK." 
 
 APPEARANCE OF TUB "LUXURIANT WHISKERS AND MOUSTACHE" OF Ol"!l 
 OFFICE-BOY AFTER HE HAD USKD THAT ONUUKNT SEVEN WEEKS, AT AN 
 EX TENSE OF $3. HE THINKS PROSPECTS ARE ENCOURAGING ! 
 
 All rowders and cosmetics for superfluous hair are dangerous, 
 f.nd have, in some instances, been known to prove fatal. Even the 
 most innocent are composed of quick-lime, which will invariably 
 dry np and destroy the skin. Most of the ar deles of the kind are 
 
80 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 much more dangerous, and contain much more powerful and in- 
 jurious ingredients ;. the lail antcphdque, for instance, contains cor- 
 rosive sublimate and oxyde of lead. A druggist or chemist in 
 France, who should deliver to a customer such a remedy without a 
 regular prescription, would render himself liable to incur a penalty 
 of 6,000 francs. The " pimple banisher," " beautiflers," and similar 
 cosmetics, are generally nothing more than borax dissolved in wa- 
 ter, and perfumed. Soap is also dissolved and perfumed, and sold 
 for the same purpose. Our readers who desire to " beautify their 
 complexion," will find that common oatmeal, used instead of soap, 
 to be really an excellent article, and much more effective than the 
 much-puffed nostrums in the market. 
 
 A large portion of the lotions, washes, and other preparations for 
 cleansing the teeth, contain acids which, though they give a beauti- 
 ful whiteness to the teeth, will surely destroy them in a very short 
 time. A set of inhuman charlatans are now traveling through the 
 country, applying sulphuric acid to the teeth of their dupes. This 
 acid is used by farmers for dissolving bones, and a single applica- 
 cation to the teeth does them an irreperable injury. The enamel is 
 soon eaten away by the acid, and the teeth ruined forever. We 
 make it a practice never to use any preparation for our teeth, the 
 ingredients of which we are unacquainted with, and always avoid 
 all the " patent" articles. Soap and water is probably the safest 
 thing to use— if you desire anything else, take our advice and pre- 
 pare it yourself. In no case apply to your teeth anything sold by 
 traveling dealers, or anything that you know nothing about. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 PETROLEUM SWINDLES— BUBBLE COMPANIES — HOW THE STOCKHOLDERS 
 ARE VICTIMIZED. 
 
 When the oil wells of Pennsylvania and West Virginia were first 
 opened, in 1860, thousands of men set blindly at work boring along 
 every considerable water-course in the infected district. Wells 
 were " struck" which flowed one thousand, two thousand, three 
 thousand barrels per day. Some men became immensely rich — 
 many more sunk their little piles and went home poor. Oil could 
 not be used in the quantities in which it was obtained ; it went 
 down in price to twenty-five cents per barrel at the wells. All 
 except the owners of the largest wells, and a few far-sighted men, 
 like the Economite Quakers at Tideoute on the Alleghany, aban- 
 doned the business, and derricks were left to rot, and wells to fill 
 up, while their disappointed owners sought other employments or 
 went into the army. Gradually, by reason of improvements in 
 refining and in the style of kerosene lamps, oil came to be more 
 generally used for illuminating purposes, and its price advanced 
 
PETROLEUM SWINDLES, ETC. 
 
 81 
 
 until, in the Fall of 1863, crude oil was worth, at the wells, five or 
 six dollars a barrel. 
 
 The " Noble" well on Oil Creek commenced to flow three thou- 
 sand barrels per day when oil was worth a dollar a parrel, and. it 
 coninued to yield over a thousand barrels until the price was more 
 than ten dollars. This well, and others almost equally successful, 
 revived the spirit of speculation and carried it to a point never 
 before attained, and the market was flooded with worthless oil 
 stocks until a new reaction was produced, and, in the early Summer 
 oi 1864, speculation in oil lands was as flat as ever. Old wells kept 
 on yielding, and determined borers kept on boring -mere specula- 
 tors retired for the hour. In the succeeding Autumn, new large 
 wells were struck. Some stocks, which had been bought at two 
 dollars and a half per share, went up to twenty-five dollars— one as 
 high as forty dollars. All oil stock sympathized, and all hands 
 made money. Oil was still high in price, and everything looked 
 bright. Again the roads of Venango were crowded with eager 
 buyers of land. 
 
 On the first of January, 1865, there was hardly a farm on a water- 
 course withiu thirty miles of Oil City which had not been leased or 
 sold by its original proprietor. New companies were organized, new 
 wells were struck, and the business promised to exceed all former 
 limits. The stock of a company with a nominal capital of a million 
 dollars could be sold in Wall street (at the subscription price of one 
 half or less) .in three days — and that without much regard to the 
 value of the property on which the company was based. 
 
 Of course this atlbrded rare opportunities for speculators and 
 others to organize bogus and worthless companies, and to foist their 
 stock on the unsuspecting or too confiding public. Companies were 
 gotten up every day. in this and every other city, the large majority 
 of which were either entirely or nearly worthless. Many gentlemen 
 standing high in the community allowed their names to be used in 
 connection, often without knowing anything about the responsibility 
 of the concerns, or their chances of success. In some instances the 
 names of prominent citizens were attached to prospectuses without 
 the knowledge of the parties, and in other instances fictitious names, 
 much resembling well-known persons, were used with the intention, 
 of course, to deceive the public. 
 
 One of these bubble companies has just exploded, and we cannot 
 give the reader a better description of the manner in which similar 
 companies are gotten up, than by giving an account of the working 
 of this concern, as shown by the complaint of the victims, made 
 before justice Dodge, of the Jefferson Market Police Court. 
 
 " Mr. George D. Kellogg, of No. 397 West Twenty-third street, yes- 
 terday appeared before Justice Do(«re at the Jefferson Market Police 
 Court and preferred charges against William D. Mann and Daniel 
 Stratton, jr., of No. 210 Broadway, alleging that by false representa- 
 tions they had defrauded him and others out of the sum of over 
 $45,000. From the affidavits made by him it appears that the ac- 
 cused, some months since, organized a company to be known as the 
 
82 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK 
 
 1 United Service Petroleum and Mining Company.' Major Gen. 
 Yv'illiam S. Hancock, either with or without his consent, was elected 
 President, and Mann, one of the accused, Vice-President and Gen- 
 eral Superintendent. A prospectus was published, giving the 
 names of the founders of the company, its officers and stockholders, 
 prominent among whom were the names of some of the most cele- 
 brated officers connected with the Army of the Petomac and the 
 War Department, the number of acres of land owned by the com- 
 pany and its location, together with the probabilities of striking 
 oil in the localities mentioned ; all presented in the most gorgeous 
 colors, and when backed up by the names presented, liable to de- 
 ceive the most wary. 
 
 " Large quantities of the stock were sold, amounting in the aggre- 
 gate to over $65,000, of which Stratton and Mann claimed to have 
 spent $45,000 in payment of the land, and expenses of working, etc. 
 A short time since, Messrs. S. J. Albright, ex-Governor of Arizona, 
 William S Hillyer, and George D. Kellogg, believing that all was 
 not right, went out to where the land mentioned in the prospectus 
 was alleged to be located, and there found that a swindle of the 
 most bare-faced description had been perpetrated. In no instance 
 were the representations made correct. Instead of a number- of 
 wells almost ready to yield a return for the outlay expended on 
 them, as they had expected to see, they found but one solitary ex- 
 cavation, anil the hotel and outbuildings described in the prospectus, 
 proved to be nothing but wretched shanties. On these representa- 
 tions the magistrate issued a warrant for the arrest of the accused. 
 During the afternoon officer Andree arrested Mann at the Astor 
 House, and he was committed to await an examination. Stratton is 
 ab?cnt in the West, but will probably be arrested in a day or two, 
 as an officer has been dispatched for him. Mann, at the commence- 
 ment of the war entered the service as Colonel of the 7th Michigan 
 Cavalry, and while on duty was located in and around Washington, 
 thus enabling him to form the acquaintance of many, whom he 
 afterward induced to enter into his bubble petroleum scheme. 
 
 The following are the affidavits of Mr. Kellogg and others : 
 
 TESTIMONY. 
 
 GEOitGE D. KELLOGG, of No. 3G7 West Twenty-third Street testified that on 
 the 5th day of February. 1865, he was induced to visit Wiliiam D. Mann, at his 
 office, No. "240 Broadway, and found there present Daniel Stratton. Jr., and that 
 said Stratton did then and there represent to this deponent that they had pur- 
 chased valuable oil lands in Ohio and Pennsylvania, for the purpose of forming 
 an oil company, which had eventually cost them $45,000, and were to be put into 
 a company which they were about organizing 1 in the city of New York; tbat all 
 of said purchase money had been subscribed for, and in addition thereto the Mini 
 of $ 15. 000 for working capital to develop said lands; that said Ma:-n had been 
 appointed trustee to complete such purchase, and conduct the business until 
 such company could be formed; that said Mann had subscribed §10,000 and said 
 "Strattcn 89,000 toward said amount; that if deponent would subscribe Si, 000, he 
 (the said Mann) would let deponent have $1,000 of his (said Mann's) subscription 
 provided said Stratton would part with a similar amount of his (said Strattcn's) 
 subscription, to which said Stratton assented ; it was further stated at that time, 
 by said Mann, that said Siratton was about leaving for the West to complete th« 
 purchase of and obtain the titles to said lauds ; deponent further sa>th that said 
 Mann and Stratton then and there exhibited to him a paper purporting to contain 
 
PETROLEUM SWINDLES, ETC. 
 
 8B 
 
 a full description of said lands, so represented to have been pnrchased by them 
 M ufortfiaid, and which was substantially the same as the several lots or parcels 
 of U»i»J mentioned in it by the numbers from one to ten. inclusive, in the annexed 
 prospectus of the United Service Mining and Petroleum Company, stating- at the 
 sunie time that said Maun and Stratton had carefully selected and purchased said 
 lands, and that the investment was a valuable one"; deponent further saith that, 
 relying upon and believing- the said representations of said Mann and Stratton, as 
 being entirely true, and believing that they had purchased the said lands and 
 had paid, or were to pay therefor, in good faith, the sum of 815.000. he was in- 
 duced to subscribe toward the same the sum of 61,000, and that he paid to the 
 defendant. Mann, $500 on account of said subscription ; deponent further saith 
 that the subscribers (or a majority of them) to the fund of $00,000 aforesaid, met 
 in the City of Washington. D. C., about the beginning of March, 1865, the de- 
 fendant. Mann, being present and consenting thereto, and authorized Gens. W. S. 
 Hancock and Wm. .S. Hodman of the United States Army, and Messrs. Hillyer, 
 Hotchkiss, Marks, Chadwick, Church, this deponent, and the defendant Mann, to 
 form a company under the laws of the state of New York, under the corporate 
 name of the " United Service Petroleum and Mining Company," and directed the 
 trustees of said subscribers, to wit : the said Mann to convey the property afore- 
 said to said company as soon as organized ; that the said company organized on 
 or about the 15th of said month; the Trustees aforesaid, or a majority of tLem, 
 assembled in the City of New York and organized, and that the deponent was then 
 and there elected the Secretary of said Company ; deponent further saith that the 
 prospectus of said Company was proposed by the said Mann, and published by 
 hiin about the 15th of March last, and was not seen by deponent uutil after the 
 same was printed and published ; and that the said Mann represented to this de- 
 ponent that all the matters stated therein are true, and that the said Mann, and 
 deponent Stratton, were the two persons spoken of in said prospectus as having 
 selected the lands therein described; deponent futher saith that, relying upon the 
 representations of said Maun and Stratton, and upon the contents of said prospec- 
 tus, he has, since the same was published procured among his friends further sub- 
 scriptions to the amount of S3. 00 J toward the purchase of said lands, and has paid 
 the same to said Mann as trustee ; deponent further saith that said Mann has ex- 
 hibited to him the deeds of lots numbered 1, 2 and 3 in said prospectus from said 
 Stratton to said Mann, as trustee, claiming and pretending to have purchased the 
 same of the said Stratton, and to have paid him therefor $.5,000, although said 
 Stratton was represented to this deponent as one of the par Jes who selected said 
 lands and acted as one of the purchasers thereof for the subscribers to the original, 
 purchase money thereof for the purpose of forming a Petroleum company, and 
 pursuant to which arrangement the company aforesaid was formed ; deponent 
 further saith that said Mann has assured him "that lots numbered 5 and 6 in said 
 Prospectus cost, and that he had paid therefor, $5,000 each, and that, relying 
 upon said representation, among others, this deponent continued his connection 
 with 6aid company, and procured money to be paid in and subscribed toward 
 the purchase money thereof, but that deponent has since learned that lot No. 5 
 was purchased by contract by said Mann and Stratton for $3,000 and no more, in 
 January last; and that said defendants had paid to bind said contract $45 and no 
 more ; and that lot No. 7 had been the property of said Mann since 1850. and was 
 included in the conveyance of a large parcel of land conveyed to said Mann in 
 1 85'J. Deponent further saith. that upon charging the said Mann with these facts, 
 the said Mann admitted that he had paid for said lot No. 5, and that said lot No. 
 7 he had put into said compauy for $o,000; deponent further saith that the said 
 Manq has admitted to him that subscriptions had been made to said original fund 
 of money to the av.ount of $65,000 and upward, and there had beeu paid on ac- 
 count thereof $57,000 and upward to wit: Bv Gen. C. H. Morgan, $1,000; Gen. 
 Hancock, $1,000; S. A. H. Marks, $1,000; Deponent (Geo. D. Kellogg), $5,000; 
 Daniel Stratton. Jr., $4,000; Geo. D. Kellogg, $500; Wm. S. Hillyer, SI. 000 ; 
 Geo. D. Hastings, $1,000; H. W. Goodrich, $1,000; Sam. J. Albright. S150; 
 Wm. Swiuton. $L,000; Robert S. Davis. $1,000; James Ellenson, $1,000; R. P. 
 Crawford. $1,000; Geo. T. Crawford, $1,500; B. 13. Hotchkiss. $1,000; F. C. 
 Davis. $1 000; Wm H. Barbour. 1,000; F. S. Walsh, $1,000; Dr. Meir, $1,500; 
 William K. Price. $300; Col. Frederick, $400; R. F. Mason, $500; Wm. Hofif- 
 man. $1,000 ; C. R. Dinsmore, $1,000; J. II Poland, $1,000; R. N. Scott, $1,000; 
 Beni. C. Carr. $000; Lewis H. Pelouse, Sl.OOO, and others whom this deponent 
 
84 
 
 KOGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 does not now recollect ; for these and other sums, amounting in all to upward of 
 
 $57,500 as aforesaid, deponent further saith that he is informed and believes that 
 the whole of the said property mentioned and described in the prospectus did not 
 cost said Mann or Strattou, or either of them, S7.0U0 ; deponent therefore charges 
 that all the aforesaid charges, representations and pretenses made to him by saia 
 Mann and Stratton are entirely false and fraudulent, and that they were made by 
 them to deponent for the purpose of cheating him ; and that by these fraudulent 
 representations he was defrauded of S50U ; and that all of the persons named 
 above have also been defrauded by Mann and Stratton, by means of said fraudu- 
 lent representations, of a large amount of money ; and that through these false 
 and fraudulent representations and pretenses they have obtained S45.000 and up- 
 ward ; wherefore deponent prays that Mann and Stratton may be arrested and 
 dealt with according to law. GEORGE D. KELLOGG. 
 
