 Capture of a Clever Swindler by Thomas Furlong Coffee Break Collection 21 Fairy Tales, Tall Stories, and Scams This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Colleen McMahon Capture of a Clever Swindler Sam Bernard's unique method of defrauding the railroads, how he did the work, his conviction, after a long chase. Between the years of 1870 and 1876, the railroads of this country had been swindled time after time by some unknown person, changing the address on an invoice of goods after it had reached the railroad office. This was done on an order which purported to come from the firm which had shipped the goods. In February of 1876, a shipment of gentlemen's dress goods was sent to A. A. Alden and Company of Franklin, Pennsylvania by Brock and Weiner of Buffalo. The consignment was valued at $721.19. A few minutes after the goods had been delivered at the freight office, a man entered and told the agent that the boxes had been marked with the name of the wrong town, that they should go to Corey, Pennsylvania instead of Franklin. The agent demanded an order from the firm before making the change. The pretended clerk wrote out the order, signing the firm name to it, and the address, Corey, was substituted for that of Franklin. This being done, the supposed clerk went to Corey. Here he pretended that he was a merchant from New York and that he was to open an auction store in the town. The merchant tailors did not like to have their trade injured in this manner, so they offered to buy the goods. The pretended merchant sold them at a much reduced price and received a check for $359.60. He endorsed the check with A. A. Alden's name, thus adding forgery to his other crimes. Then the case was given to me. Two weeks went by without a clue to the swindler. I found that other detectives had been hunting for a man who had played the same game in other cities, but the culprit had guarded himself so well that even his real name was unknown. From the descriptions obtained and from his general manner of operation, it was known that the same person had been operating on all the roads where this swindling had occurred. One day while in Buffalo I chanced to go into a cigar store. At this time the newspapers were full of the swindle and some of the people in the store were discussing the affair. An old gentleman who was among those present said that a young man who had been employed in the same store with himself about six years previously had swindled his employers in the same manner. This was in Rochester. I took the hint and after questioning the old man I found that the name of his former working companion was William Bernard. I went to Rochester and while there obtained the names of some of his acquaintances and finally found a photograph of him. The description given to me by the detectives tallied with the photograph of Bernard. I therefore made up my mind that Bernard was the man that I wanted. After further enquiry I found that relations of Bernard lived in Detroit, Michigan. I went there and obtained information as to the whereabouts of the swindler. I followed him through Montreal, Canada, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Toledo, Chicago, to St. Louis. He was known in all these places as Jew Harry. It seemed that it was impossible to find a detective in any one place who had not at some time or other been on Bernard's tracks. On my arrival in St. Louis, June 26, 1876, I went to the office of Chief of Police McDonahue at once. I told him who I was and that I had information which led me to believe that Bernard had worked in St. Louis. When the Chief, who was very portly and somewhat gruff, heard this, he straightened up in his chair and said, That's impossible. That fellow would not dare to come to St. Louis. He would be afraid. He knows he could not work any such game in this town. My police would be sure to get him. I then told the Chief that I had reason to believe that Bernard had been in St. Louis within the last few days. This idea the Chief fairly ridiculed. Just at this moment a rather elderly man entered the office in a very excited manner. He had brown hair, streaked with gray, and wore short sideburns or gallways as they are sometimes called. He asked if he could see the Chief for a few minutes so I at once rose to leave the office. The Chief told me to remain, then asked the visitor to state his business. He told the Chief that his name was H. M. Smith and that he was a pawnbroker in business at 8th and Morgan Streets. He then went on to say that a man giving the name of Solomon, representing that he was from Cleveland, Ohio, had caught on him a few days previous. He had represented himself as a pawnbroker and had presented the business card of Solomon and Company of Cleveland. Mr. Smith told him that he knew of the firm but never had the pleasure of meeting a member of it. Solomon then told Smith that he had a nephew who had been in business with him for years but that he had gone out west in the mining district of Colorado and opened up a pawn shop of his own. There was then a large demand for revolvers and pistols of heavy caliber and that he had ordered about $2,000 worth of heavy caliber guns and ammunition from the Simmons Hardware Company of St. Louis. After he had placed the order with the request that it be packed and shipped immediately, he had received a telegram from his nephew stating that he had gotten into trouble and had been forced to leave the country and therefore could not take the order from Simmons. He requested Solomon to call at Simmons and cancel the order. The Simmons people informed Solomon that as the firearms were already packed and in the fray house, preparatory for shipping, they could not cancel the order. Solomon then said to Smith, I have no use for these pistols and guns and I can't ship them to my nephew in Colorado since he is left there. I will have these goods brought up to your store and you can examine them. Then if you find them just as I have represented, I will let you have them at your own price. You can easily sell them and make some money on them. Mr. Smith assented. Solomon then went and got a drayman and had the firearms brought to Smith's office from the freight depot. Solomon got there about the time the goods did and had the cases opened. Smith found the goods were just as Solomon represented, so he told Solomon that he would give him $1,100 for them, which was about half their value. Solomon with tears in his eyes accepted Smith's check for that amount and left for parts unknown. On the morning of my arrival and while I was talking to Chief McDonahue, Smith had received by mail a bill for the goods from Simmons Hardware Company, which extended to him the privilege of discounting the bill and that upon making immediate payment he might deduct the usual percent, whereupon Mr. Smith called upon the Simmons Hardware Company and was there informed that a man resembling him very much had called there and selected a bill of goods and had also presented Smith's business card. They thought it was Mr. Smith and upon finding him all right formerly, had unhesitatingly packed and shipped the goods as directed. Smith and Bernard looked very much alike, wearing the same style of beard and having about the same complexion. Smith's description of Solomon, who is Roy Bernard, was very accurate and finally wound up by saying that Solomon looked enough like him to be his younger brother. While