The Circus Crooks Meet Chief Rogers' Shadow

The 'short change' and 'gim-flam' men who came to town with the circus did not reap a harvest yesterday, owing to the close watch kept on them by Chief Rogers' men. The only victim was John Anderson, an old man from one of the islands, and he got his money back.

One of three short-change men operating inside the tent saw a $20 and a $50 gold piece in Anderson's purse while selling him a circus ticket. Following the rules of the swindle, he asked the old man to exchange his gold for bills. Anderson agreed, and the swindler counted out $70 in bills and handed it to him. The old man counted it and found it all right. Then the swindler suddenly asked to see the money again, saying he thought there was a mistake. The old man handed it back, and the swindler deftly changed rolls, passing back a $5 and five $1 bills. Anderson did not notice the deception until later, when he went to the police station and reported his trouble.

Chief Rogers immediately sent Officer Ben Thompson to the circus grounds with the old man, who said he could identify the swindler. When Barrie Rentfrow, manager of the circus, heard there was trouble, he took a hand and, according to the officers' report, paid back the money. The old man, brought face to face with the man supposed to have done the work, said: 'Well, he looks like the man, but I don't think it is him.'

Chief Rogers was at the grounds during the afternoon watching affairs and says John Considine was there giving the chief information as to the identity of the swindlers and the detectives and officers. This made the chief determined to thwart the swindles, and last night he had a detective paired with every alleged short-change and gim-flam man around and inside the tent.