 Sworn to before me, June 26, A. D. 1S65, 
 
 WM. Dodge, Police Justice. 
 
 The affidavit of Mr. William S. Hillyer, which was also made 
 before Justice Dodge, sets forth that he purchased of Mann and 
 Stratton, and that they represented to him that thev paid for 
 lot No. 1, $10,000; for lots Nos. 2 and 3, $10,000 ; for lot No. 5, 
 $5,000 : for lot No. 6. $9,500, and for lot No. 8, $4,000, being in all 
 $39,900, and that the residue of the lands— namely, lots Nos. 4, 7 
 10— cost $5,100. The deponent further presents as evidence against 
 the defendants the following account : 
 
 " Office Mann's Patent Accoutrements, ) 
 No. 240 Broadway, N. Y., April 23, 1865. J 
 United Service Petroleum and Mining Co., 
 
 To W. D Mann, Trustee, Dr. 
 
 For expenses, three trips to Washington $75 00 
 
 Paid Goodrich, March 31 130 00 
 
 Paid BtebbiES 500 00 
 
 Paid Stratton (Goodrich) 500 00 
 
 Paid 3 engines, at $2,200 6,600 00 
 
 Paid April 11, U. S. Magazine 60 00 
 
 Paid Ayrmone (Prospectus) 196 00 
 
 Paid expenses. April 17, Stratton 2,500 00 
 
 Paid Harper's Weekly, adv 330 00 
 
 And other items, amounting, in the aggregate, to 11,265 85 
 (E. and P. E. Signed) W. D. Mann.' 
 
 The remainder of Mr. Hillyers affidavit reiterates the concluding 
 portion of that of Mr. Kellogg. 
 
 On behalf of the stockholders an Ex-Governor of Arizona, Mr. 
 Albright, went out to the site of the property to investigate. He 
 found the lands barren of oil, the wells mm est, the " hotels and 
 dwellings" shanties, and the w hole thing a deplorable sham. Re- 
 turning he prepared a statement on which Mr. Kellogg basis hi3 
 affidavit. His coming Mr. Mann heralded to the Superintendent, 
 Goodrich, who claims, however, to be innocent of intent to defraud, 
 in the following model letter : 
 
 11 Off t ce Mann's Pate>*t Accoetrfmeots ) 
 No. 240 Broadway, May 29, 1865. \ 
 " My Dear Goodrich : I inclose you a certified check. I have been 
 obliged to delay. You know 1 told you that your check would be 
 protested, as I'had drawn another. I nope it will cause you no incon- 
 
AFFLICTED WITH CHRONIC BEXEVoLEXCE. 
 
 See Pago T4 
 
86 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 venlence. I am anxious to hear from yon. Some of the company 
 
 have sent a spy our. to nose about your operations. It is contemp- 
 tible. Look out for bim. G.ve no information, but crack everything 
 up high. Tell bim j ou are doing all possible, a d that no man ever 
 pushed matters out there as i have. You stand uy me and 1 wili by 
 you We uiuat run this thing. Tell him the third engine is at 
 Franklin or somewhere en route, and has been a long time, hut you 
 can get it on no taster than the road will transport. Tne engine was 
 shipped long ago. Write me fully at once. Give this man a big idea 
 of the hr use and lot on which it stands and ot its value, &c. It be- 
 longs to Stratton. Don't let them know that the office is on that lot. 
 The man is a short thick man, with black curly hair, and his name is 
 Albright. 
 
 ** Signed, Mann." 
 
 Mr. Goodrich was employed in Venango County, Pennsylvania, 
 by Stratton, in February last, as superintendent of the United Ser- 
 vice Petroleum and Mining Company, and relying on Stratton and 
 Mann's statements, he obtained subscriptions to the stock, but he 
 soon after learned that land in the immediate neighborhood of the 
 land which they had taken could be purchased for Sl,50(r an acre. 
 Mr. George C. Hastings also made an affidavit corroborative of Mr. 
 Kellogg. 
 
 We have not room to insert the prospectus of this Company. We 
 can only say, that a more glowing description of its advantages 
 could scarcely have been conceived in the brain of the most imagin- 
 ative, or a more alluring bait held out to those who wished to rear 
 a colossal fortune from investments in the oil business. Things look 
 differently to different persons, and those who failed to perceive 
 " valuable hotel property" in a tumble-down shanty, would proba- 
 bly be unable to see a number of valuable properties mentioned in 
 the prospectuses of other companies. 
 
 We give below a list of the original members of the United Ser- 
 vice Company, as published in the prospectus of the Company. We 
 believe all the gentlemen named were acting in good faith, and had 
 no design of defrauding the public. Some of them may have entered 
 the Company without a careful examination of its merits, but we 
 doubt not they thought it a bona-fide business enterprise. 
 
 Of th* Army. — Major-Gen. W. S. Hancock ; Brig.-Gens. Win. Hoff- 
 man, Com. General of Prisoners, Thomas Kilby Smith; Green B. 
 Raiim ; W. H. Penrose Morgan; Cols. Benj. C. Ca'd, U. S. A. ; Jacob 
 Zeiiin. Commandant U. S. M. C. ; Lieut-Cols. w r . H. Duff, of Lieut.- 
 Gen. Grant's staff; William RedwoodPrice, Chief of Cavalry Bureau; 
 C. H. Frederick, V. R. C. ; R. F. Morson, 31st Penn. Cavalry; Lewis 
 H. Pelowze, U. S. A., and A. A. G., War Department; Majors R >beit 
 N. Scott, Major-Gen. Balieck's Staff; Kilburn Knox, Inspector Gener- 
 al's Department ; Augustus Nicholson, a . and I, General U. S. Marine 
 Corps ; W. C. Jones, Paymaster ; J. S. M. Potter, Paymaster U. S. A.; 
 Howard, War Department; George K. Leet, J ieut.-Gen. G. ant's 
 Staff; Captain J. 8. Poland, 2d U. 8. Infantry; E. B. Stebbins, M. S. 
 K. and P. M., U. S. A., Washington Arsenal ; W. a. LaMotte, A. A. 
 Gen. ; vV. aiitcuell, 3d U. S. Infantry ; J. N. Cross, V. R. C. ; R. P. 
 Crawford, A. A. G. ; G. T. Crawford, A. A. G.; C F. Hoyt, A. Q. M. 
 Late of the Army— Colonels W. S. Hilly er, of Gen. Grant's Staff, 
 
PETROLEUM SWINDLES. ETC 
 
 87 
 
 George P. Thrie, of Gen. Grant's Staff; R. A. Alger, 5th Mich. Cav. 
 W. D. Mann, 7th Mich. Cav.; Major Henry S. F'tch Gen. Sherman's 
 S all"; Capis. A r . C. Church, of Geo. Casey's Sraff; Georg€ D Kelogg, 
 ol ben. Ida! eck's Staff; D. Stratton, P. C. Davis, Cav ilrv Bureau. 
 
 av U u.s.— The II >ns. P. vv'. Kellogg, M. C. ; C. R D.am imd, Wash- 
 ington, D. C. ; J. Richard Btrrett, bt. Loius, Mo.; H. A. I had . icK, 
 S.~A. II. Marts, Jobn G. Stevenson, P. S. Walsh. W. H. Birl.our, 
 Thomas S. Mercer, Esqs., oi Washington, I). C. ; N. P. Payne, Esq., 
 Cleveland, Ohio ; D. B. iiotchkbs and John Bidden, E>-qs., of .New- 
 Tone. 
 
 It is not certain that all these gentlemen were members of the 
 Company — some of the names may have beun used without any 
 authority whatever —and there is no reason for believing that more 
 than the two or three individuals who " ran the machine" had any 
 idea of the swindle for which the names above were made the cover. 
 
 Illuminating oil is now worth from six to seven dollars a barrel 
 on the Alleghany River, and it is not likely, with an increasing 
 demand, to range below that. At this price, a ten barrel well (one- 
 half of the oil going to the landowner as royalty) may be pnmped 
 at a profit. Probably, one well in twenty of those which are pro- 
 perly sunk and well managed will yield ten barrels. The oiher 
 nineteen may be accounted failures, not paying, in the aggregate, 
 more than a fair interest on their cost. Ot those which are not pro- 
 perly sunk, aud are badly mismanaged, a large portion of the whole, 
 we do no speak at all. If this estimate is true (and it is advanced 
 by the most experienced oil-borers), it is fair to assume that, with 
 sufficient capital, managed with judgment, skill and honesty, even 
 on leased land, the business of boring for oil will be profitable. 
 
 Of course, when the operators own the land, the profit is more 
 than doubly great. Added to this is the element of chance. The 
 oil business, however well systematized, must always be largely 
 speculative. Wells yielding from twenty to fifty barrels per day 
 are very common ; many run from fifty to one hundred ; a less 
 number from that to four or five hundred ; and one yields over nine 
 hundred The larger wells, those yielding over ten barrels, are 
 estimated to be worth $4,000 for each barrel of the daily flow, thus ; 
 a ten-barrel well is worth (land and working interest together) 
 $-10,000 ; a hundred-barrel well, $400,000 ; a five-hundred barrel 
 well, $2,000,000, etc. With these possible large prices, and with 
 the fact established that the good wells are to-day worth many times 
 the cost of all the worthless ones, human nature must be radically 
 changed before speculations in oil will cease. 
 
 We would enly counsel such of our readers as may be disposed 
 to embark in the enterprise, to look well before they leap. Other 
 things being equal, select a company which owns its land in prefer- 
 ence to one which is working on leases and must give one-half of its 
 oil for the privilege. Make sure that you intrust your money to 
 trustworthy men, whose statements may be believed, and who may 
 be depended on to manage their business properly. If you can 
 resist the temptation to get next door to a thousand-barrel well — 
 and such lightening don't often strike twice in the same place — seek 
 a property which is near navigable water — teaming costs grievously 
 
88 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 in Oildom — but be sure that it is in a district which is already pro- 
 ducing oil in good quantities. Don't put all your eggs inio one 
 basket — better divide $1,000 between three or lour good companies 
 than to hazard it all in a single venture. Above all, be careful of 
 the speculations of the stock-market J don't buy nor sell until you 
 know whether there is a legitimate reason for stocks going up or 
 down. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 GOLD MINES AND MINING COMPANIES. 
 
 Some months since considerable excitement was caused by new 
 tales of wonderful discoveries of deposits of gold and other precious 
 metals in the territories of the Pacific States. Numerous companies 
 were formed for to develop these discoveries. Many of these com- 
 panies were mere bubbles, and thousands who invested in them will 
 never recover their money. Lately the petroleum excitement has 
 drawn attention, in a great measure, from gold mining, and gold 
 mining companies are now little heard of. As it is likely the excite- 
 ment will some day be revived, it is not out of place here to warn 
 the reader against irresponsible parties, who may attempt to dupe 
 the public by organizing mining companies. 
 
 At the time of the recent mining excitement scores of these com- 
 panies were formed in Eastern cities, each one of which held forth 
 (on paper) the most- wonderful prospects. The fact that a very few 
 mining companies have been lucky in striking upon a valuable vein, 
 is held up as an example of what others are likely to realize. A 
 San Francisco paper gave a list of 95 companies, organized in Cali- 
 fornia, by persons on the spot, of which the stock of only five (one in 
 every nineteen !) is worth par, or what it originally cost the sub- 
 scribers. What can those at a distance expect then, those who have 
 only hearsay, or the statements of interested, perhaps visionary or 
 over-sanguine parties to guide them. The truth is, a man has a bet- 
 ter chance of winning a prize in a lottery. As with the gold diggers, 
 so with the Eastern formed mining companies, where one will chance 
 to be successful, forty-nine will loose their money invested. 
 
 An editor of this city aimed several paragraphs at these companies, 
 when they were putting forward their inducements for persons to 
 ta >e their stock. In a subsequent issue of his paper, he says, " The 
 men engaged in one of them, took our remarks as aimed specifically 
 at themselves, and called upon us with documents to show their 
 legitimate organization (though it was not so until after our first 
 paragraph was published on the subject), and to show their personal 
 responsibility, all of which we admit. But we failed to be convinced 
 of the positive good prospects of the company. One of the parties 
 is alone able to take all the stock required, and if he had full faith 
 in all that he holds out to others, he would not invite them to give 
 
GOLD MINES AND MINING COMPANIES. 
 
 S9 
 
 $2M to $5 for shares that according to statements pnt forth will so 
 speedily become worth as many thousands.'' 
 
 Persons who intend investing in any company should ta'>e every 
 precaution to secure themselves against imposition. As in the Ca?e 
 of Quack Doctors, the more puffing a company does for itself the 
 more chance of its being a humbug. When parties offer shares for 
 $5 which they declare will be worth $500 in a few months, they show 
 altogether too great a desire to put money in your pocket, and 
 prudence would counsel you not to put too much faith in their 
 representations. 
 
 Many of these swindles would have gone on without molestation 
 had not the Internal Revenue law exposed some of the " tricks of 
 the trade." 
 
 The Atlantic Gold Mining Company, for instance, entered into a 
 combination to have their stock quoted at $2 at the brokers sales, 
 but when the law taxed them at that rate they squirmed terribly, 
 and were forced to own up the truth. The officers contessed before 
 the Commissioners that the sales were mere tricks, and that the stock 
 was not worth more than twenty -five cents, and probably could not 
 have been sold for that. 
 
 And so of others. The Broome Mining Co. had their stock quoted 
 at the board at ?2 when it is not worth thirty cents. The officers of 
 the Canada Lead Mining Company, the Champlain Copper, the Chat- 
 ham Mining, the Coal-brook Mining, the Chebucto GoU, the 
 Colorado Gold, the Grand Trunk Copper, the Green Mountain Min- 
 ing, the Kent Gold, the Logan Copper, the Mahoncy Coal, the 
 American Gold, the Newton Mining, the National Lead, "the Oxford 
 Plumbago, the Straftord Copper, the Waterloo Mining, the Glencoe, 
 the Dayton and the Roscoe, all came with a haltor about their necks 
 acknowledging their rascally frauds. It was '.ae same story all 
 through, trickery to palm off their worthless or next to worthless 
 stocks upon the public. They had a bitter pill to swallow, but 
 there was no alternative ; in either case it was all up with them, the 
 tax would take their last cent, and confession would expose their 
 game, but yet leave them a few dollars. They accordingly chose 
 the latter horn of the dilemma, and hence we have these infamous 
 developments. 
 