Smith was telling the Chief this story I was listening and when he began to describe Solomon I asked the Chief if I might be permitted to ask Mr. Smith a few questions. I certainly replied the Chief, Do you think, I then said to Smith, that you would know this man Solomon if you should see him again? Surely, answered Mr. Smith, I would know him anywhere. I then took Bernard's picture from my pocket and asked Smith if that resembled Solomon. He threw up his hands and exclaimed, Why that is him, that's an excellent picture of him. I then turned to the Chief and said, Chief it seems that Bernard was not afraid to come to St. Louis after all. I then got busy and learned that Bernard had left St. Louis over the Burlington and had gone to Quincy, Illinois a few days before my arrival. I then took the first train for Quincy. There I learned of a similar swindle with a case of goods shipped to Edina, Missouri. I left it once for Edina. There the freight agent informed me that a man named Solomon and answering to the description of Bernard had called for a case of goods. But the agent who was a relative of the party to whom the goods had been originally consigned had refused to deliver them until presented with some identification. Just about this time I received word that Solomon was walking out of town. I pursued him, arrested him, and brought him back to town. At first he denied everything, even his photograph, but finally consented to go with me when I brought out other proofs. I at once applied for a requisition from the authorities. After the capture Bernard at Edina by me, Bernard's lawyer insisted that he could not be taken to Pennsylvania while he stood charged with a felony in Missouri. Therefore when he made his plea I telegraphed a friend in St. Louis to employ a good criminal lawyer and have him report to me at Edina. My friend employed Colonel Nat C. Claiborne of St. Louis. At the same time I wired Mr. Smith to come up at once or sent his son Sam to Edina for the purpose of identifying Solomon. In due time both Sam Smith and Colonel Claiborne arrived in Edina. Colonel Claiborne was an old citizen and was well known all over the state. He was acquainted with the Judge of Knox County and had him convene a special term of court and impanel a special grand jury. I arranged to have witnesses appear before the grand jury which immediately indicted Bernard for the Edina swindle. Colonel Claiborne assisting the prosecuting attorney at Edina for the state. Bernard was convicted and sent to the penitentiary at Jefferson City, Missouri for four years. I accompanied him to Jefferson City where I procured a duplicate of the receipt for the body of Bernard from the warden of the Missouri Penitentiary and previously a certified copy of the proceedings at the trial and conviction in Knox County which I turned over to the officers of the Allegheny Valley Railroad on my return to Pittsburgh. This satisfied them, but not so well as if I had extradited Bernard and brought him back to Pennsylvania for trial. I omitted to say that on the night that Sam Smith arrived in Edina from St. Louis that the small hotel was filled to overflowing and the landlord was obliged to assign Smith to my room which was in the front of the second story just over the office. About ten o'clock that night, just as Smith and I had retired to our room preparatory to turning in for the night, a shower of missiles such as rocks, stones, and pistol shots were fired through the window of our room from the opposite side of the street. Upon investigation, I found that Bernard had enlisted the cooperation of some sympathizers through a lawyer in the town whom he had employed to defend him and at the instance of whom this mob was formed with a view to frightening Smith and myself and the other witnesses who were to appear in the case out of town. We were so badly frightened that we did not leave town until Bernard had been tried and convicted and when we left, Bernard left with us. End of Capture of a Clever Swindler Recording by Colleen McMann Now listen, out in the country, close by the roadside, stood a pleasant house. You have seen one like it no doubt very often. In front lay a little fenced-in garden, full of blooming flowers. Near the hedge in the soft green grass grew a little Daisy. The sun shone as brightly and warmly upon her as upon the large and beautiful garden flowers so the Daisy grew from R to R. Every morning she unfolded her little white petals like shining rays round the little golden sun in the centre of the flower. She never seemed to think that she was unseen down in the grass or that she was only a pure and significant flower. She felt too happy to care for that. Merrily she turned toward the warm sun, looked up to the blue sky and listened to the lark singing high in the air. One day the little flower was as joyful as if it had been a great holiday although it was only Monday. All the children were at school and while they sat on their benches learning their lessons she, on her little stem, leaned also from the warm sun and from everything around her how good God is and it made her happy to hear the lark expressing in his song her own glad feelings. The Daisy admired the happy bird who could warble so sweetly and fly so high and she was not at all sorrowful because she could not do the same. I can see in here thought she the sun shines upon me and the wind kisses me. What else do I need to make me happy? Within the garden grew a number of aristocratic flowers the less scent they had the more they flunted. The peonies considered it a grand thing to be so large and puffed themselves out to be larger than the roses. The tulips knew that they were marked with beautiful colours and held themselves both upright so that they might be seen more plainly. They did not notice the little Daisy outside but she looked at them and thought how rich and beautiful they are no wonder the pretty bird flies down to visit them how glad I am that I grow so near them that I may admire their beauty. Just at this moment the lark flew down crying Tweet but he did not go to the tall peonies and tulips he hopped into the grass near the lowly Daisy she trembled for joy and hardly knew what to think the little bird hopped round the Daisy singing oh what a sweet soft grass and what a lovely little flower with gold in its heart and silver on its dress for the yellow centre in the Daisy looked like gold and the leaves around were glittering white like silver how happy the little Daisy felt no one can describe the bird kissed her with his peck sang to her and then flew up again into the blue air above it was at least a quarter of an hour before the Daisy could recover herself half ashamed yet happy in herself she glanced at the other flowers they must have seen the honour she had received and would understand her delight and pleasure but the tulips looked prouder than ever indeed they were evidently quite vexed about it the peonies were disgusted and could they have spoken poor little Daisy would no doubt have received a good scolding she could see they were all out of temper and it made her very sorry at this moment there came into the garden a little girl with a large glittering knife in her hand she went straight to the tulips and cut off several of them oh dear! sighed the Daisy how shocking! it is all over with them now the girl carried the tulips away and the Daisy felt very glad to grow outside