The Snake in the Parlor: How Two Con Artists Drained an Elderly Man Dry

For the past two or three weeks, two of these wealthy villains—well known in police circles in every city on the coast—McMurrough and John Dowd, with their satellites, have been plying their execrable deception in this city, seeking out their victims among those who appear to be of the opposite of bad character. 'Uncle,' who hid an old principle within and a young surface without, has at last come to grief.

Yesterday Dowd hailed an old man on the street, one of our oldest citizens, and addressed him by saying: 'Mr. Pinkerton, I have been recommended to you by my brother, Mr. Pinkerton,' of our clothing department. 'I came here recently, and have purchased two lots and propose to build a house on them; my brother has recommended you to me as a good workman, and as the best man I could engage to put up the building.'

'Oh, certainly,' says the old man, thinking he had 'struck it lucky.'

'If you have no objection, Mr. Pinkerton,' continued Dowd, 'we will go over and look at the site now, and make arrangements for the construction of the building at once.' The old man agreed to this proposition, and the two walked off up town to view the lots, gave him an idea of the kind of a building he wanted, etc., and in a short while worked himself completely into the old man's confidence, until he had come to hold him in as much esteem as Pick did his 'satisfactor' Pinkerton.

They came down town together on the most intimate and friendly terms, and in passing a saloon on Commercial Street, where Dowd and his 'pal' were known to make their headquarters, Dowd asked the old man in to take a drink, with as much patronage of manner as the fox in the fable invited the fly into his parlor. The old man declined, and informed his amiable friend that he didn't drink.

'Oh,' says the respectable Dowd, 'you will take a cigar, then, won't you?' The offer, coming from such a worthy person, the old man could not refuse. So they went down town, was of course, greatly surprised to meet a fellow at the bar who challenged him to bet the drinking with him, on a certain trick he was performing with cards. Dowd bet, and lost.

This thing was so novel and Dowd was so much taken up with it, that, in the excitement of the moment, he bet all the money he had. A little change on another game, and won the other. The fellow became a little indignant at his greediness and refused to continue unless he would 'put up big.' Dowd was greatly excited and turned to the old man, explained to him how easy it would be for him to beat the fellow if he had the money to put up. He then asked the old man if he could lend him a little, and said he would pay him direct soon.

The indignant man told him innocently that he didn't want any thing to do with gambling. Dowd by artifice, soon got the old man right on that point, and put his watch and hat and one hundred dollars in cash, which latter the old man went over and drew out of the bank for the special purpose.

This done, Dowd and his pal, after getting the money at once, sped away like a quarter deer out of the back door. The old man swore out a warrant and had the two burglars lodged in jail.

We might give one or two other instances of robbery and plunder, perpetrated by these designing scamps on emigrants in this city, under the pretence of selling them land; but have not the space. However, now that these are in the clutches of the law they should be punished severely.