 But the reader will ask, "How are the great names, which we see, 
 obtained as officers for these bogus companies ?" In several ways 
 speculators have found that the names of influential men help them 
 wonderfully with the people. If this church Deacon or that bank 
 President, or the other great lawyer or prominent politician, gives 
 character to the company, all goes well. This object is generally 
 attained by privately presenting the person with 5,000, 10,000, or 
 100,000 dollars of the stock, charging him with secresy, and then 
 using him t<> refer to as a shrewd, upright man, who has become a 
 heavy stockholder in their company. For a President or Treasurer 
 of their concern, the speculators have to pay a mach larger sum. 
 In some instances, as much as a quarter of a million dollar* of stock 
 has been paid merely for the use of the person s name, the specula- 
 tors giving him the assurance that none of his time should be re- 
 
90 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 quired in the service of the company. In other cafes, honest men 
 
 of considerable reputation but no knowledge of business, accept 
 positions in these companies on being assured that they are "all 
 right" by parties with whom they are friendly, but with whose gen- 
 uine character they are not acquainted. The company, in fact, has 
 nothing to do but empty the pockets of a too credulous public. 
 Mining for metals or boring for oil, is the farthest thing in the world 
 from their intentions. Such is the character of many of the mining 
 and petroleum organizations, that are appealing to the public with 
 their flaming prospectuses, and array of imposing names. All are 
 not of course swindle?, as we are acquaiatad with some 1 men of high 
 standing and undoubted honesty, and who, although they are plac- 
 ed at the heads of some of these companies, would not, if they could, 
 secure the whole capital of the company, nor allow outsiders to be 
 duped by the c ev jiiie ••>■ efe >nd>i>tr<e. who are thus engaged in robbing 
 confiding citizens. The true way for people to do, who wish to in- 
 vest their money in companies, is to make a thorough examination 
 for themselves, and not trust to any of them, until they have the 
 most perfect assurance that they are genuine companies, and con- 
 trolled by men of undoubted honesty and ability. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 LOVE POWDERS — SYMPATHETIC POWDEKS — SFCF.ET CHAKMS. 
 
 That there should be any persons who would seriously imagine 
 they could u gain the love of the opposite sex'-' by the aid of pow- 
 ders or pi Is, may be doubted by many, but it Is so. Whenever you 
 see a man advertising to tell how to win a person : s love by some mys- 
 terious manner you may feed certain that man is engaged in the sale 
 of what are known as "love powders," or something similar. 
 
 A fellow advertising under the title of Professor Rondout adver- 
 tises a book, at one dollar, under the title of " The Art of Love- 
 Making." Besides promising to give instructions for beautifying the 
 person, to remove tan and freckles, and a number of other things, the 
 4i Professor" claims that ;" ; it teaches h -w to make ladies or gentle 
 men win the devoted affections of as many of the opposite sex as 
 their hear ts may desire. And the p an is so simple, yet so cap.ivat- 
 ing. that all may be married, irrespective of age, appearance, or 
 position; and it 'can be arranged with such ease and delicacy that 
 detection is impossible." 
 
 The plan that was so simple, was to invest in the advertiser's love 
 powders. The remainder of the contents were puffs of his lotions, 
 etc., which were worthless trash. There was no such man as r< Pro- 
 fe sor Rondout." The scamp Who advertised himself as such, was 
 a man by name of Weston ; but for reasons best known to himself, 
 lie was not to be seen by ordinary mortals. The police found him, 
 
LOVE POWDER?, ETC. 
 
 91 
 
 however, and he wx« arretted at one time for dealing in obscene 
 poblieadonB. Charming Professor! 
 
 It is unpleasant to estimate the number that were completely 
 " sold" by the above tempting advertisement ; but if it had the 
 effect of opening the eyes of bis victims to a view of one species of 
 humbnggery, it was not without its good results. But, beware of 
 all similar advertisements. There is no " powder,"' " pills," or 
 secrer method in existence, by w ich one person is caused to love 
 another ; and do not. for a moment, allow yourself to become so fur 
 demented as to think there is. 
 
 The love powders sold by these rascals are either substances 
 haviug no effect ei her for good or evil, or are compounds of violent 
 stimulating ingredients, intended to excite the gross animil passions. 
 No one who really loved another would think for a moment of re- 
 sorting to these compounds to gain the others affections. Where 
 parties are ignorant of these ingredients and effects they may be 
 induced by The statements of the advertisers to use the powders, 
 
 The following are the ingredients of the modem leve powdera : 
 
 Spanish flies is a dar.gerous drug, producing headache, delirium, 
 inflammation, convulsion-, and death. Phospnorus is also a poison 
 of a most violent character. Any one administering a compound 
 like the above would render himself liable to very severe penalties. 
 
 Another scoundrel, whose re d name is Samuel Henderson, has 
 been for some time swindling the public by means of various hum- 
 bugs. He advertises' himself as " Dr. Bland," '"Dr. Hankin=on." 
 i; Dr. Hawkinson «fc Co.," &c. Some time ago he was arrested 
 under the name of M Dr. Bland," but was released on promising to 
 abandon his swindling business. He continued, however, in " full 
 blast/' and was again arrested on complaint of persons in the coun- 
 try who had permitted themselves to be victimized by his vile ad- 
 vertisements. His obscene advertising circulars, — half a cart-load, 
 or more,— were taken to the Mayors office to be destroyed. 
 
 This model "Dr." is again under headway. He advertises his 
 trash by means of a dirty sheet called the yew York Journal, which 
 he sends to all parts of the country. One of his extraordinary 
 articles, which he desires to send to any address, post-paid, m rem pi 
 of one dull or, is the "Matrimonial and Sympathetic Card," which, 
 he says. il is an entirely new thing, and* of wonderful and almost 
 miraculous virtue." It will " surely accomplish for you any result 
 you may need, expect, or want." '"But," says the* Doctor, " the 
 most wonderful thing about them is, that the moment you I* l upon 
 or touch one of them, you are filled with the most intensely pleasur- 
 able and happy sensations it is possible to conceive." 
 
 These wonderful car Is are simply two pieces of copper and zinc, 
 soldered together. Tney product no fgiMfmi whatever, except a dis- 
 agreeable smell. 
 
 without any evil motive. 
 
 Spanish flies 
 Pnosphi rus . 
 
 Mask 
 
 Cloves 
 
 2 parts 
 
9:> 
 
 ROGUERIFS OF NEW YORK 
 
 The " doctor" gives the following ridiculous recipe for making 
 love powder : 
 
 The hair of a young virgin, calcined 3 oz. 
 
 The down ol a youth's chin(lbid) 4 oz. 
 
 Tlie eyes of toads 1 oz. 
 
 Human marrow 1 qr. 
 
 The sting of Queen Bees 1 so. 
 
 Camphor 6 oz. 
 
 Pure gold 1 qr. 
 
 He, however, states that he is not a believer in love powders (we 
 don't believe in them either), kindly advises us to let them alone 
 (very good advice, so far), and to bi,y his u compound" (advice of very 
 doubtful value), made from flowers, which is so "wonderful" that 
 he is " sometimes" astonished by it. He says that by its use a per- 
 son is thrown into such a state that it is extremely difficult to say 
 " no," and that " it has been known to induce a promise of mar- 
 riage where all other means failed." [!] 
 
 He is " not anxious to dispose of it," but thinks it a duty to " ac- 
 commodate his friends and readers," and therefore " will send a 
 phial of this rare preparation to any address on receipt of five dol- 
 lars." A drop will suffice for one occasion, to be dropped upon the 
 apparel of yourself, and of those of whose good wishes you feel 
 anxious to be possessed." 
 
 A grosser or more glaring swindle it would be hard to conceive 
 of. 
 
 Many of the " Love-Powder men" have become very wealthy, 
 selling their worthless trash ; and " Dr. Hankinson" will probably 
 " retire rich," unless the mayor concludes to put an effectual stop 
 to his swindling operations. 
 
 " One of the most prominent of these men," says the Tribune, " is 
 a Dr. E. Andrews, who lives in a four-story brick house in State 
 Street, in Albany, N. Y., who keeps his carriage, and cuts a huge 
 dash. He does not carry on the disgraceful part of his business in 
 Albany, but at Ireland's Corners, a little place about five miles from 
 that city. His specialty in swindling is the sale of an instrument 
 which he calls the ' Vibratory Preventive,' for which he charges $2, 
 and which is good for nothing of course. The following letter, 
 written by a Virginia postmaster to a Dr. Jean Jacques, who deals 
 in Love Powders, will show one man's experience of Dr. Andrews :" 
 
 "Ritchie C H Va Nov 28 
 Dr Jean Jaques Dr Sir 
 in looking over the weekly Samaritan I see an act of the Magnetic 
 Sympathetic powders I have seen acts of this kind time & again if 
 they be tacts they truly are Miraculous ones I always had an anxiety 
 to prove them as such to my satisfaction but t here is so many Rascals 
 in the world I dont know who to trust Some time ago I sent two 
 dollars in gold Somebody called himself D E Andiews Irelands 
 Corners Albany CoN Y perhaps You may know Him if you do You 
 know a perfect Scouderal be promis-ed to send me Something that 
 would perform all that you say your powders will do and 10 
 times more hp spoke of the'se powders and they might do thus and so 
 
LOVE POWDERS, ETC. 
 
 93 
 
 but said he one thing I do know that mv little nervo Vibratory pre- 
 ventive will cause enemies to be friends make five dollars look like 
 ten cause a witness to give evidence just as you wish cau s e men to 
 talk or prevent irom talking look at a woman'she would be bound to 
 luve youan'l 20 more things perhaps Yet not uecessiy to relate let it 
 sufllce to say he sent twj little pieces of tin with teeth liKe a siw 
 tied togather with a bit ot c>pper' wire for 2$ & altno he s.iid if it 
 did not, perform all these miguty things and I was dissat stied with 
 its pei formaace he would re und the money by return mail I sent 
 hm the tin to fool Somebody else with he can make & 2 more with it 
 ho kept the money tho and sent me a verry insolent letter and Wil- 
 fully Lied denying and contradicting the verry sircular he sent 
 which I have and can produce at any time Now Doctor if you are 
 not afraid to trust me for one dollar send me one package of powders 
 and if it acts well 111 send Your money double amount as soon as I 
 can give it a trial 111 not be like Andrews was with me if you cant 
 trust me I dont see Why I can trust you for I hive got out of tnat 
 notion pretty much Leal Stevens P M Ritchie C H Va" 
 
 Dr. Jacques would not send the powders till the $2 had been re- 
 ceived ; so Postmaster Stevens sent the money, and in return re- 
 ceived a two ounce package of wheat Jivur. lie believes now that 
 doctors are all humbugs. 
 
 A great many little books are published professing to teach the 
 " certain way'-" of winning lovers ad UbUum; but they are generally 
 mere catch-pennie3— made up of stale proverbs — silly, commonplace 
 advice, and are vehicles lor advertising the authors' nostrums, 
 " beauiifiers," &c. As the object of these pages is to preserve you 
 from gull-traps, we advise you not to send a penny lor one of these 
 " secret of love" publications, unless it is issued by a wdl-Knoivu, rt- 
 spedub e firm. 
 
 A man calling himself E. F. Mayo wants to humbug the public by 
 selling them "Secret Charms." He says they are in liquid form, 
 prepared from certain roots, and are to be rubbed on the hands and 
 forehead, ''as the forehead is the grand center of thought and feel- 
 ing together with the five senses of the human systain" including 
 taking and hearing of cour.-e! These wonderful liquids "make 
 you as it were a telegraphic battery to send out and receive coin- 
 municalions of thought! " For all these wonderful preparations ho 
 wants fifteen dollars, which fools, and fools only, will perhaps send 
 him. and buy hard experience. 
 
 Within the last few months circulars have been sent to young men 
 thr< u 'bout the country, by what purports to be the " Photographic 
 Union," requeuing them to forward photographs and biographical 
 sketches of their female acquaintances, and ottering prizes to those 
 sending the largest number. The object, according to the state- 
 ments of the " Lnion," is to form a gallery, where persons will be 
 admitted for a consideration,* to examine portraits and biographies, 
 for the purpose of selecting partners. The whole thing is' a flinty 
 cheat, and no one blessed with common sense will be taken in 
 by it. 
 
 i 
 
94 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 SWINDLING DIPOS^IBTLlTrES — HOW TO BE OUE INVISIBLE — AGRICUL- 
 TURAL PROPHtTd— TUAN'SMUIATI ON. 
 
 It has been said by some one that the more impossible a thing 
 was the more people would believe it possible. A long time ago a 
 man advertised in London that he would, on a certain evening, 
 enter a pint bottle. Of course such a thing could not he done, yet 
 thousands collected to see the feat performed. Equally absurd 
 humbugs are successfully carried on even at this enlightened day, 
 and we presume will be, in spite of what we can say. Many persons 
 are induced to patronize these swindlers " out of curiosity"— they 
 "knew it was a humbug, but wanted to see how it was done." To 
 those who wish to be swindled we have nothing to say, but those 
 who may be tempted to believe the stories these bcounarels tell, ire 
 would warn against sending money, under any circumstances, to 
 any one who offers to perform what is. considered, by persons of 
 common sense, an impossibility. 
 
 Some time ago a self-styled M. D., hailing from this city, flooded 
 the country with circulars, offering, among other things, to send any 
 one who would inclose three dollars to his address (merely as a 
 guarantee of good faith, of course), a ring composed of the purest 
 gold, which possessed, in addition to its intrinsic value, the power 
 to render the possessor invisible. The " Doctor" stated that he 
 would only send the jewel to those promising to " ma'- e a good use 
 of it." Whether all who sent intended to make a laudable use of 
 the article or not, we are unable to say - certain it is that the adver- 
 tiser received a large number of orders, and the candidates for " in- 
 visibility," if they received any rings at all, probably found them 
 composed of a material, perhaps as useful, but certainly not as val- 
 uable as gold. Whatever they did receive, we are confident they 
 found the article powerless to alter their visible forms. However 
 they found themselves, we imagine in no case did they find the money 
 anything else than invisible. 
 
 Another individual, possessing about as much honesty as the 
 u medical gentleman" aforesaid, recently advertised a lecture in a 
 certain place, on " Unsuspected Wonders," or some subject of the 
 kind, and proposed to make himself invisible to the audience and 
 yet remain in the room, with nothing to obstruct the view of any 
 one present. A large audience and a large haul of currency greeted 
 the lecturer on the evening, and after a short discourse, the gentle- 
 man stated that he would now " make himself invisible, and totally 
 disappear, without leaving the rostrum." Of course all was expec- 
 tation. The lecturer stepped back a little and turned of the gas, ex- 
 tinguishing the lights, and making the hall u as dark as Egypt." 
 The audience made the best of their way to the street, being unable 
 in the darkness to mete out to their entertainer the reward that was 
 justly his due. As soon as the coast was clear the scientific gentle- 
 
SWINDLING IMPOSSIBILITIES, ETC. 
 
 man, with carpet-bag and spoils, made tracks for another part of 
 the country— no doubt feeling that a protracted stay in that location 
 might prove unhealthy. 
 