in the grass and to be only a purr little flower when the sun set she folded up her leaves and went to sleep she dreamed the whole night long of the warm sun and the pretty little bird the next morning when she joyfully stretched out her white leaves more to the warm air and the light she recognised the voice of the bird but his song sounded mournful and sad alas! he had good reason to be sad he had been caught and made a prisoner in a cage that hung close by the open window he sang of the happy time when he could fly in the air joyous and free of the young green corn in the fields from which he would spring higher and higher to sing his glorious song but now he was a prisoner in a cage the little Daisy wished very much to help him but what could she do? in her anxiety she forgot all the beautiful things around her the warm sunshine and her own pretty shining white leaves alas! she could think of nothing but the captive bird and her own inability to help him two boys came out of the garden one of them carried a sharp knife in his hand like the one with which the girl had cut the tulips they went straight to the little Daisy who could not think what they were going to do we could cut out a nice piece of turf for the lark here he said one of the boys and he began to cut a square piece round the Daisy so that she stood just in the centre pull up the flower said the other boy and the Daisy trembled with fear for to pluck her up would destroy her life and she wished so much to live and to be taken to the captive lark in his cage no let it stay where it is said the boy it looks so pretty so the Daisy remained and was put with the turf in the lark's cage the poor bird was complaining loudly about his lost freedom beating his wings against the iron bars of his prison the little Daisy could make no sign and utter no word to console him as she would gladly have done the whole morning passed in this manner there was no water here said the captive lark they have all gone out and have forgotten to give me a drop to drink my throat is hot and dry I feel as if I had fire and ice within me and the air is so heavy alas I must die I must bid farewell to the warm sunshine the fresh green and the beautiful things which God has created he thrust his beak into the cold turf to refresh himself a little with the green grass and as he did so his eye fell upon the Daisy the bird nodded to her and kissed her with his beak and said you also will wither here you poor little flower they have given you to me with the little batch of green grass on which you grew in exchange for the whole world which was mine out there each little blade of grass is to me as a great tree and each of your white leaves is a flower alas you only show me how much I have lost oh if I could only comfort him thought the Daisy but she could not move a leaf the perfume from her leaves was stronger than as usual in these flowers and the bird noticed it and though he was fainting with thirst and in his pain pulled up the green blades of grass he did not touch the flower the evening came and yet no one had come to bring the bird a drop of water then he stretched out his pretty wings and shook compulsively he could only sing tweet tweet his little head bent down toward the flower the bird's heart was broken with want and pining then the flower could not fold her leaves as she had done the evening before when she went to sleep but sick and sorrowful dripped toward the earth not till morning did the boys come and when they found the bird dead they wept many and bitter tears they dug a pretty grave for him and adorned it with leaves of flowers the bird's lifeless body and was buried with great honour poor bird while he was alive and could sing they forgot him and allowed him to sit in his cage and suffer want but now that he was dead they mourned for him with many tears and buried him in royal state but the turf of the daisy on it was thrown out into the dusty root no one thought of the little flower that had felt more for the poor bird than had anyone else and that would have been so glad to help and comfort him if she had been able End of chapter 2 the daisy by Hans Christian Andersen this recording is in the public domain Dear old grandmother by Lucy A. Jens Coffee Breck Collection 21 fairy tales, tall stories and scams this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Chad Horner from Ballyclerre in County Antrim Northern Ireland situated in the northeast of the island of Ireland Dear old grandmother grandmother paces with stately tread forward and back through the quaint old room out of the firelight dancing unread into the gallering dusk and gloom forward and back in her silken dress with its falling ruffles of frost-like lace a look of the deepest tenderness in the faded lines of her fine old face warm on her breast in his red nightgown like a scarlet lily the baby lies while softly the wary lids creep down over the little sleepy eyes grandmother sings to him sweet and low and memories come with the cradle song of the day when she sang it long ago when her life was young and her heart was strong grandmother's children have left her now the large old house is a shadowed place but the shining out in the sunset glow of her life like a star comes the baby's face here lies where a fold his father lay and softly she sings him the same sweet strain till the years intervening are swept away and the joys of life's morning are hers again grandmother's head is bending low over the dear little drowsy one the steps of her pathway are few to go the baby's journey has just begun yet the rosy dawn of his childish love brightens the evening that else were dim and in after years from her home above the light of her blessing will rest on him end of Dear Old Grandmother by Lucy A. Yens The Fair Princess by Alfred M. Williams Coffee Break Collection 21 Fairy Tales, Tall Stories and Scams This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Chad Horner from Ballycler in Countyampton, Northern Ireland Set G. at it in the north-east of the island of Ireland The Fair Princess The Princess sat at her garden fair with a golden comb she combed her hair she raised her eyes to the azure bay a brave fleet bore in with penance gay Good captain say in the holy land have you seen my spouse with his brave band in holy land is many a knight with what point device was he bedight his steed bore saddle of silver gilt the cross of Christ was his gold sword hilt a knight with these I saw bravely fall in fierce assault on a city's wall a wretched widow I have become to mourn and weep in a ruined home I have three daughters lovely and sage but spouseless and weak in orphanage what gift to him who returns your spouse all the golden silver in the house of golden silver I have no need some other girdon must be my need I have three great mills all shall be thine they grind white wheat and benzion fine the delicate flowers finally wrought the royal stewards have always sought for your three mills I have no desire some other reward must pay my hire my rift tile of golden ivory your golden ivory tiles are not for me my daughters fair you shall have them all to to serve you in your banquet hall the third and ferris shall be your bride in love's nest to slumber by your side princess your fair daughters count for not a cost their gift is in my thought I have nothing more to offer thee no other gift can you ask of me but I only ask and you can spare