A New Swindling Game Defeated
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A NICE SWINDLING GAME DEFEATED—A NEW WAY TO "SELL" DRY-GOODS SELLERS.—
About two o'clock yesterday afternoon a young man who gave his name as Morgan went into the dry-goods store of Mr. Hogan in Grand street, and bought a handsome shawl, and a silk dress, both amounting to $17. Morgan told the salesman that he had no money about him just then, but directed him to send the goods around to No. 75 South 1st, and they would be paid for there. Mr. H. accordingly sent his little boy, soon after, with the bundle of goods. On arriving at the house in question the boy saw a young man on the stoop. The fellow asked the boy if he had not some goods for Mr. Morgan. The boy answered in the affirmative, whereupon his interlocutor said that Morgan had commissioned him to receive and pay for them. The messenge thereupon handed over the purchases, and the other gave him a small roll of bills, amounting in all to $17. Something, however, about the fellow's appearance made the boy suspicious, and on descending the stoop, instead of going away, he lingered around the neighborhood and watched the stranger. The latter, instead of entering the house, in a few moments walked off at a rapid pace, bearing the goods with him. On the corner of South 2d and Third he was met by another individual whom the boy (who was closely following him) recognised as Morgan, the original purchaser. The two then made hasty progress toward Peck Slip ferry. Before they could get on board, however, the boy gave chase and cried "stop thief!" Officer Bell immediately nabbed the nice young man who had received the goods, but Morgan, in the confusion of the moment, escaped. When interrogated, the prisoner gave his name as George Morris. He was committed for examination this morning by Justice Fox. The bank notes were of course found to be worthless—all of them being on broken banks. There was a ten on the Gallipolis Bank, Ohio, a two on the Railroad Bank, Adrian, Mich, a two on the Hatters' Bank, of Bethel, &c.
These two young men, it appears, hunt in couples, and have succeeded in victimizing not a few store-keepers in this city. A few days ago, Morgan went into the store of Mr. Seward, another Grand street dry-goods dealer, and bought goods, directing the clerk to send them to this same number—75 South First street. It appears, however, that the bundle was entrusted, not to a boy, but to one of the grown-up employees of the store, and Morgan's accomplice (for it appears that they occasionally change positions, by way of variety) was afraid to attempt practising the broken-bank bill dodge upon him. The clerk, therefore, on calling at the place, found no one there who knew anything about the goods.
This morning Mr. George Morris, who is not a bad looking and rather plausible appearing young fellow, was taken to Hicks' daguerrean gallery, where his likeness was taken and afterwards despatched to the Deputy Superintendent's office, where a niche will be accorded it among the choice specimens of rascality there on exhibition.