 If any of our readers are anxious to " be invisible" we recommend 
 them to try the last experiment — if any wish to be swindled as well 
 as make fools of themselves, we advise them to inclose three dollars 
 to the " Doctor." 
 
 A writer in the Clikagp Inbunc, in a long communication, claims to 
 have discovered an infallible method of determining between the 
 middle of October and the middle of February of each year, what 
 will be the success of the wheat crop of the following season. He 
 professes to have tested bis theory for thirteen years past, and found 
 it infallible. He modestly claims to^ predict with certainty only 
 concerning the " territory west of Lake Michigan, and north of forty- 
 olc degrees, and to some extent south of that line, but would not 
 be so sure, as the effects of those causes disappear as you go south." 
 What becomes of the causes after the effects have disappeared, we 
 are not informed. This individual proposes to impart this informa- 
 tion for sixty dollars, or thirty dollars each year for two years, or 
 ten dollars a year for ten years ; at the end of that time the key of 
 the guide will be given ; but all necessary information will be 
 given before the seeding time of each year," etc. He oracularly 
 says " this year is indicated by those causes to be an extreme one — 
 either very large, or very small. Immediately after seeding time I 
 will state which." Seeding time is past, but we have not yet seen 
 the promised statement. This man may sincerely believe he can do 
 what be professes j we do not, and advise our readers to remain 
 incredulous and save their money. 
 
 A "doctor" (who would, we imagine, be at a loss to tell how ho 
 became entitled to his title of If. D.,) sends out circulars from New 
 York City soliciting agents to sell the British Metallic Mutual As- 
 sociation Transmutater's Guide. There's something in thai name, 
 surely. It is said to be the most complete exposition of ancient 
 Alchemy ever published, " contains important information to bank- 
 ers, merchants, farmers, mechanics, clerks, laborers — in fact the 
 most important information to every one ever brought to light from 
 the Hidden Storehouse of Nature, being a sure fortune to all who 
 possess a copy of this work, and practise, as laid down in the simple 
 receipts in the Guide." Then for the inevitable one dollar extra, 
 " a person may become a member of the Society and enjoy all the 
 rights, benefits," &c. You — the reader — are a sensible person. 
 If you could make in some way S10 or $100 a day, would you 
 advertise to sell your secret for fifty cents or a dollai^? Could you 
 transmute base metals to gold, would you sell your secret for one 
 dollar, or would you make all the gold you needed yourself first, 
 and dispose of the " secret" afterwards ? We can tell the reader 
 how to make two dollars in connection with this concern. Just 
 keep your money ; it will be clear gain ; the " transmutation" con- 
 sists in transferring cash from the pockets of the credulous to those 
 of a " sharp practitioner." If any choose to invest in the scheme, 
 will they please inform us when they are successful ; we desire to be 
 present " when the laugh comes in." 
 
96 
 
 ROGUERIES OP NEW YORK. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 SITUATION AGENCIES — BUSINESS CHANCES — AGENT8 WANTED— FOR- 
 TUNES CHEAP, ETC. 
 
 The frequency with which villianies appear in the columns of the 
 daily press, makes them almost cease to be remarked. We are apt 
 to forget that anybody can be duped by them, and that a continued 
 caution is necessary to keep the simple and unwary on their guard. 
 The persistence with which the rogues follow up this trick for rais- 
 ing the wind, shows that they* must find a good many victims. It is 
 a shame that such transparent humbuggery cannot be stopped. The 
 class that suffer is a very large and important one, and its interests 
 certainly deserved to be looked after by our law-makers. It is the 
 class of hard workers with small means— persons whose necessities 
 and whose desire of bettering their condition are so great that they 
 fall readily into the snares of these specious scoundrels. Many of 
 the well to-do in the world would think there was no great tempta- 
 tion in such an advertisement as the following : 
 
 " Wanted, two young men to go to Savannah as clerks in a grocery 
 and shoe store ; wages $100 a month. Answer in own handwriting, 
 stating reterence. Inclose 50 cents to pay for advertisement. Address 
 ♦ Merchant,' Box 9,999 New York Post Office. Postage paid." 
 
 A man at his ease, and out of want, sees this swindle, of course, at 
 first glance, and wonders that anybody else can fail to do so. But 
 the fact is, the eager hope that the tempting offer excites and blinds 
 the victims to its plain indications of dishonesty. A few, perhaps, 
 are naturally so simple as to be unable to see the snare ; and some 
 half suspecting the humbug, nevertheless conclude to risk the little 
 sum, in view of the great value of the situation, should it happen to 
 be obtained. But great numbers catch at the tempting offer with 
 scarcely a suspicion of its deception. 1 Thus the money goes a little 
 from each one, and their hard earnings form in the aggregate a hand- 
 some premium for roguery. The sums individually lost are too 
 small to lead any of the victims to prosecute the swindler, and it be- 
 comes therefore the duty of the public prosecutor to take the 
 matter in hand as a measure of public benefit and necessity. A few 
 examples made of the offenders would check the most flagrant part 
 of this rascality at once. By the assistance of the Post-Office clerks, 
 detection is very easy. It has been done on various occasions, and 
 all that is necessary is that the action be followed up. 
 
 A swindle of this kind has just been detected in the Newark Post- 
 office, accidentally, however, because the rogue had the impudence 
 to have his letters sent to another man's letter-box. Answers to his 
 advertisement came pouring in from that and other cities, and the 
 scamp presented himself and was about to come into a handsome 
 amount " to pay for advertisement," when the post-master dashed 
 his prospects by refusing to give up the letters without a written 
 
TUATION AGENCIES, ETC. 
 
 97 
 
 order from the owner of the box. The latter applied at the offk e 
 for hi3 mail a short time after, when the fraud was at once made 
 apparent Many of the letters contained the desired fifty cents ; a 
 considerable number of them were evidently written by persons in 
 needy circumstances, anxious to secure the promised lucrative posi- 
 tion. The owner of the box caused the money all to be returned to 
 the parties sending it 
 
 One of the writers fathomed the design of the advertiser, and sent 
 the following amusing and pertinent reply : 
 
 "Newabk, Feb. 1, 1865.— Box 711— Noticing your advertisement, 1 
 would reply that I can bring good recommendation from my former 
 employer. I have been selling salve at fifty cents a box, and as I 
 sold the last one on credit, I am unable to enclose the money as re- 
 quested. I have also had some experience in the Flat and Jackass 
 line, and should you employ me, I think I could sell you for the latter 
 in a very short time ; and if you are successful in buying Flats at 
 fifty cents apiece (and I am somewhat a Flat myself, though not to be 
 bought for that sum), I think I should be able to sell all that you buy 
 at an advance of twenty-five per cent, at least. Should you need my 
 services, address Timothy Shad, Curb Stone Place, Goose Hollow, or 
 any other man." 
 
 Among the advertisements of a newspaper, none are more eagerly 
 read than those under the head of " Business Chances." How many 
 young men, dissatisfied with the routine of their ordinary business, 
 or anxious to obtain employment by which unusually large profits 
 may be had, eagerly scan the notices of " partner wanted,''' " situa- 
 tions," u agents wanted," etc The following is a sample of the 
 notices often t« be met with : 
 
 u To any young man with a caf»h capital of $300, an excellent chance 
 is offered fur engaging in a light, agreeable and lucrative business, 
 whereby a handsome yearly profit can be made. Young men who 
 have no friends m the city will find this a quick and pleasant means of 
 securing an easv and paying business ready made to their hand. 
 For further particulars, address," <tc, &c. 
 
 The author of that advertisement is a swindler, and if you should 
 have anything to do with him, the u little capital" which you have 
 " saved up" would soon be where you would never see " ary red" 
 of it again. We warn our readers against these traps for " young 
 men tcno have no friends in the ciVy." Will men never learn that there 
 w not, and can not be, any easy way to " a handsome yearly profit" 
 from the very start, in any business whatever ? 
 
 Our country friends will very often see fine openings for young 
 men in the city, especially those who have a few hundred dollars to 
 invest Let us tell them, once for all, that 999 in every 1000 of 
 these offers are humbugs. We give two illustrations : 
 
 A few days ago an u Employment Agency" advertised for a clerk 
 in an oil company in Pennsylvania, at $800 a year, etc A young 
 man just over from England applied, and was told that for*$6 he 
 could secure the place. He paid the money, or so much as he had, 
 and was told that the President of the Companv was coming to the 
 city on the following Monday, and would call for him. The young 
 
98 
 
 ROGUERIES OP NEW YORK. 
 
 man called on Monday, but found no one in (probably fifty others 
 had paid for the place, and were told to call in the same way, but 
 on some other day or hour.) The young man called again and 
 again, and finally watched the door all one day, and at last caught 
 the swindler in. He plead absence from sickness, and showed a 
 bogus letter from the " President," saying he had been detained by 
 important busines but would come soon. The young man called 
 day after day with the same result, and finally becoming impatient, 
 used some harsh words, when the man ordered him out, threatening 
 that if one word more was said, he would have him arrested for 
 assault, and swear him into prison. The swiudler had found that 
 his victim was a timid stranger, and got rid of him thus ; and by 
 similar subterfuges, he probably pocketed $500 from a hundred 
 victims, in less than a month ; and thus the game goes on. The 
 victims are strangers ; their first experience makes them afraid to 
 trust anybody, and they refuse to appear even as witnesses, if any 
 one happens to find out their case and offers to aid them. 
 The following letter explains itself : 
 
 u To the Editor of the American Agriculturist : 
 
 " As a warning to others allow me to give your readers a little of 
 my experience, if you suppress mv name. I am a farmers's eon ot 
 Western New York — have devoted most of my spare hours to books, 
 and learned but little of t!ie "vays of the world." I came East to 
 college with but a small sura to carry me through, and by boarding 
 myself and earning what I can in vacations, hope to complete my 
 course. As the winter vacation was approaching, I was casting 
 about for something to do, when I saw the lollowing advertisement 
 published in a New York daily paper : 
 
 A GOOD CHANCE FOR A YOUNG MAN.— A FINE EXHIBITION OF 
 works of art is nearly ready. A youog man is wanted for the winter to assist 
 in explanations and in attending at the door. One preferred with $300, to be used 
 under his own direction, in completing some final purchases of materials which he 
 can retain until reimbursed. As security, he will have charge of the exhibition 
 works, which are worth $8,000, and he will also have the care of all the money 
 receipts. Salary $100 a month and expenses, or if preferred, a part interest. 
 Call on, &c. 
 
 «* As I had just $300 left, this seemed to be a good opening for me. 
 So I hastened to New York, and called as directed. I found a very 
 bland man, who was exceedingly patronizing, and who, under 
 the plea of learning my qualifications, drew out my personal history. 
 He decided I was just the man he wanted. He showed me a printed 
 handbill (but I could not get a copy to keep,) setting lorth a magnifi- 
 cent exhibition. He made very ingenious excuses for not showing 
 me the works that day, and for wanting the money at a given time. 
 On my insisting upon seeing them, he took me into one ot the largest 
 Picture Galleries, and named a dozen fine paintings as belonging to 
 his outfit, which (he said) had been left there temporarily by special 
 request. On my pressing him further to show me the chief objects, 
 he led me arouud through several streets, and finally stopped before 
 a large building closed up. Ho knocked violently but no one answer- 
 ed; he went round the building hastily, and soon after came back 
 with the statement that his artists had all gone off on a target excur- 
 sion without mentioning it to him He then went into a rapturous 
 description of what was inside of those closed doors. On our way 
 
SITUATION AGENCIES, ETC. 
 
 99 
 
 bnck, he invited me to dinner at a splendid saloon, and on going out, 
 felt for his pocketrbook to pay, but unfortunately he had " changed 
 his pa-its, and left his purse"— wanted me to pay , and he would seuie 
 it at his room. I stood it, but my eyes were open by this tim3. I 
 had two hours before tre evening boat, and during this time he 
 exercised his utmost ingenuity to get a bonus towards the J300 
 (which I did not refuse to p:iy, until I felt myself safely out or* bis 
 influence). At last, when about to start, 1 told him I chould keep 
 my money. He then went off into a very high strain <>f injured inno- 
 cence — accused me of using up his whole day, and demanded $10 i<>r 
 his time — " a hundred d> liars would not pay him." He claimed I 
 had agreed to invest the money early in the day, and caller' upon an 
 apparently unconcerned man, who had been near us sever.il limes, 
 who at once said he would swear I did positively so agree. The two 
 tried hard to scare me out of $25, then $10. I was a stranger in a, to 
 me, strange city, and lelt a little nervous, as I hardly knew ihe way 
 to the steamboat. One of the m started off saying he was going round 
 the corner for a warrant, and that I could not leave the city until I 
 had made it right with him. I started, however, one of them follow- 
 ing me, crowding me and trying to frighten me. Seeing a pnlicem in 
 
 I quickened my steps and called for his protection. Just then the 
 chaps disappeared round the corner, and I got to the stearahoat, 
 arrived at my room the next morning, minus two days time, and }9 
 exponses, but a much wiser young man. I give you in outline, a 
 statement of facts — hoping others may become wiser at less expense. 
 — Yours," &o. 
 
 The desire to u make money" without work, is an inherent princi- 
 ple of human nature. In these days of marvelous hoops and Patent 
 Baby Consolers ; of Shanghai coats and Patent Mowing Machines, 
 the young ladies won't work, and the young men had rather not ! 
 
 II Light genteel employment" only, is desired, and none at all if 
 u money" can be made without. As there are always persons simple 
 enough to believe there are " fortunes for $1," there are also scamps 
 enough to foster such a belief by those advertisements you see in 
 the papers, some specimens of which we present in this section. 
 Almost invariably, these immense fortunes are to be made by ped- 
 dliug recipes, impression paper, or some quack nostrum. 
 
 In one chapter on Love Powders, we mentioned a certain Dr. 
 Hankinson. In addition to his powder business, the doctor is 
 anxious to dispose of numerous recipes, by which, according to Am 
 statement, " thousands of the old and young, cf both sexes, can lind 
 employment, and gain riches." 
 
 1. Recipe for making Artificial Honey ; price $2. 
 
 2. (A sine fortune ") Recipe for making Fire-prcof paint; price 
 ten dollars." 
 
 3. Recipe for making Tndia Ink ; price $5. 
 
 4. Learn of him how to become, in a week's time, a skillful engraver 
 on steel =<nd enpper; this knowledge for $6. 
 
 Dr. Hankinson is certain you will become wealthy by paying 
 him $22 for the above recipes, which are to be found in nearly all 
 " Household Recipe Books." He says he wants to have people 
 name him " as a benefactor ;" his ambition is to have a rlth man 
 say, as he travels in kis own carriage, " Five years ago I was poor ; 
 
100 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 now I am wealthy, thanks to Dr. Eankinson — wealthy in five 
 
 years by peddlmg recipes I 
 
 WHY BE WITHOUT MONEY? WHEN IT IS JUST AS EASY FOR 
 any oue to be around witu a pocket tuil as nut. if tuey ouly tniuk so. I 
 have goc a new article, from winch lio.n live to twenty dollars a day can be made 
 eitiier oy male or female. It is a hignly respectable business aiid aii art.cle which 
 is wanted in every family in the Uuued States. Enclose me two dollars oy mail, 
 at my nsa, aud 1 will forward by return mail a Circular, with full instruct* o'.s in 
 tho art 'ihe business is very easy. Try it, if you are out of employment, 9nd 
 you will never regret it ; for it wilJ be better for you to pay the aoove sum, aud 
 insure a good business, than to pay twenty-five cents for a spurious advertisement. 
 Ihis is no humbug. Try it ! Tar IT I TRY IT 1 Address your letters to— — 
 New York. 
 