the simple gift of your body fair a filer insult knight near gave haste facels and scourged this lowly nave the wedding ring diamonds bright we broke in twain on our bridal knight whereas the half you have kept so dear the other half you can say it here how many tears you have made me shed how slow the lingering years have fled what pains and griefs lie in your debt when bliss like this cannot forget and of the fair princess by Alfred M. Williams fraudulent cosmetics and anti-aging products by the FBI coffee break collection 21 fairy tales tall stories and scams this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org fraudulent cosmetics and anti-aging products by the FBI the volume of counterfeit cosmetics arriving in the US is on the rise the internet has given consumers widespread access to health and beauty products some labeled with anti-aging properties that they don't know are fake counterfeiters of personal care products increasingly view dealing in these fake items as a low risk crime since many of them are located outside the US government and industry studies and testing have discovered dangerous ingredients within counterfeit anti-aging products fraudulent cosmetics may contain arsenic beryllium and cadmium all known carcinogens along with high levels of aluminum and dangerous levels of bacteria from sources such as urine some of these products have caused conditions like acne, psoriasis, rashes and eye infections tips for avoiding fraudulent anti-aging products if it sounds too good to be true it probably is watch out for special formulas or breakthroughs don't be afraid to ask questions about the product find out exactly what it should and should not do for you research a product thoroughly before buying it call the Better Business Bureau to find out if other people have complained about the product be wary of products that claim to cure a wide variety of illnesses particularly serious ones that don't appear to be related be aware that testimonials and or celebrity endorsements are often misleading be very careful of products that are marketed as having no side effects question products that are advertised as making visits to a physician unnecessary always consult your doctor before taking any dietary or nutritional supplement end of fraudulent cosmetics and anti-aging products by the FBI The Gardener by Robert Nuss Stevenson Ferry Tales, Tall Stories and Scams This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Chad Horner from Ballyclair in County Andrum, Northern Ireland Situated in the north east of the Ireland of Ireland The Gardener does not love to talk he makes and keeps the gravel walk and when he puts his tools away he locks the door and takes the key away behind the current row where no one else but Cook Migo far in the plots I see him dig old and serious brown and big he digs the flowers green, red and blue nor wishes to be spoken to he digs the flowers and cuts the hay and never seems to want to play silly Gardener, summer goes and winter comes with pinching toes when in the garden bare and brown you must lay your barrow down well now and while the summer stays to profit by these garden days well how much wiser you would be to play at Indian Wards with me End of The Gardener by Robert Lewis Stevenson A Good Boy by Robert Lewis Stevenson Coffee Break Collection 21 Fairy Tales Tall Stories and Scams This is a LibriVox recording around the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Chad Horne I woke before the morning I was happy all the day I never said an ugly word but smiled and stuck to play and now at last the sun is going down behind the wood and I am very happy for I know that I've been good my bed is waiting cool and fresh with linen smooth and fair and I must off to sleep by and not forget my prayer I know that till tomorrow I shall see the sunrise no ugly dream shall fright my mind no ugly sight to my eyes but slumber hold me tightly till I waken in the dawn and hear the thrushes singing in the lilacs round the lawn End of A Good Boy by Robert Lewis Stevenson Chapter 1 of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Coffee Break Collection 21 Fairy Tales, Tall Stories and Scams This is a LibriVox Recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording by Michelle Fry Baton Rouge, Louisiana in July 2019 Huckleberry Finn Chapter 1 You don't know about me without you have read the book The Name of the Adventures of Tom Sawyer but that ain't no matter that book was made by Mr. Mark Twain and he told the truth mainly there was things which he stretched but mainly he told the truth that's nothing I ain't never seen anybody but lied one time or another without it was Aunt Polly or the widow or maybe Mary ain't Polly Tom's ain't Polly she is and Mary and Peter Douglas is all told about in that book which is mostly a true book with some stretchers as I said before now the way that book winds up is this Tom and me found the money that the robbers hid in the cave and it made us rich we got $6,000 a piece all gold it was an awful sight of money when it was piled up he took it and put it out at interest and it fetched us a dollar a day a piece all the year round more than nobody could tell what to do with the widow Douglas she took me for her son and allowed she would civilize me but it was rough living in the house all the time considering how dismal, regular and decent the widow was in all her ways and so when I couldn't stand it no longer I lived out I got into my old rags and my sugar hogs head again and was free and satisfied but Tom Sawyer he hunted me up and said he was going to start a band of robbers and I might join him if I go back to the widow and be respectable so I went back the widow she cried over me and called me a poor lost lamb and she called me a lot of other names too but she never meant no harm by it she put me in them new clothes again and I couldn't do nothing but sweat and sweat and feel all cramped up well then the old thing commenced again the widow rung the bell for supper and you had to calm to time when you got to the table you couldn't go right to eating but you had to wait for the widow to tuck down her head and grumble a little over the vitals though there weren't really anything to matter with them that is nothing only everything was cooked by itself in a barrel of bids and ends it's different things get mixed up and the juice kinda swaps around and things go better after supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the bull rushers and I was in a sweat to find out all about him but by and by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time so then I didn't care no more about him because I don't take no stocking dead people pretty soon I wanted to smoke and asked the widow to let me but she wouldn't she said it was a mean practice and wasn't clean and I was trying not to do it anymore that is just the way with some people they get down on a thing when they don't know nothing about it here she was bothering about Moses which was no kin to her and no use to anybody being gone you see yet finding a power of thought with me for doing a thing that had some good in it and she took snuff too of course that was alright because she'd done it herself her sister Ms. Watson a tolerable slim old maid with goggles on had just come to live with her and took a set at me now with a spelling book she worked me middle and hard for about an hour and then the widow made