The 'Smart' Grift: A Frontier Romance Scammer

Yesterday afternoon a small and remarkably ugly Chinaman entered the office of the Prosecuting Attorney and addressing the clerk said, 'Will you please give me a paper to catchee woman.' 'Yes,' replied the clerk, 'what do you want?' 'Me want one paper for catchee one woman,' replied the Chinaman. 'What for? What did she do?' asked the clerk. 'One woman, all same young girlie, handsome face, him name Molly Brooks; you sabee Molly Brooks?' 'I have not the pleasure of her acquaintance,' said the clerk. 'Me suppose you no sabee him girlie; she heap no good; too muchee for me.' 'What did she do?' asked the clerk. 'What him do?' repeated the Chinaman in astonishment, 'You look, you see; me tell you. Him say she heap time, me like: you Ah Chow, you good man alla time, me make you wife, me likee white woman wife. She say to me, 'Ah Chow you give money buy dress, shoes, and all things.' Me say how muchee you likee money. She say three hundred dollars. Spose no give three hundred dollar, not be your wife. Me give Molly Brooks money, she go way, tell me 'you come my house to-nan.' Me go to Molly Brooks house to-nan, it is heap poolee. No see Molly Brooks, no money. She had got, run away Melican man. Stealee Ah Chow money, tellkee lie, no good. Now me likee catchee paper for catchee Molly Brooks, for stealee.' The Chinaman was given to understand that as he had voluntarily parted with his money, a charge of larceny could not be brought against the woman, and that he had no relief except in a civil court. Ah Chow shook his head and said, 'Me sabee, Melican girlie too muchee smartee, Chinaman him sabee, all same nothing.'