 The above was published in quite a number cf New-England 
 papers. It is ridiculously flimsy, and evidently the production of 
 some " hard up'" ignoramus. The verJ.ants who can be " sold"' by 
 such an advertisement, would make money by exhibiting themselves 
 at " ten cents a show !" 
 
 TIT ANTED 500 MEN TO ACT AS AGENTS IN A BUSINESS, LIGHT, 
 If pleasant, aud honorable, at a salary of SiCO per mouth, i or lull particulars 
 in regard to the business, inclose postage stamp, and address 
 
 H. B. CARTER, Havervill, Mass. 
 
 $103 a month man be good pay for peddling bogus lottery tickets, 
 but the money in this case was not to find us way inio tUe uye>.0& 
 pocket. When men desire to engage your service to help cheat 
 others, you may be sure they also meditate cheating you. 
 
 £onn WANTED— AN AGENT IN EVERY COUNTY IN THE 
 
 fp oUUi Union, for an article commanding large sales. Salary first year, $600 
 and a small commission. On receipt of 2d cents to delray expenses, a sample of 
 of article and full particulars sent. Address 
 
 "DR. SHEPPAED," New York. 
 
 The counties in the Union number nineteen hundred, and fSOO 
 per year to an agent in each, would amount to something like 
 « 1,250,000 ! which snug little sum the adverti er declared his anxiety 
 to disburse, besides '■commission!^ And twenty-five cents lrom 
 one agent in a counly would have amounted to 475, which the 
 "Dr." was exceedingly desirous to pocket; but didn't, as some 
 hard-hearted person, wuom he swindled, reported the enterprising 
 Dr., and the police spoilt his business. 
 
 8'aa TO S1.C00 A YEAR. SURE— 10.400 COPIES SOLD IN 16 
 0UU months. Address (with two stamps), &c. . 
 
 Clear as mud. Six cents from all the greenies, would probably 
 make the " *500 to ? 1,000 a year, sine." 
 
 Q~> nnn A YEAR AXD N0 RISK.— I am now making over 
 
 SjUUU this amount, in the prosecution of a business, full instruction in which, 
 with a sample. I propose to send to any lady or gentlemen on receipt of one dollar. 
 Any one who cau raad. can do as well as I am doing, as it is new, respectable, 
 and takes wherever introduced. MRS. New Madrid, Mo. 
 
 Our experience has shown us that, as a general thing, persons 
 who have a business paying large profits prefer to keep it to them- 
 selves. It seems hardly profitable to set people up in opposition, 
 
SEWING MACHINE SWINDLES. 
 
 101 
 
 for the small sum of one dollar. Mrs. 's income, we imagine, 
 
 consists of what she is able to sponge out cf those simple enough to 
 believe her statements. 
 
 A FEW GENTLEMEN WANTED— TO MAKE $6 A DAY BY A 
 small investment Those desiring to know that such an opportunity is a fact, 
 and who wish employment, will be fully informed by calling on (A. CArcHl'EX- 
 HT, Es<^.) New York, or by addressing a letter containing L2£ cents in money or 
 stamps. 
 
 A very liberal catchpenny ! Only 12 J cents demanded for in- 
 forming i( a tew gentlemen" that they can make two thousand dol- 
 lars a year by peddling patent rat traps! 
 
 Remember that the hundreds of similar advertisements you see in 
 the papers are all swindles, and that any money sent to the adven- 
 turers will be so much thrown away, without any benefit received 
 in return. 
 
 Another thing : — Dout come to the city in search of a situation. 
 Hundreds, yes thousands, of the unemployed of almost every known 
 calling, are always here waiting for a " chance.' Don't come and 
 add to the number. It a sanation has not already been secured to 
 you, and you have no friends here, ifay away, and be spared all the 
 expense and disapp ointment of a bootless journey here. 
 
 CHAPTER XXHL 
 
 SEWING MACUINE SWINDLES. 
 
 • 
 
 This i9 probably one of the most thoroughly worked, and most 
 successful swindle that is carried on. The common mode of work- 
 ing it is thus : Parties advertise for agenls to sell machines at a 
 salary of from seventy-five to one hundred and titty dollars a month 
 and " expenses paid." Should you send for a circular, as the ad- 
 vertisers request, you will find in them splendid inducements held 
 out, statements of profits given, and a large salary is ottered ; but, 
 every one accepting an agency is required to first buy one of the 
 machines at the retail price, and the promise is made that the dis- 
 count for wholesale shall be refunded at the next purchase. It is 
 also stipulated that the agent shall buy and sell the machines on his 
 own accouitt for a time ''in order that the advertisers may ascertain 
 what his services are worth." This is said iu order to sneak out of 
 their offer to pay a regular salary, for in no case is this their inten- 
 tion. 
 
 Often these circulars are sent out to those who have not applied 
 for them, but whose names the swindlers were enabled to obtain. 
 Generally, the exclusive right to sell machines in a particular lo- 
 cally is offered as a special inducement. We recollecc one instance 
 where every man in a certain village had a u private" circular sent 
 him, inviting him to become an agent for one of these bogus con- 
 
102 
 
 ROGUERIES OP NEW YORK. 
 
 cerns, and agreeing to give him the exclusive sale of machines in 
 that place. So thoroughly were these circulars distiibuted that the 
 matter was overdone, and when neighbors came to compare note3, 
 the humbug leaked out. Some who have caught at this bait inform 
 us that they sent their money, but have heard nothing further of it, 
 nor of the promised machine. Others say the first machine, for 
 which $10 or more was charged, came as directed, but it was not 
 worth more than its weight in old iron. Of course they could make 
 nothing by acting as agents for such trumpery, and they were 
 obliged to pocket the loss. Well-established and reliable com 
 panics have their agents, but we know of none that send out circu- 
 lars promising to employ whoever m?.y choose to engage in the 
 business. They select their men only after some acquaintance or 
 guaraniee of fitness. Beware of all such gilded baits : they in- 
 variably cover a sharper deal. It is of little use to correspond with 
 such establishments. Let their circulars be turned to account as 
 waste paper. 
 
 Really good machines are sometimes offered at less than the prices 
 usually charged by first class manufacturers. We would caution 
 our readers to be careful about investing in these machines. We 
 feel pretty safe in saying that in all such cases the machine is a 
 pirated one ; that is, no license is paid for the two or three patents 
 involved in it, which are owned by other parties ; and however 
 well it may perform its work, its possessor must run the risk of 
 having it seized at any moment by those whose rights are infringed. 
 Many suppose that it is only the man who makes the machine, or the 
 seller, that is liable. This is a mistake ; the machine can be seized 
 wherever found, and the user is liable for the infringements as well 
 as the ma^er or seller. A lady friend of ours once purchased a sewing 
 machine at a very low price, which she considered, quite a bargain. 
 " It was fully equal to Wheeler and Wilson's machines — almost ex- 
 actly like them V So very like them, in fact, that within two 
 months after it came into her possession, the machine was seized by 
 an agent of Wheeler & Wilson, of whose patents it was a gross viola- 
 tion. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 PERAMBULATING SWINDLERS— TREE TEDDLERS, ETC. 
 
 In addition to the sharpers and humbugs who have " a local habi- 
 tation and a (fictitious) name," in the large cities, and reach their 
 country customers through the medium of circulars and advertise- 
 ments, there are other individuals who feel it a duty (to themselves) 
 to edify the rural population with their presence. These same in- 
 dividuals — unlike the rolling stone, which gathered no moss — man- 
 age to gather considerable pecuniary moss, as they go from place to 
 place. This class includes almost every branch of industry (!) from 
 
PERAMBULATING SWINDLERS, ETC. 
 
 " consumption doctors," " astrologists," and ** phrenologists," to 
 corn and bunion doctors, and peddlers of bogus seeds. For infor- 
 mation in respect to the former, see previous chapters. We will 
 give a few examples of the perambulating humbug, and trust they 
 will be enough to enable our readers to distinguish any of the class 
 they may come across. 
 
 A class of speculators are swarming through the country, carry- 
 ing samples of " wine," and selling Rhubarb or Pie-plant roots at 
 enormous prices, claiming that these roots wTj, in a single season, 
 produce several thousand dollars worth of " wine" to the acre. A 
 species of alcoholic liquor can be produced from almost every 
 known plant, by fermenting wiih the addition of sugar. The juices 
 of the Rhubarb stems can be used, and with proper manipulation, 
 make a passable liquor, flavored somewhat with the plant, or, "as 
 you like" by the addition of drugs But it is sheer humbug to claim 
 that a valuable high-flavored " wine" can be produced directly from 
 the Rhubarb. Nor can a liquor be made which re pomibU parties 
 will contract for in large quantity at $2 per gallon, or even much 
 lower figures. Some of the speculators may offer to take a little, in 
 order to sell their roots. They are buying up all the Linnaeus Rhu- 
 barb plants in the country, if they have not already done so, at 
 various prices, from $1.50 to i3 per barrel — latterly at ^0 — and at 
 $18 to *50 per 1000 roots, and then working them off as "wine 
 plants," at 1-250 to *400 per 1000 ! It takes good strong roots until 
 the second season after planting, to produce a fair crop of stems. If 
 picked at all the first season, the roots will be worth little the next 
 year. A dozen Rhubarb roots in the garden are valuable to yield 
 early pie material — but as a u wine plant" they are of little account. 
 
 Farmers are every year swindled out of large sums by itinerant 
 peddlers of trees, vines, etc. The common mode of doing this is to 
 show samples, take orders, and receive either the whole or a part of 
 the payment in advance. The trees ordered are to be delivered at 
 such and such a time by the nursery which the peddler pretends to 
 represent In some cases the articles ordered are actually delivered, 
 but turn out to be nearly or quite worthless, or of an entirely differ- 
 ent variety from what is desired. In other cases, no return whatever 
 is made lor the money received, and by the time the victim discovers 
 the swindle, the agent is plying his dishonest vocation hundreds of 
 miles away. Of course all agents for nurseries are not swindlers ; 
 but great caution should be observed, and reasonable guarantees of 
 good faith required, before trusting any straugar. 
 
 Another method of swindling, much practiced, is the sale of 
 " patent-rights." A man offers to sell a certain machine, and the 
 right to manufacture or sell the same in some county, for a certain 
 amount* The money is paid — the machine is to be sent to the pur- 
 chaser in a few days, and — nothing further is heard of the " patent- 
 right" man. 
 
 A very sharp game was played in the northern part of New York 
 State, some time since, by operators who quite likely are now at 
 work in other parts. An agent agrees to put up lightning rods on 
 buildings to remain a year on trial. He gives a written agreement 
 
104 
 
 ROGUERIES OP NEW YORK. 
 
 that if they suit and are wanted at the end of the year, all right ; if 
 
 not he is to remove them without cost to the parties. He taKes 
 what he calls an " Order" for the rods, but what in reality is a 
 promissory note, which he sells to the first note broker that will buy. 
 In this way thousands of dollars were taken from this section of 
 country, and for no really good equivalent returned. 
 
 Look out for the " Gas" Man. There is a chap out West selling 
 the right to " make and use Olefiant Gas." He charges only one 
 dollar for the recipe, which is as follows : 2 quarts alcohol, 1 pint 
 camphene, 2 ounces of alum, 1 teaspoonful of " Cucuma" liquid. 
 Mix, let stand 12 hours, then use. This is not gas at all, but only 
 the old and dangerous burning fluid with alum added, and colored 
 by " Cucuma," which should be Curcuma — but these humbugs are 
 generally illiterate. At the present price of materials, this would 
 be a very expensive, as well as a very dangerous light. 
 
 Persons in the country are often cheated by parties who repre- 
 sent themselves as travelling agents for magazines and newspapers, 
 and often people are induced to give their money to irresponsible 
 scamps, who have no authority from the publishers they pretend to 
 represent. If any one offers you a periodical at less than the regu- 
 lar price— especially if a " preminm" is offered as an additional in- 
 ducement to subscribers in all such cases it is absolutely necessary, 
 in order to secure yourself against risk, that you should reqmre the 
 agent to show his certificate of agency, or other proof that he is 
 authorized to obtain subscribers for the publication. There are 
 many perfectly honest persons in the canvassing business, and we 
 would not say anything to injure them ; but they will have no 
 trouble in proving their honesty, so our remarks will not hurt them. 
 Also, look out for bogus papers, of which you will only receive one 
 or two numbers, and will then find your money gone forever. 
 
 Confidence is an excellent thing in any community. Some one 
 calls it the ground-plan of all business transactions. The bone and 
 sinew of all dealings between man and man, as Mr. Micawber might 
 say. 
 
 There are certain pleasant plays called "confidence games," 
 which are quite fashionable in cities, and, sometimes, creep into 
 such quiet communities as Blankville. Very few requisites are 
 needed to play this game successfully. A well-dressed man, with 
 a plausible, impressive manner, a fluent tongue, and a well-dis- 
 posed, appreciative class of people, who are able to keep a good 
 look out for their own interests, are all that are needed. 
 
 A benevolent-looking individual visited Blankville a few months 
 ago, who was keenly alive to the sufferings of little children who 
 cut their fingers and stub their toes, and who was willing, for the 
 trifling consideration of fifty cents, to furnish a balsam which should 
 entirely remove all the pain, and prevent all subsequent ill effects. 
 This was the argument which he used to win the hearts of tender 
 mothers. But this was only his small arm practice. 
 
 He brought out his heavy artillery last. This little tin box was 
 only a ticket, so to speak, to a splendid lottery system, in which the 
 trifling prizes of jewelry, silver spoons and forks, were cast quite 
 
PERAMBULATING SWINDLERS, ETC. 105 
 
 into the shade by the grand pianos, melodeons, and gold watches 
 to which the luc .y buyers received a title. 
 
 The grandeur of the scheme was only eclipsed by its impudence. 
 But it is said that no statement can be made so absurd that it will 
 not find believers. 
 
 Our baNam man was setting forth the merits of his cause to a 
 laborer's wife, when she told him she was much in want of a blanket 
 shawl. " If there were blanket shawls among the prizes, sae would 
 not mind investing." 
 
 There wire blanket shawls among the prizes. " Such an extensive 
 enterprise as this, would not leave out such an important article." 
 And the gentleman felt almost injured by the suspicions that he had 
 omitted them. Twelve fifty cent boxes would put her down < n the 
 shawl list, and most likely enable ber to obtain an excellent one 
 for nothing. And was not the balsam itself worth double the money 
 she paid for it ? There were few earthly ills it would not cure. 
 