her ease up she couldn't stood it much longer then for an hour it was deadly dull and I was fidgety Ms. Watson would say don't put your feet up there, Huckleberry and don't scrunch up like that, Huckleberry set up straight and pretty soon she would say don't gap and stretch like that, Huckleberry why don't you try to behave then she told me all about the bad place and I said I wished I was there she got mad then but I didn't mean no harm all I wanted was to go somewheres all I wanted was a change I weren't particular she said it was wicked to say what I said said she wouldn't say it for the whole world she was going to live so as to go to the good place well I couldn't see no advantage in going where she was going so I made up my mind I wouldn't try for it but I never said so because it would only make trouble and wouldn't do no good now she had got a start and she went on and told me all about the good place she said all the body would have to do there was go around all day long with a harp and sing forever and ever so I didn't think much of it but I never said so I asked her if she reckoned Tom Sawyer would go there and she said not by a considerable sight I was glad about that because I wanted him and me to be together Miss Watson she kept pecking at me and it got tiresome and lonesome by and by they fetched the niggers in and had prayers and then everybody was off to bed I went up to my room with a piece of candle and put it on the table then I sat down in a chair by the window and tried to think of something cheerful but it weren't no use I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead the stars were shining and the leaves rustled in the woods ever so mournful and I heard an owl away off hoo-hooing about somebody that was dead and a whip-will and a dog crying about somebody that was going to die and the wind was trying to whisper something to me and I couldn't make out what it was and so it made the cold shivers run over me then away out in the woods I heard that kind of sound that a ghost makes when it wants to tell about something that's on its mind and I think itself understood and so can't rest easy in its grave and has to go about that way every night grieving I got so downhearted and scared I did wish I had some company pretty soon the spider went crawling up my shoulder and I flipped it off and it lit in the candle and before I could budge it was all shriveled up I didn't need anybody to tell me that that was an awful bad sign and would fetch me some bad luck I was scared and most shook the clothes off of me I got up and turned around in my tracks three times and crossed my breast every time and then I tied up a little lock of my hair with thread to keep witches away but I hadn't no confidence you do that when you've lost a horseshoe that you found instead of nailing it up over the door but I hadn't ever heard anybody say it was any way to keep off bad luck when you killed a spider I sat down again a shaking all over and got out my pipe for a smoke for the house was all as still as death now and so the widow wouldn't know well after a long time I heard the clock away off in the town go boom boom boom 12 licks and all still again stiller than ever pretty soon I heard a twig snap down in the dark amongst the trees something was a-staring I sat still and listened directly I could just barely hear a meow down there that was good says I as soft as I could and then I put out the light and scrambled out the window onto the shed then I slipped down to the ground and crawled in among the trees and sure enough there was Tom Sawyer waiting for me end of chapter one of Huckleberry Finn Identity Theft by the FBI Coffee Break Collection 21 Fairy Tales, Tall Stories and Scams this is a LibraVox recording all LibraVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVox.org Identity Theft by the FBI Identity Theft occurs when someone assumes your identity to perform a fraud or other criminal act criminals can get the information they need to assume your identity from a variety of sources including by stealing your wallet, rifling through your trash or by compromising your credit or bank information they may approach you in person by telephone or on the internet and ask you for the information the sources of information about you are so numerous that you cannot prevent the theft of your identity but you can minimize your risk of loss by following a few simple hints Tips for avoiding Identity Theft never throw away ATM receipts, credit statements credit cards or banking statements in a usable form never give your credit card number over the telephone unless you make the call reconcile your bank account monthly and notify your bank of discrepancies immediately keep a list of telephone numbers to call to report the loss or theft of your wallet credit cards etc report unauthorized financial transactions to your bank, credit card company and the police as soon as you detect them review a copy of your credit card report at least once each year notify the credit bureau in writing of any questionable entries and follow through until they are explained or removed if your identity has been assumed ask the credit card bureau to print a statement to that effect in your credit report if you know of anyone who receives mail from credit card companies or banks in the names of others report it to local or federal law enforcement authorities end of Identity Theft by the FBI The Startling Adventures of Baron Moonchausen an adventure with a lion and a crocodile by R. E. Rasp Coffee Break Collection 21 Fairy Tales Tall Stories and Scams This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by William Jones Benita Springs, Florida The Startling Adventures of Baron Moonchausen an adventure with a lion and a crocodile some years before my beard announced approaching manhood or in other words when I was neither man nor boy but between both I expressed and repeated conversations a strong desire of seeing the world from which I was discouraged by my parents though my father had been no inconsiderable traveler himself a cousin by my mother's side took a liking to me often said I was a fine forward youth and was much inclined to gratify my curiosity his eloquence had more effect than mine for my father consented to my accompanying him on a voyage to the island of Ceylon where his uncle had recited as governor many years we sailed from Amsterdam with dispatches from their high mightinesses to the states of Holland and in about six weeks we arrived at Ceylon where we received with great marks of friendship and true collightness after we had resided at Ceylon about a fortnight I accompanied one of the governor's brothers upon a shooting party near the banks of a large piece of water which had engaged my attention I thought I heard a rustling noise behind on turning about I was almost petrified as who would not be at the sight of a lion which was evidently approaching with the intention of satisfying his appetite with my poor carcass and that without asking my consent what was to be done in this horrible dilemma I had not even a moment for reflection my peace was only charged with swan shot and I had no other about me however though I could have no idea of killing such an animal with that weak kind of ammunition yet I had some hopes of frightening him by the report and perhaps of wounding him also I immediately let fly without waiting till he was within breach and the report did but enrake him for he now quickened his pace and seemed to approach me full speed I attempted to escape but that only added if an addition could be made to my distress for the moment I turned about I found a large crocodile with his mouth extended almost ready to receive me on my right hand was the piece of water before mentioned and on my left a deep precipice said to have as I have since learned a receptacle at the bottom for venomous creatures in short I gave myself up as lost for the lion was now upon his hind legs just in the act of seizing me I fell involuntarily to the ground with fear and as it afterward appeared he sprang over me I lay some time in a situation which no language can describe expecting to feel his teeth or talons part of me every moment after waiting in this prostrate situation a few seconds I heard a violent but unusual noise differing from any sound that had ever before assailed my ears nor is it at all to be wondered at when I inform you from whence it proceeded after listening for some time I ventured to raise my head and look around when to my unspeakable joy I perceived the lion head by the eagerness with which he sprang at me jumped forward as I fell into the crocodile's mouth which as before observed was wide open the head of the one stuck in the throat of the other and they were struggling to extricate themselves I fortunately grabbed my hunting knife which was by my side with this instrument I severed the lion's head at one blow and the body fell at my feet I then with the butt end of my fouling piece rammed the head further into the throat of the crocodile and destroyed him by suffocation for he could neither gorge nor eject it after he overthrew powerful adversaries my companion arrived in search of me for finding I did not follow him into the wood he returned apprehending I had lost my way or met with some accident after mutual congratulations we measured the crocodile which was just 40 feet in length in though the startling adventures of Baron Moon Chousen an adventure with a lion and a crocodile the matrimonial swindle sawed by Mr. W. Randall written by W. H. Cove coffee break collection 21 fairy tales, tall stories and scams this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the matrimonial swindle I've been dreadfully treated most shamefully cheated by one whom I thought would be mine for life lend your auriculars hear the particulars how I was swindle of money and my wife you must know I was single when thinking I'd mingle my own life with that of some pretty young miss I just got a thousand pounds and a nice house and grounds all to conduce to cannubial bliss I pondered without delay just to find out a way how I could just get a wife to my mind when I fell quite promiscuous across a conspicuous advertisement of a peculiar kind matrimony was headed a lady unwetted seeks for a husband whose virtue abounds but his means must be such as hers that is as much as hers namely a fortune of one thousand pounds you can't think how delighted I felt as I plighted my truth to this lady fair in a neat note she sent me her photograph with her dear autograph and made an appointment how loving she wrote I accordingly met her as named in her letter she leaned on the arm of a tall dark young man whom she said was her brother a captain astrother and thus our platonic attachment begun I fear you'd grow tired if I were required to state how this courtship progressed from this time suffice it to say that we made up our minds to be married without delay wasn't it prime her brother the captain declared he was wrapped in delight at the prospect his joy knew no bounds and one day exposed to me bonds of his sisters for one thousand pounds quite carelessly then he said on the day when you wed I have to make a request quite unbrotherly grounds it is that you give your wife for her use all her life a settlement down of say one thousand pounds I at first felt inclined to say flat I declined to pay any such them towards exceeding all bounds such persuasion that I gave up evasion and agreed that I give my wife one thousand pounds in a week I was married my wife home had carried when the captain requested I hand to my spouse the sum I'd agreed to pay down on our wedding day I did so I am always true to my vows the brother smiles slightly the bride she laughs lightly as she picks up my cash sovereign sounds and I really in vexed to say it was quite an ecstasy I gave up the money my one thousand pounds I supposed was the hurry the turmoil and flurry that made me so anxious that night from my couch suffice it I sought my bride whom I missed from my side where a moment before she was standing I vouch but low I was in the lurch bane was my rigid search high and low in and out both house and grounds but alas hope was banished off too clear she vanished off flitting away with my one thousand pounds my anger was kindled I found I was swindled in deep was the vengeance I vowed I would wreak but I never upon my life once again saw my wife she flew to America that very weak and as for her brother he of course no other than her lover in faith but they made a nice pair so I still singled Terry because I can't marry as I've one wife already though goodness knows where my wife having missled was plain I was chiseled and yet the base window the moral implies for those single I Terry of course I can't marry I found that experience makes a full wise so don't marry it it's random but Neil Desperandum if a man only tries a good wife is soon found yet don't on your wedding day say you'll agree to pay down as a settlement one thousand pounds end of the matrimonial swindle coffee break collection 21 fairy tales tall stories and scams this is a Libervox recording all Libervox recordings are in for more information on volunteer please visit Libervox.org recording by Chad Horner one bright Sunday morning as I sat in my cell my thoughts to the outside did roam the sweet songs of birds as their notes rose and fell turned my mind to my childhood's dear home long years they have passed since I saw that dear spot but its sweet memories time can nears mother I can never forget that dear little cot and the sweet loving smile of my mother in the sickness or paint was dear mother the broad her sweet self and her charms to ally it she learned me a prayer and she lovingly taught me to kneel at her knees and to say it God's word she would read an impressive my mind the love that's conveyed by that story of the saviour who died that millions might find eternal rest in his realms of glory for years she's been dead and her grassy mind reminds me that neath it lies sleeping the dear friend of my youth whose magic I find could bring smiles to my face even when weeping tis thus the dear birds as they joyfully sing and chirp happy calls to each other remind me that perhaps they were sent for to bring a message to me from my mother but alas as I think upon my mind there quickly falls the thoughts of my sad degradation the strong iron bars and the gray somber balls recall me to my sad situation but no more will I sin I'll live up right for sure my passions and temptations ask mother and when God calls me home to that bright shining shore we'll be happy together dear mother end of my mother by car my shadow by Robert Leos Stevenson coffee break collection 21 fairy tales tall stories and scams this is a LibriVox recording or in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Chad