 Mrs. K. is a woman of property, but none of your shallow-surface 
 people, moved by every frivolous plea for charity. She pays heavy 
 taxes, part of which go to support almshouses for the support of all 
 paupers. It would be unreasonable to expect of her " to pay fur 
 their support twice over." The poor in the community generally 
 have never received anything from her that they know of. 
 
 The plausible balsam man called on Mrs. K., and as she hai no 
 children to stub their toes or bruise their fingers, he made the prin- 
 ciple point on the prize piano. Such an article would be about as 
 useful to her as the prize elephant was, which the man won, though 
 she might not be quite so puzzled to know what to do with it. It 
 might stand in silent grandeur on her brussels carpet ; and, per- 
 haps, once or twice a year some visitor could play a tune upon it. 
 Ho a ever, a piano was " portable property," and Mrs. K. was not so 
 blind to her own interest as not to take one when she could get it 
 for nothing. So twelve dollars and twenty-four boxes changed 
 hands forthwith. 
 
 A confiding neighbor was dazzled with the glitter of a gold 
 watch and chain, and, though her husband was out, she ventured 
 to invest ten dollars in the project. Her skeptical husband " did 
 not see it," when he cams home, and even made light of her specu- 
 lation. Her indignation was justly aroused, and she remarked with 
 spirit : 
 
 " I did mean to give you that watch, but now I shall not ; I shall 
 give it to my brother." 
 
 " I hardly know where we can put our piano," said another lady, 
 glancing around the small parlor. Her hu>band did not seem much 
 exorcised on the matter ; at least, it would be time enough to build 
 on an addition when it came. 
 
 To prevent all mistake, the man had each lady write out an 
 envelope with her address, and enclose ten cents to pay the express 
 charges on the prizes. He had probably arranged with transporta- 
 tion companies to forward his goods at reduced rates. Common 
 people cannot get their pianos shipped for ten cents. 
 
 The prizes have not come yet, but the fortunate owners of the 
 
106 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 tickets look for them, much in the way that farmers look for rain 
 when the almanac tells them to, " If it does not come, keep a-look- 
 ing." 
 
 On the whole, if the salve man comes to your town, it would be 
 just as well to give him the cold shoulder. Some think it would be 
 hardly possible for the most reliable contraband to do more lying 
 in a given time ; but there are severe, censorious people in every 
 community. 
 
 As the case now stands, the ladies of Blankville are qualified to 
 set up a branch hospital for wounded soldiers, if the Government is 
 so disposed ; they have supplies for curing a regiment at least 
 
 Some meddlesome individual, it is true, has stated that the famous 
 balsam is composed of lard, beeswax, and rosin, and that its virtues 
 are nearly equal to mutton tallow ; but such croakers are entitled 
 to no confidence. Tbey are merely disappointed individuals, who 
 did not receive a call from the dealer, and so wish to disparage his 
 wares. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 CONFIDENCE GAMES AND CONFIDENCE OPERATORS. 
 
 Under the title of confidence games may be included all those 
 operations in which the rogue succeeds in fleecing his victim by 
 gaining his confideace, and then betraying it. The varieties of 
 these games are innumerable, and we can notice only some of those 
 which will serve as specimen cases, and show how some persons 
 contrive to exist by their wits. Our readers have probably all 
 heard of the well-dressed females who visited drygoods stores, 
 made purchases, and requested that a clerk might accompany them 
 home to receive the payment. The clerk enters the lady's carriage, 
 and is driven to a hotel or handsome residence. The lady takes 
 the bundle into the house, requesting the young man to remain in 
 the carriage till her return with the money. Growing impatient at 
 her delay, he enters the house only to find she has decamped by 
 another door. 
 
 A recent occurrence gives another example of sharp practice. 
 A man named Felix G. Fiol was arrested on a charge of swindling, 
 preferred against him by Mr. John Greis, of No. 152 Bowery. It 
 seems that some ten days before the accused called at the store of 
 the complainant, and representing himself to be the Spanish Consul 
 at Charleston, S. C, ordered two suits of clothes and a black dress 
 coat. He also stated that if the clothes pleased him, he would 
 order a consuls uniform made. The garments were to be finished 
 on the 21st inst, and he promised to pay the bill in gold on the 
 19th. On the 17th he called upon Mr. Greis, and stated that he 
 was about to take a ride with the Spanish Consul of this city, and 
 wished to get a coat and hat, which were procured for him at an 
 
ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 expense of twenty-five dollar';. The eftawfter iP i ittk utiif , with pro- 
 voking coolness and audacity, stated that he had forgotten his 
 pocket-book at home, and so" ingratiated himself into the good 
 graces or the confiding tailor that he loaned h m fifteen dollars at 
 his request A short time after the toirdttant consul called at the 
 clothiers, and stated if the bill was sent to Taylor & Co.. 16 Wall 
 street, a Mr. Ross would pay it. A messenger was despatched at 
 once, and h'j there learned that there was no Mr. Ross there, and 
 that the Spanish Consul did not know his customer. He imme- 
 diately came to the conclusion that he had been victimized, and 
 meeting Fiol soon after in the street, he had him arrested. 
 
 A man named Fitzpatrick, one of two brothers, running an auc- 
 tion shop in Greenwich street, was arrested recently on the charge 
 of obtaining money under false pretences. The prosecutor was a 
 countryman who came to the city to see sights, and in wandering 
 along Greenwich street, drifted into the auction store of the Fitz- 
 patricks. He had not beask in long before a watch was put up, 
 which was represented to be a gold one. It had all the appearance 
 of gold, and the countryman supposed it to be one. He was not 
 used to the ways of large cities, and supposed he could depend 
 upon the representations' as to the watch. Accordingly he bid 
 upon it, and it was run up to twenty six dollars, at which sum it 
 was knocked down. The amount was paid down and the watch 
 was taken. For a few days after it came into the possession of the 
 countryman, it retained its original brightness. It then began to 
 change its color, and in a little while became almost black. It was 
 not only not gold, but not plated, and was as unmistakably bogus 
 as possible. As soon as the victim could get back to the city, he 
 made a complaint, and a warrant wm issued. L iwrence Fitzpat- 
 rick was arrested on it. and on the testimony of the countryman 
 was held to answer. His explanation was that he sold the watch 
 as it had been represented to him. What right, we would ask, has 
 an auctioneer to represent and to sell a watch as gold, unless he 
 knows it to be so? It is well known that persons are now engaged 
 in buying up silver watches, and making them to so closely re- 
 semble gold ones as to defy detection, unless a powerful acid is ap- 
 plied. It is the business of auctioneers to know something of the 
 men for whom they sell gold watches, or what are represented as 
 such. 
 
 A swindle was attempted in this city some days since, but proved 
 unsuccessful, notwithstanding its ingenuity. A fellow who looked 
 not unlike a down-east customer, called at F — 's Hotel, and re- 
 presented himself to be from New Bedford. On the plea that he 
 had fallen on the sidewalk and hurt an arm, he desired the clerk at 
 the hotel to write his name on the register, and William Roach was 
 put down. Soon after, on getting into conversation with the bar- 
 tender, he unfolded to him his plans. He was going, he said, to 
 put an assorted cargo in a vessel, and he promised to give the bar- 
 tender the position of supercargo. Inquiry was made as to the 
 best placos for purchases. Filled with the idea that his fortune 
 was made, the bar-tender entered into the matter with all the zest 
 
108 
 
 ROGUERIES OP NEW YORK. 
 
 imaginable, and it was not long before he and Roach were on the 
 
 best of terms, as thick, in common parlance, as two thieves. As 
 Roach was in want of some clothing (who is not?) he was direc'ed 
 to the store of John S. Sutton, and tbere he repaired. After select- 
 ing about three hundred dollars worth of goods, he ordered them 
 sent to his hotel, and hurried olf to receive them. Before they 
 arrived he had secured the services of the supercargo in embargo, 
 to write a check for him, he having, as he asserted, a lame arm. 
 The check was drawn on the Philadelphia Bank, but as the porier 
 was not willing to deliver the clothing on the check until he ascer- 
 tained something of its character, he went back to the store to 
 know if he should take it. In the meanwhile Roach disappeared. 
 The check was of course worthless. On the supposition that the 
 bar-tender had some knowledge of the intended swindle he was 
 arrested, but subsequently discharged. 
 
 A new dodge has just been nipped in the bud by a detective of 
 this city, who arrested W. G. G. Birdsell and John Gibson, two 
 young men having an office and purporting to do business at No. 
 80 West street, under copartnership. The parties were charged 
 with having swindled and attempted to swindle a number of respec- 
 table merchants in this city by means of orders, some of them 
 signed in the name of their own firm, Birdsell & Gibson, and some 
 of them forged in the name of other firms. 
 
 The plan was to send an order for sigual lights, wrought spikes, 
 etc., of the most approved quality, the goods to be delivered on 
 board some steamer designated, or at No. 80 West street. The par- 
 ties being suspected, Detective Slowey was called in and advised 
 that an order for which they had sent should be filled, and he 
 would accompany the goods, which he did, to No. 80 West street, 
 taking the recipients into custody. On their persons he found a 
 number of forged orders and articles of copartnership between 
 themselves. 
 
 The Brooklyn Union gives an account of the manner in which a 
 physician of that city was victimized : 
 
 " Late on Sunday night, Mr. Otto H. Claus, residing at 257 Sackett 
 street, this city, was accosted in Tenth avenue, New York, by three 
 young men, who requested him to accompany them a short distance 
 to see a man who was dangerously ill. He followed them into a 
 dilapidated room in a tenement house, and while there administering 
 to a person whom he supposed to be sick, but who was really an 
 accomp'ice, these three men rifled his pockets of a gold watch and 
 chain, with which they deceamped. Clause followed in pursuit, 
 cryiug " watch," when Officer Kennon, of the Sixteenth Precinct, 
 arrested one of the men, who gave his name as John McGinness. 
 The others escaped, but the police are alter them. McGinness was 
 arraigned before Justice Ledwith, and committed tor trial in delault 
 of $1 600 bail." 
 
 One of the most impudent impostures we ever knew to be at- 
 tempted was tried in this city on Sunday last. A fellow in the rig 
 of a sailor, with the eagle buttons on his jacket, presented himself 
 at the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, and represented him- 
 
CONFIDENCE GAMES. ETC. 
 
 109 
 
 self to have been wrecked on the U. S. sloop of war Ticonderoga, 
 otF Cape Fear River, on the Tuesday previous. He narrated very 
 minutely the particulars of the wreck. A storm, he said, had com- 
 menced on tne Sunday previous, the 5th of March, which lasted 
 until the night of Tuesday, when the vessel « as driven on the shoals, 
 and in less than fifteen minutes had seven feet of water in the hold j 
 that finding the ship to be fast filling, the boats were lowered, and 
 at the same time the masts were cut away, and a raft was constructed. 
 The boats and raft held all of the crew but tho^-e who had been lost 
 when the vessel filled, the engineers and coal-heavers, who were 
 below ; but when the boats were cut adrift from the ship, two of 
 them were stove in, and some of the men in them were drowned. 
 The filing of signal rockets was seen by the look-out on the steamer 
 ElUworth, of Boston, and the officers were taken on board of her. 
 All of this time the wind was represented to be blowing furiously, 
 and the night so dark as to prevent objects from being sesn a few 
 feet off. The fellow gave some of the names of the men drowned 
 in the vessel, and told the name of the Captain of the Ticonderoga. 
 His stary had so much the appearance of plausibility that no one 
 doubted, until he stated that the Ticonderoga was a sidewheell 
 steamer, and gave eight as the number of guns she carried, both of 
 which were known to be false. The fellow was asked if the vessel 
 was in the attack on Fort Fisher, and he replied that she was not, 
 but that he and some others of the crew had been transferred to an- 
 other ship that did not draw so much water, and which took part 
 in the bombardment. The story proved to be a fabrication from 
 beginning to end. No doubt the object of the impostor was to ex- 
 cite sympathy, and raise funds, as he was very particular to state 
 that he had lost everything by the wrecking of the vessel. Such a 
 fellow deserves a good kicking, to say the least of it— a kicking well 
 planted in. 
 
 The old " mock auction" dodge is about played out. Occasionally 
 we hear of it, but not often, and we may number it among the 
 things of the past. Many anecdotes might be told of this defunct 
 occupation, but our space is limited, and the trick is too well known 
 to need description. Among the last of the victims " taken in" in 
 this city, was a smart Yankee editor who had often cautioned his 
 readers against the fraternity, visited New York and dropped in at 
 a mock auction '* just for the fun of the thing." The fun, however, 
 cost our friend a pretty little sum, for although he had perhaps 
 saved his readers by his advice, he was unable to save himself — 
 even his Yankee shrewdness being no match for Chatham street ro- 
 guery. He went home a poorer and wiser man, and is careful now 
 how he enters a nest of thieves " for the fun of it" 
 
 UNION BKIIEF ASSOCIATION. 
 
 It is shameful that, under the guise of charity and benevolence, 
 the most barefaced and outrageous deceptions should be practiced 
 upon those who, from motives of charity, are disposed to aid the 
 families of the brave soldiers who have given up their lives for their 
 
110 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 country. One would imagine that feeling of patriotism, at least. 
 
 would deter even the most inveterate rascal from lining his own pocket 
 at the expense of those placing confidence in his appeals to M help 
 the widows and orphans of our noble volunteers." Such, however, 
 would appear not to be the case, judging from a swindle lately per- 
 petrated in this city, Boston, and throughout the country, under the 
 designation of and pretence of W 's " 25th Grand Gift Distribu- 
 tion for the benefit of the Union Relief Association." 
 The following is from the prospectus : 
 
 u At the request of a number of manufacturers of New England, 
 I have concluded to give the profits of this distribution to the Sani- 
 tary Commission, to be used for the benefit of our brave men who 
 have defended the stars and stripes. The prizes are numbered from 
 one to a thousand ; tickets correspond with these numbers. The 
 prizes are of all kinds and of different value ; among others are a 
 house and lot in Boston (worth £5,000) j a horse and buggy, horse 
 and chaise, five pianos, silver tea sets, &c, &c. ; all are donated. 
 The distribution will be made on the 15th of January, 1865, whether 
 all or only a portion of the tickets are sold. The proceeds will, in 
 all cases, be sent to the Governors of the different States, to be by 
 them paid over to the Sanitary Commission." 
 
 What could be fairer than this ? The money to be given to the 
 Sanitary Commission by the Governors of the States ; could there 
 be deception here, people reasoned. Of course not. Money poured 
 in from all quarters ; tickets were forwarded to the value of * 15,000, 
 and the day appointed for the " awards" anxiously awaited. Even- 
 tually it came and passed, but no distribution. The contributions 
 were coolly pocketed by the manager or managers of the concern, 
 who quietly decamped with their ill-gotten pelf. Those who are 
 expecting their gifts will have to u take it out in waiting," and the 
 coffers of the Sanitary Commission are none the better for their con- 
 tributions. 
 
 CHAPTER XXYI. 
 
 PROFESSIONAL BEGGARS. 
 