Horner from Ballycler in Cunyantur Northern Ireland situated in the northeast of the island of Ireland my shadow by Robert Leos Stevenson 1850 to 1894 is one of the most popular short poems extant I've taught it to a great many very young boys and not one has ever tried to evade learning it I like it equally well I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me and what can be the use of him is more than I can see he is very very like me from the heels up to the head and I see him jump about me when I jump into my bed the funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow not at all like proper children which is always very slow for he sometimes shits up taller like an Indian rubber ball and he sometimes gets so little that there's none for him at all he hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play and can only make a full of me in every sort of way he stays so close beside me he's a coward you can see I'd think shame to stick to nursery as that shadow sticks to me one morning very early before the sun was up I rose and find the shining dew on every buttercup but my lazy little shadow like an iron sleepy head I was fast asleep in bed Robert Lewis Stevenson end of my shadow by Robert Lewis Stevenson Nigerian letter or 419 fraud by the FBI coffee break collection 21 fairy tales, tall stories and scams this is a LibraVox recording all LibraVox recordings are in the public domain for more information please visit LibraVox.org Nigerian letter or 419 fraud Nigerian letter frauds combine the thread of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a letter mailed or emailed from Nigeria offers the recipient the opportunity to share in a percentage of millions of dollars that the author self-proclaimed government official is trying to transfer illegally out of Nigeria the recipient is encouraged to send information to the author such as blank letterhead stationary bank name and account numbers and other identifying information using effects number given in the letter or return email address provided in the message the scheme relies on convincing the victim who has demonstrated a propensity for larceny by responding to the invitation to send money to the author of the letter in Nigeria in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons payment of taxes bribes to government officials and legal fees are often described in great detail with the promise that all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are spirited out of Nigeria in actuality the millions of dollars do not exist and the victim eventually ends up with nothing but loss once the victim stops sending money the perpetrators have been known to use the personal information and checks that they received to impersonate the victim draining bank accounts and credit card balances while such an invitation impresses most law-abiding citizens as a laughable hoax millions of dollars in losses are caused by these schemes annually some victims have been lured to Nigeria where they have been imprisoned against their will along with losing large sums of money the Nigerian government is not sympathetic to victims of these schemes since the victim actually conspires to remove funds from Nigeria in a manner that is contrary to Nigerian law the schemes themselves violate section 419 of the Nigerian criminal code hence the label 419 fraud tips for avoiding Nigerian letter or 419 fraud if you receive a letter or email from Nigeria asking you to send personal or banking information do not reply in any manner send the letter or message to the US secret service your local FBI office or the US postal inspector service you can also register a complaint with the federal trade commission's complaint assistant if you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes encourage that person to contact the FBI or the US secret service as soon as possible be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation guard your account information carefully end of Nigerian letter 419 fraud by the FBI Stiffner & Jim Thirdly Bill by Henry Lawson Coffee Break Collection 21 fairy tales tall stories and scams this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by son of the exiles Stiffner & Jim Thirdly Bill we were tramping down in Canterbury Maryland at the time swagging it me and Bill looking for work on the new railway line well one afternoon after a long hot tramp we comes to Stiffner's hotel between Christchurch and that other place I forget the name of it with throats on us like sun-struck stones and not the price of a stick of tobacco we had to have a drink anyway so we chanced it we walked right into the bar handed over our swags put up four drinks and tried to look as if we'd just drawn our checks and didn't care a curse for any man we looked solvent enough as far as swagmen go we were dirty and haggard and ragged and tired looking for the reason why we might have our checks all right this Stiffner was a hard customer he'd been a spieler fighting man bush-parson, temperance preacher and a policeman and a commercial traveller and everything else that was damnable he'd been a journalist and an editor he'd been a lawyer too he was an ugly brute to look at and uglier to have a row with about six foot six portion and stronger than Donald Denny he was meaner than a gold-filled Chinaman and sharper than a sewer rat he wouldn't give his own father a feed nor lend him a Spratt unless some safe person backed the old man's IOU we knew we needn't expect any mercy from Stiffner but something had to be done so I said to Bill something's got to be done Bill Bill was mostly a quiet young chap from Sydney except when he got drunk which was seldom and then he was a lively customer from all around he was cracked on the subject of spielers he held that the population of the world was divided into two classes one was spielers and the other was mugs he reckoned that he wasn't a mug at first I thought he was a spieler and afterwards I thought that he was a mug he used to say that a man had to do it these times that he was honest once in a full and was robbed and starved in consequence by his friends and relations but now he intended to take all that he could get he said you either had to have or be had that men were driven to be sharps and there was no help for it Bill said well after sharpen our teeth that's all and choose someone's lug how I asked there was a lot of navies at the pub and I knew one or two by sight so Bill says you know one or two of these mugs bite one of their ears so I took aside a chap that I knowed and bit his ear for ten bulb and gave it to Bill to mind for I thought it would be safer with him than with me hang on to that I says and don't lose it for your natural life or stiffener or stiffen us we put up about nine bobs worth of drinks that night me and Bill and stiffen it in squeal he was too sharp he shouted once or twice by and by I left Bill and turned in and in the morning when I woke up there was Bill sitting alongside of me and looking about as lively as the fighting king in London in fog time he had a black eye and 18 pence he'd been taking down some of the mugs well what's to be done now I asked stiffen I can smashes both with one hand and if we don't pay up he'll pound our swags and cripple us he's just the man to do it he loves a fight even more than he hates being had there's only one thing to be done Jim says Bill in a tired disinterested tone that