 As swindling seems to be the order of the day, it must not sur- 
 prise us that the young follow the example set by older heads. A 
 boy of fifteen was arrested the other day for swindling, by collect- 
 ing money under false representations. He had a subscription 
 book, and would go to one merchant and represent that another 
 merchant had sent him, recommending him as a proper object of 
 charity. So successful was he that he collected over three hundred 
 dollars in three weeks, but spent it as fast as he gathered it. His 
 arrest was brought about in a" rather singular way. While on a 
 collecting tour, he mentioned to a merchant of whom he was soli- 
 
PROFESSIONAL BEGGARS. 
 
 Ill 
 
 citing aid, the name of a firm, from the member? of which he had 
 received a-si-tance, and a recommendation also. Foriunatcly for 
 the public, one of the firm was at hi.-: elbow, and at once exposed 
 the cheat. His arrest followed, and when taken before A der- 
 maa Welding he pretended that he had the money collected at home. 
 This proved to be a falsehood. None of the money was recovered. 
 By a subsequent confession he said he had spent'fil'ty dollars at a 
 party- probably one of those assemblies known as a "dance," 
 where the lowest grade of society gather for carousals. 
 
 Nearly all beggais and those* soliciting charity are vagabonds, 
 too lazy" to work, who find it a profitable business to prey upon the 
 public credulity. In every large city the pedestrian will meet w ith 
 children soliciting M a penny to buy a loaf of bread," or assistance 
 for a mother who has no work, and who has not had food for the 
 last six weeks" (more or less). These children often take in several 
 dollars a day, and the money is generally used by drunken parents 
 to procure liquor. 
 
 The beggars who visit houses in search of cold victuals, are in 
 many instances mere spys, sent by professional thieves and house- 
 breakers to ascertain where valuables are kept, and whatever in- 
 formation they can collect that would be valuable should their 
 associates desire to u crack the crib." In other cases the beggars 
 are " sneak thieves," and seize any opportunity offered to walk off 
 with any portable property they may be able to lay hands upon. 
 This is especially Irue of those who visit houses in the country. 
 Their pitiful stories are mere fabrications, to gain admittance. The 
 beggars in the city have regular routes, and respect each other's 
 rights faithfully. The practice of giving food to these persons is a 
 verv bad one, as it encourages them to remain paupers ; and a large 
 number of offences against the laws are committed by this class, 
 who, if left to support themselves by honest industry, would never 
 appear in our police courts. 
 
 We recollect a little chap, aome dozen years of age, who went 
 around peddling 14 stationery packets." He told a very affecting 
 story of his father's death, his mother's reduced circumstances, ac- 
 counted for by a lawyer's dishonesty, and his own endeavor to sup- 
 port his mother and little brother and sister. He was an intelligent 
 enterprising little fellow, and hundreds of persons, wishing to en- 
 courage him in his noble efforts, bought his stationery, and he drove 
 a thriving trade. This boy's story, on investigation, turned out a 
 complete fabrication, and no doubt ft large proportion of similar 
 cases would turn out likewise. In many cases children are in- 
 structed in these stories by elder persons, and their youth and 
 apparent sincerity impose on people who would be proof against 
 the wiles of older rogues. 
 
 The woman with iiiaum erable "small families" — borrowed or 
 hired for the business — ifi often to be met with. There are, how- 
 ever many real cases of women left destitute, with small children, 
 and we would not discourage charity when there is a possibility 
 that the recipient is worthy of it 
 There is a blind man in Brooklyn who has accumulated eeveral 
 
112 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 toons and dollars by his profession of begging. Still, one deprived 
 
 of sight, or the use of an arm or leg, is often obliged to depend on 
 public charity ; and unless he makes his calamity a stock in trade, 
 and is evidently a vagabond, assistance may often be judiciously 
 rendered. 
 
 There is a man in this city whose regular business it is to write 
 those touching narratives of shipwreck and disaster, by which some 
 beggars work upon the credulity of the charitable. When beggars 
 present written statements of their woes and misfortunes, you may 
 generally conclude them to be false. We recollect an instance of 
 a small boy who obtained one of these narratives, and, without 
 knowing its purport, went around begging on the strenght of it. 
 After considerable effort, without satisfactory results, he discovered 
 that he had been representing himself as the widow of a defunct 
 fireman, who had los^his life nobly in the performance of his duty ; 
 also that the said small boy was the mother of six helpless children, 
 all dependent on charity for support. We have often noticed a 
 Chinese beggar, squatted on the sidewalk, with a placard announc- 
 ing that " I am starving" hung to his breast, while his hat, placed 
 on the pavement for contributions, contained enough money to pur- 
 chase a dozen substantial meals. 
 
 HEIRS WANTED FOB A LARGE ESTATE. 
 
 One of the easiest ways to procure money is to inherit it, and 
 probably few persons have not at some time dreamed, either awake 
 or asleep, of a fortune left for their enjoyment by some unknown 
 relative. Occasionally such cases have actually occurred, and be- 
 ing duly set forth in the newspapers, have added stimulus to the 
 imaginations of fortune seekers. Sharpers have not left this field 
 uuworked, and their circulars glitter with golden hopes for those 
 longing for easily obtained wealth. One professes to keep a regis- 
 ter of all unclaimed property in England, to which register access 
 is allowed for one dollar. Another requests all families of a certain 
 name, say Smith, to communicate with him concerning a large estate 
 to which the Smith family are heirs ; of course a small fee is ex- 
 pected if paraculars of the said estate are required. In one instance 
 the promised estate was said to have been lying unclaimed in Eng- 
 land one hundred and fifty years. There would be about as much 
 probability of heirs in this country realizing from such a property 
 now, as there would of recovering Pharaoh's crown by fishing in 
 the Red Sea, The circulars containing such offers are worth some- 
 thing as material for lamp-lighters, but very little for acquiring 
 wealth. 
 
COUNTERFEITING AND COUNTERFEITERS. 113 
 
 CHAPTER XXYIL 
 
 ALL ABOUT COUNTERFEITING AND COUNTERFEITERS. 
 
 "We all remember how suddenly the so-called secession of the 
 southern States was followed by the actual withdrawal of silver coin 
 from circulation. Before gold was at a premium silver was scarce. 
 It was more widely distributed than gold, and, consequently, was 
 easier to hoard. It went from pockets into purses, from drawers 
 into stockings, and the gold followed the silver. Money — the 
 sinews of war — demanded "substitutes" long before the actual 
 bone and muscle were brought by drafts to that extremity. With 
 the disappearance of silver appeared all sorts of little paper prom- 
 ises to pay. Retail grocers, barkeepers, eating-house keepers, the 
 butcher, the baker and candlestick maker all issued little tickets, 
 purporting to be good for sums varying from one to fifty cents ; 
 but, in numerous instances, good for nothing, and certain swindlers 
 made snug little fortunes by dealing in these kind of " goods." 
 These promises, not likely in all cases to be redeemed, were never 
 popular, and postage-stamps, which represented the actual value of 
 our smaller coins, soon became the only circulating medium for less 
 values than the dollar bills of banks. 
 
 A more inconvenient substitute for silver change could scarcely 
 be devised. They were easily defaced and mutilated. Stamps 
 obliterated in the post-office were washed and used as currency. 
 With the new and dirty medium sundry small jokes were put in 
 circulation. People were " stuck" and " gummed" in making 
 change ; it was a change which was not reform ; maledictions were 
 poured upon the venerable head of Washington : the papers teemed 
 with * itticisms and complaints till the readers cried : " No more on 
 that head, cnyhow." 
 
 The use and abuse of these stamps, however, suggested the issue 
 of the postal or fractional currency. The first fractional notes, in- 
 deed, were fac similes of the postage stamps. The single head was 
 copied from the stamp, printed on larger paper aud surrounded by 
 a few simple securities and ornamental lines. Their very simplicity, 
 as in the case of the bank of England notes, was their chief security. 
 The single head at once attracted attention, and its superior execu- 
 tion required ability and talent beyond that of ordinary counter- 
 feiters. The very few counterfeits attempted upon this issue were 
 so inferior that they were readily detected. 
 
 COUNTERFEITERS AS A CLASS. 
 
 Engravers as a class are men who take a particular pride in their 
 profession, and their business employs and requires a superior order 
 of talent. They are exceedingly well paid for their work, are gen- 
 erally men who are satisfied with a good salary and permanent 
 situation, and they do not look forward to making fortunes. It is 
 
114 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 extremely difficult to believe that inducements can be held out to 
 any good engraver who has an assured and respectable position to 
 become a counterfeiter. Nevertheless it is quite obvious that a 
 very few of these men do become counterfeiters. It is said that 
 one engraver, who was employed in the Treasury Department in 
 "Washington, devoted his leisure hours to the engraving of two frac- 
 tional currency plates for " outside parties," who were detected and 
 the plates were secured. The latest and altogether the most impor- 
 tant arrest that has been made in this vicinity was that of Jerry 
 Cowsden, who is spoken of as " a very talented engraver," and 
 others have been arrested whose work would suggest (in case of 
 their pardon after conviction) their immediate employment in the 
 Treasury Department. 
 
 But the majority of counterfeiters in this country are believed to 
 be foreigners, generally Englishmen, Germans and Italians, who 
 have learned their business abroad and have come here for the 
 express purpose of engaging in counterfeiting. There is now and 
 then a young man who has learned the rudiments of the profession 
 in a large establishment, and who from bad habits, negligence or 
 other fault, loses his place. He falls into the hands of what may be 
 called, considering the kind of work contemplated, "designing" 
 men. They set him to copying on steel a twenty-five or fifty'cent 
 fractional note. There is nothing in the work, excepting the vig- 
 nette head, that requires any special talent, and the merest tyro, 
 with a slight acquaintance with the use of the graver and acids, can 
 execute the surrounding lines and letters. But in this case, with a 
 single specimen before him, and with the inducement held out, the 
 young engraver bends all his energies to produce as perfect a speci- 
 men as he possibly can, and the result is generally a piece of work 
 that surprises himself, and certainly would astonish those who only 
 knew him as an idler who did not seem to care to learn his business. 
 
 This estimate of the class of persons engaged in the manufacture 
 of spurious currency is partly conjectured, and is mainly based 
 upon a careful examination of different specimens of counterfeit 
 notes. Some of the notes are superior, and are from the hands of 
 practiced engravers ; others are evidently the work of men who 
 would scarcely find employment even in Washington ; but all of them 
 are " passably" good — they must be that to be good for anything, and 
 it must be remembered that those who engage in the business are 
 themselves experts, and they would not deal in a counterfeit cur- 
 rency that was not likely to deceive ordinary observers. We speak 
 of the " business," for it is a complete, well-organized and systema- 
 tic business, with its manufacturers, dealers, agents and customers. 
 
 THE BUSINESS. 
 
 The business of counterfeiting is not only done on an extensive 
 scale, but necessarily " on the sly." The engraving is generally 
 done in some quiet, out of-the-way village in ]Sew Jersey, in West- 
 chester county, or over on Long Island, and the manufacturers are 
 birds of passage, who change their quarters as the spirit or the curi- 
 
COUNTERFEITING AND COUNTERFEITERS . 
 
 115 
 
 osity of the? detectives move? them. The capital required to carry 
 on the business is from Bfteen hundred to five thousand dollais, ac- 
 OordiHg to the amount of tools and machinery employed in getting 
 up the plates. Oue nun, with a single assistant, can do very well. 
 In this case a single plate, or, at most, two are engraved on one 
 piece of steel, and the entire wori Is done by hand. 
 
 We have seen, however, seta of plates of the denomination of 
 twent\-tive and tit'ty-cent3,y<ic stmiUs of the government plaies, each 
 plate 'printing twenty notes at once, and the manufacture of these 
 required all the facilities that are in possession of the Government 
 "When these were seized the detectives found the lathes, dies for 
 transfers, and all the tools and acids necessary for a first-rate estab- 
 lishment. The counterfeiters find no difficulty in picking up the re- 
 quired materials in different parts of the city." There ought to be a 
 difficulty in getting the bank-note paper on which the bills are 
 printed ; but it is quite evident that it can be bought, though the 
 detectives have not yet discovered how or where the counterfeiters 
 purchase it 
 
 Sometimes the counterfeiter's place of business is covered by a 
 legitimate card or music engraving office, but generally the work is 
 done in some secret and unsuspected spot, with no outward and 
 visible sign of any business whatever. 
 
 THE DEALERS AXD THEIR CUSTOMERS. 
 
 The dealers are the most mischievous, and the most difficult to 
 reach, of all who are connected with counterfeiting. New York is 
 their headquarters. They have their agents, confederates and cus- 
 tomers in every city in the country. The circulation of the postal 
 currency is universal, and so soon as a successful counterfeit is made, 
 large quantities are sent to all points in the country ; the mails and 
 expresses are made the meJiuni for exportation from this city ; the 
 counterfeits are put in circulation simultaneously in different sec- 
 tions, and, if tbftiv are good imitations, they are"" shoved"' in enor- 
 mous quantities before they are detected. 
 
 The West is the great market for these spurious issues. There is 
 not a city, scarcely a town, without its agent, and he knows his 
 customers, coolly calculates the question of supply and demand, 
 and does a lively business. Estimating the counterfeits at one-third 
 of the whole amount of postal currency in circulation, the West has 
 its full share of that third — indeed, it is a common remark out west, 
 that the counterfeits, for all ordinary purposes, are quite as good as 
 the genuine notes. 
 
 There, as at the East, the customers may be classed as follows: 
 The small corner grocers, who buy the counterfeits for the very con- 
 venient purpose of making change to their customers j the barkeep- 
 ers, who can easily work oft more or less of this sort of change upon 
 their more or less inebriated patrons wbo are not particular what 
 they u take" from the counter, or from behind it j stage-drivers, 
 canal-men, butchers, drovers, pedlars and other itinerants can use 
 this stuff to a considerable amount, and some of it is worked off at 
 
116 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 the doors of country shows when people pressing in are more eager 
 to secure a front seat than careful to note the quality gf their change. 
 Of course we are speaking only of certain persons in these kinds of 
 business. 
 
 THE PROFITS OF THE BUSINESS. 
 
 The counterfeiter estimates among his profits the simplicity and 
 cheapness of his tools, if he only intends to make a plate or two : 
 the facility with which the notes can be circulated ; the extent and 
 universality of the circulation of the genuine notes, inducing a gen- 
 eral carelessness as to their character ; the chances of avoiding de- 
 tection in his business ; the chances of escape or non-conviction ; 
 •end the direct profit derived from the work itself. To the manufac- 
 turer it is not, on the whole, a paying business. Those who have 
 been arrested present no indication of unusual prosperity, and they 
 say they have barely made a living. They make the plate or plate3 
 and the dealers- make the money, paying the engraver about the 
 same sum, or a little less, than he could have earned in an honest 
 manner. 
 
 Before the counterfeits are put in circulation they go through so 
 many hands, and there are so many partners in the scheme, that the 
 individual profits are quite small. The dealers get from thirty to 
 forty-five dollars on the hundred, and of course the small users, who 
 receive or expect to get the full represented value of the note, pay 
 proportionately larger prices. As there is no redemption, beyond 
 the actual cost of the plate and materials employed in the manufac- 
 ture, it is all profit, as the bills pass from hand to hand. But con- 
 sidering the risks, the detectives have not yet caught the counter- 
 feiter who would, or could, under the circumstances, admit that he 
 had done a paying business. 
 
 SUCCESSFUL COUNTERFEITS. 
 
 The successful counterfeits, that is those which have really paid 
 the dealers and designers, rank as follows: First/ the postal cur- 
 rency ; next, the national bank bills ; and last and least, the legal 
 tenders. Let us duly praise the greenbacks. There has never been 
 a paper-money issue so extensive and yet in point of execution so 
 nearly perfect. The novelty of their design, the ease with which 
 they are recognized, the difficulty, almost impossibility of altering 
 them from one denomination to another, the excellence of the en- 
 graving, and the green tint which prevents their photography, are 
 all nearly certain securities against counterfeits. 
 
 But they have been counterfeited. The one hundred-dollar green- 
 back was so successfully copied in St Louis, that the government 
 made special efforts to catch the counterfeiter, and actually did so, 
 and secured the plate before, it is believed, one hundred of the 
 notes were put in circulation. Two or three attempts have been 
 made upon the fifties ; one very good fifty is now in circulation to a 
 limited extent, and the counterfeiter has not yet been caught The 
 ones have been counterfeited, but poorly, and all of the few green- 
 back counterfeits can be easily detected by careful examination. 
 
COUNTERFEITING AND COUNTERFEITERS. 117 
 
 The national bank notes do not combine the same securities, and 
 are more easily and generally counterfeited. The fives can be alter- 
 ed with little trouble to fifties, and few people think of looking at 
 the distinctive picture on the back of the note, designed to mark the 
 different denominations. Like the postal currency, the national 
 bank issues are liable to counterfeit from their universal circulation. 
 It will pay counterfeiters to take special pains in the preparation of 
 a bill that can be circulated everywhere from New York to New 
 Orleans, and which will not be subjected to the scrutiny attending 
 the issue of counterfeits upon local banks, and which must neces- 
 sarily be used where the genuine bills are in circulation. The cases 
 thus far have been very rare, and it is not known that any national 
 bank bills, not genuine are in circulation, excepting a few altera- 
 tions from one denomination to another. 
 
 The most successful counterfeiter was the notorious Jerry Cows- 
 den, who executed a counterfeit of the fifty cent note so skillfully 
 that it could not be distinguished from the genuine. He was arrested 
 some time since, but before his arrest he had succeeded in putting 
 into circulation uywards of *5,000 of the bogus notes. So excellent 
 were the counterfeits that the notes will probably pass the same as 
 the genuine, and even be redeemed eventually. 
 
 CATCHING COUNTERFEITERS. 
 
 The general plan of proceeding is as follows : The Police Super- 
 intendent has the supervision of the matter in connection with the 
 United States Marshal. When a counterfeiter is to be followed up 
 Mr. Kennedy assigns one or more detectives to the business, and 
 Mr. Murray makes them, for the time, his deputies. Of course there 
 is a starting-point — one end of the long thread to be unravelled. 
 Thieves fall ou*; among themselves, and so occasionally do counter- 
 feiters. The Marshal or the Superintendent gets an anonymous, or 
 perhaps a signed note, informing him that a certain individual in 
 such a place is engaged in counterfeiting. The machinery for de- 
 tection is at once put in motion, and the given clew is followed till 
 it ends in the arrest of the criminal, or in nothing 
 
 For, of the numerous communications sent to the authorities ad- 
 vising them to watch certain men, not one in ten ever amounts to 
 anything. They are frequently prompted by malice and the desire 
 to annoy some one by police espionage or an unjust arrest. Of all 
 the counterfeit cases that have been brought to the notice of the 
 police in the ;ast four years, only five or six have been brought to a 
 satisfactory conclusion. It took several months to work up two of 
 the most important cases, and in every instance the capture was 
 complete, comprising the plates, tools, machinery and criminals. 
 
 The men detailed go prepared for any emergency or resistance, 
 and have full authority to do all that may be necessary in the 
 " premises." to the extent of breaking in and searching thoroughly 
 in all suspected spots. The marshal lends valuable assistance; tabes 
 care of the counterfeiters when caught, keeps all the plates, " traps" 
 and tools till the trial is over, and the prisoner, if convicted, is sent 
 
118 
 
 ROGUERIES OF NEW YORK. 
 
 to Sing Sing, while the plates are sent to the Treasury Department 
 in Washington. 
 
 POLICE PRECAUTION'S. 
 
 Although New York is the centre for counterfeiting operations, 
 the city is singularly free from the circulation of bad bills. Previ- 
 ous to 1857 the city was fairly inundated with counterfeits. The 
 precaution — almost preventive — was then adopted of notifying by 
 telegraph every police station in the city the moment a bad bill was 
 put in circulation, and the patrolmen warn every shop, store and 
 saloon-keeper on their beats. This is often done before a well-exe- 
 cuted counterfeit makes its appearance ; it has been put in circula- 
 tion in Boston or Philadelphia, the department here has been noti- 
 fied by telegraph, every police precinct has the information, every 
 patrolman tells the story, and every tradesman is forewarned and 
 thus forearmed hours perhaps before the bill is actually put in cir- 
 culation in this city. This plan is in such successful operation that 
 the extensive circulation of counterfeits in this city is almost impos- 
 sible. The old method was to " pipe" the circulators from place to 
 place, giving them meanwhile the opportunity to get rid of a num- 
 ber of bad bills. But the new mode is based upon the principle 
 that it is better to prevent crime than to punish it. 
 
 THE END. 
 
MERRYMAN'S MONTHLY FOR SEPTEMBER. 
 
 This number will "be found unusually attractive. Among tho con- 
 tents may be mentioned, " Ccmic Lie of P. T. Barnum," written in 
 a most pmusing style, *hemn 1he principal events cf bis life, frcra, 
 birtb to the present day, ;ire given, and all hi^ various Humbugs ex- 
 posed. Also a mirth prr viking article on " The Hair and its Many 
 Friends," which will le inter* sting to the ladies who will be r.bio to 
 understand it, and gentlemen who wc n't. Then there is a fumy 
 article entitled M Cum-cher-cr.m ' by a favorite ladv v. liter, who 
 now appears for the first (but ne t the last, we hepe) time in cur 
 columns. "Flow my Fate was Blighted,'' cf special interest to 
 " c.-p' ony*' young men addicted to poetic effusions. A spirited cc m:o 
 d""iblo pngo engraving, representing Earnum's curiosities thrown 
 out of employment by the burning of the Museum. This picture is 
 one of the most ludicrously tunny things ever seen, and will please 
 all lovers cf unnatural natural history. 
 
 11 How to Construct a Punch and Judy Show." at a trifling expense, 
 so clearly described that any boy can get up the show, with dialogue, 
 etc., complete, as exhibited by tho London showmen. 
 
 A funny " pome" by Miles O'Keilly , and a number not by him, ap- 
 pear. 
 
 The Prize Puzzle this month is easier than usual, so all have a 
 chance to pain a Greenback prize ; Piizes are also oflered for Original 
 Puzzles. Of course, tho Puzzle Department contains the usual choico 
 and entertaining assortment of enigmas, charades, riddles, conun- 
 drums, etc. This department is very attractive, and is contributed 
 to by hundreds of talented puzzlers in all parts of the country. 
 
 " Our Sanctum,'' with its entertaining and lively letters fr< m wide- 
 awake correspondents is always read with interest, and is this month 
 full up to tho mark. 
 
 In addition to the special features which have giv. n Hebbykam its 
 great popularity, the reader will find hundreds cf amusing stories, 
 jokes, anecdotes, jests and witticisms, etc., illustrated with a large 
 number of first class engravings. 
 
 *S~ A 11 who have not yet become acquainted with Mekryman will 
 find the present an excellent time to de> so. Sold by all newsdealers 
 at 15 cents a copy, or will be sent, postpaid, on receipt of price. Wo 
 never 6end gratuitous specimens under any circums+ances. Terms, 
 per annum, $1,25, in advance. Club of three, $3. Club of five and 
 one free to the getter up, $5. 
 
 j83~Three specimens (as samples) sent postpaid for 30 cents. 
 Address J. C. HANEY & CO.. Publishers, 
 
 1C9 Nassau street, N. Y. 
 
 " We suppose people must laugh. If they feel that they must, they 
 had better laugh over Mebryman than over the vulgar trash which 
 frequently pas esfor wit." — Presby'erian Standard, Philadtlphia. 
 
 u Mcrkyman's Monthly is the greatest comic work now published. 
 Tho August number contains some mirth-provoking and side-splitting 
 Illustrations. In the next number will be published a burlesquo lite 
 of the great showman, P.T. Barnum.'"— Columbia, Pa., Spy. 
 
 " Mekkyman's Monthly with its customary budget of droll payings, 
 pungent witticisms, and telling caricatures, is on hand. In our 
 humble opinion it is the best comic monthly published."— Pising Sun, 
 Iiid., Observer, 
 
The large and rapidly increasing circulation which Mekrymajt 
 has attained, as well as the flattering expressions of praise from 
 the public and the press, shows that our attempt to furnish a first 
 class humorous publication, free from all that is low or vulgar, 
 meets with approval. We would respectfully request those who 
 may not yet have become acquainted with our Magazine, to procure 
 a single copy and judge its merits for themselves. 
 
 A FEW OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 
 
 M We are glad to notice improvement in Merryman's Monthly, the July number 
 is decidedly the best we have seen, containing many popular illustrations, sharp 
 hits, and a goodly proportion of original matter. It commenced a burlesque 
 biography cf Jefferson Davis by McArone. with pictures to match ; has a series ol 
 Lrrore^que illus-trat'wms of " Waterfalls " in the country— not waterfalls like Niagara, 
 but the other kind— besides many other things, humorous aud laughable. It is 
 published by J. C. Hancy & Co., and sold by the American News Company."— 
 Brooklyn Daily Union. 
 
 " Merryman's Monthly, for April, is, as usual, a laughter provoking, comic 
 visitor. A Laugh and be fat," is an old maxim, and we would "prescribe" to 
 lank, thin specimens of humanity the trial of a few numbers of Merryman." — 
 Hudson (Mich.) Weekly Herald. 
 
 "Merryman's Monthly is the merriest periodical afloat. Abounding in witti- 
 cisms and striking carricatures it is a jolly companion at all times. We commend 
 it to the lovers of fun."— Rising Sun (Ind.) Observer and Recorder. 
 
 " Merryman's Monthly is the greatest comic work now published. The Au- 
 gust number contains some mirth-provoking and side-splitting illustrations."— 
 Columbia Pa., Spy. 
 
 •• We suppose people must laugh. If they feel that they must, they had better 
 laugh over Merryman than over the vulgar trash which frequently passes for 
 w i t . " — Ph Uadelph io Presbyterian Standard. 
 
 Merryman is sold by all newsdealers and booksellers throughout 
 the United States and British Possessions. Price 15 cents per copy, 
 except in very distant parts of the country, where a higher price is 
 charged' to cover extra freight. We mail it promptly from the office 
 
 of publication at the following terms : 
 
 One Copy, One Year, ----- $1*25 
 One Copy, Six Months. ----- 
 
 Two Copies, One Year, ----- 2.25 
 
 T/n ee Copies, " ----- s.00 
 
 Five Copies, (and one free to getter up of Club,) - 5,00 
 
 fcW Single Copies mailed post paid only on receipt of price. Three 
 different numbers as specimens sent free of postage for 30 cents 
 Address all orders to . 
 
 J. C. HANEY & CO., Publishers, 
 
 No. 109 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK, 
 
 E3f~ Twenty-Five Dollars, cash, will be given for Original Con- 
 undrums. For full particulars as to what is wanted, etc., see the 
 September and October Numbers. 
 
SECRETS WORTH KNOWING. 
 
 A complete hand-book of useful knowledge. Contains innumer- 
 able recipes for the manufacture of all kinds of useful articles, 
 including Patent Medicines, Perfumery, Hair Oils, Pomatums, Dyes, 
 Restoratives, Powders, Washes, Cements for filling Teeth, Cosmetics, 
 Toilet Articles, Common and Fancy Soaps, Popular Beverages, in- 
 cluding a large number of delicious ones just suited to the bot 
 weather, healthful and cheap, Candies of all'kinds, including all the 
 new and popular kinds, Recipes for Housekeepers, Hundreds of 
 Useful Articles which are needed in every household, and a large 
 number of articles that can be manufactured and sold at a good profit. 
 This is no cheap trash like many works that have been irened, 
 but a carefully compiled volume of 100 pages, in neat form for 
 preservation. It will be found of great value for reference, as you 
 can find recipes on almost every subject on which you desire to be 
 posted. Price only 25 cents. 
 
 The value of this book may be judged from the fact that single 
 recipes contained therein are sold at from 25 cents to $5, and in 
 some instances even more. Thousands of persons are making 
 money by the manufacture of articles, recipes for which will be 
 found in this book ; witness the success of Spalding's Glue, the 
 various roofing cement, indellible inks, cordials, and the innumer- 
 able articles which even body needs and will buy, and which can 
 be manufactured and sold at a good profit. We have no wish to 
 exaggerate— we do not offer any one a " fortune for 25 cents" — but 
 we do offer to tell our readers how things can be made at small cost, 
 which are selling every day in all parts of the country for five or 
 ten times their original cost. A man of our acquaintance in this 
 city is making several thousand dollars a year by making Lemon- 
 syrup. " Secrets Worth Knowing" will tell you how to make it. 
 We might multiply instances, but have not room. 
 
 "Secrets Worth Knowing. 7 ' — We have received this popular 
 hand-book of universal knowledge. It contains over 2000 valuable 
 receipts. It is also a reliable guide for the preparation of all kinds 
 of medicine. The remarkable cheapness of the work places it 
 within the reach of all. Price 25 cents. Wm. U. Hess has it for 
 sale. — Columhw* Penn , Spy. 
 
 " Secrkt* Worth Knowtng." — A pamphlet with this title, contain- 
 ing over two thousand recipes for articles in various branches of 
 manufacture, some of them extremely valuable, all afforded for the 
 low price of twenty-five cents, has been published by J. C. Haney 
 & Co., 109 Nassau street, N. Y. — Brooklyn Daily Union. 
 
 The book can be had of any Bookseller or Newsdealer, or 
 we will send a copy, post-paid, to any address, for 25 cents. 
 
 Dealers will find it a quick-selling work. Trade supplied by all 
 wholesale houses. 
 
 Wholesale and retail cash orders will be attended to promptly. 
 
 J C. HANEY & CO., 
 
 Publishers, 
 
 • No. 109 Nassau Street, New York. 
 
 JAY IRVING COLLEOTION 
 
JAY IRVING COLLEOTION 
 
mm 
 
 JAY IRVING COLLEOTION