made me mad well what's that I said smoke smoke be damned I snarled losing my temper you know dashed well that our swags are in the bar and we can't smoke without them well then says Bill I'll toss you to see who's to face the landlord well I'll be blessed I says I'll see you further first you've got a front you mug that stuff away get us out of this mess it made him wild to be called a mug and we swore and growled at each other for a while but we didn't speak loud enough to have a fight so at last I agreed to toss up for it and I lost Bill started to give me some of his points but I shut him up quick you've had your turn and made a mess of it I said for God's sake give me a show now I'll go into the bar you dump the swags and carry them out to the veranda and then go back to settle up you keep him talking all the time you dump the swags together and smoke like sheol that's all you've got to do I went into the bar got the swags from the missus carried them out onto the veranda and then went back stiffener came in good morning good morning sir says stiffener it'll be a nice day I think yeah I think so I suppose you're going on yes we'll have to make a move today then I hooked carelessly onto the counter with one elbow and looked dreary like out across the clearing and presently I gave a sort of sigh and said oh well I think I'll have a beer right you are where's your mate oh he's round at the back he'll be round directly he isn't drinking this morning stiffener laughed that nasty empty laugh of his he thought Bill was whipping the cat what's yours boss I said thank you ears luck ears luck the country was pretty open round there the nearest timber was better than a mile away and I wanted to give Bill a good start across the flat before the go as you can commenced so I talked for a while and while we were talking I thought I might as well go the whole hog I might as well die for a pound as a penny if I had to die and if I hadn't I'd have the pound of the good anyway so to speak anyhow the risk would be about the same or less for I might have the spirit to run harder the more I had to run for the more spirits I had to run for in fact as it turned out so I says I think I'll take one of them their flasks of whiskey to last us on the road right ya says stiffener what'll you have a small one or a big one oh a big one I think if I can get it into my pocket it'll be a tight squeeze he said and laughed I'll try I said bet you two drinks I'll get it in done the top inside gate pocket no tearing there was a big bottle and all my pockets were small but I got it into the pocket he'd bet it against there was a tight squeeze but I got it in then we both laughed but his laugh was nastier than usual because it was meant to be pleasant and he'd lost two drinks and my laugh wasn't easy I was anxious as to which of us would be next just then I noticed something and an idea struck me about the most up to date idea that ever struck me in my life I noticed that stiffener was limping on his right foot this morning so I said to him what's up with your foot putting my hand in my pocket ah it's a crimson nail in me boot he said I thought I got the blanky thing out this morning but I didn't there just happened to be an old bag of shoemaker's tools in the bar being longing to an old cobbler who was lying dead drunk on the veranda so I said taking my hand out of my pocket again lend us the boot and I'll fix it in a minute that's my old trade ah see your shoemaker he said I'd never have thought it he laughs one of his useless laughs that wasn't wanted and slips off the boot he hadn't laced it up and hands it across the bar to me it was an ugly brute a great thick iron bound boiler plated navies boot it made me feel sore when I looked at it I got the bag and pretended to fix the nail but I didn't there's a couple of nails gone from the sole I said I'll put them in if I can find any hot nails and it'll save the sole and I rooted in the bag and found a good long nail and shoved it right through the sole on the sly it'd been a bit of a sprinter in his time and I thought it might be better for me in the near future if the spikes of his running shoes were inside there you'll find that better I fancy I said standing the booth on the bar counter but keeping my hand on it in an absent-minded kind of way I presently I yawned and stretched myself and said in a careless way ah well, how's the sleight he scratched the back of his head and pretended to think ah well we'll call it 30 Bob perhaps he thought I'd slap down two quid well I says and what will you do supposing we don't pay ya he looked blank for a moment and then he fired up and gasped and choked once or twice and then he cooled down suddenly and laughed his nastiest laugh he was one of those men who always laugh when they're wild and said in a nasty quiet tone you thunderin' jumped up crawlers if you don't something well part up I'll take your swags and something well kick ya gory pants so you won't be able to sit down for a month or stand up either well as soon as you begin the better I said and I chucked the boot into a corner and bolted he jumped the bar counter got his boot and came after me he paused to slip the boot on but he only made one step and then gave a hell and slung the boot off and rushed back when I looked round again he'd got a slipper on and was coming and gaining on me too I shifted scenery pretty quick the next five minutes but I was soon pumped my heart began to beat against the ceiling of my head and my lungs all choked up in my throat when I guessed he was getting within kicking distance I glanced round so's to dodge the kick he let out but I shied just in time he missed fire and the slipper went about 20 feet up in the air and fell in a waterhole he was done then for the ground was stubbly and stony I seen Bill on ahead pegging out for the horizon and I took after him and reached for the timber for all I was worth for I'd seen Stiffner's missus coming with a shovel to bury the remains I suppose and those two were a good match Stiffner and his missus I mean Bill looked round once and melted into the bush pretty soon after that when I caught up he was about done but I grabbed my swag and we pushed on for I told Bill that I'd seen Stiffner making for the stables when I last looked round and Bill thought that we'd better get lost in the bush as soon as ever we could and stay lost too for Stiffner was a man that couldn't stand being had the first thing that Bill said when we got safe into camp was I told you we'd pull through all right you need never be frightened when you're travelling with me just take my advice and leave things to me and we'll hang out all right now but I shut him up he made me mad why you what the shell did you do do he says I got away with the swags didn't I where'd they be now if it wasn't for me when I sat on him pretty hard for his pretensions I paid him out for all the patronage he'd worked off on me and called him a mug straight and walked around him so to speak and blowed and told him never to pretend to me again that he was a battler then when I thought I'd licked him into form I cooled down and soaked him up a bit but I never thought that he had three climaxes and a crisis in store for me he took it all pretty well he let me have my fling and gave me time to get breath then he leaned languidly over on his right side shoved his left hand down into his left trouser pocket and brought up a bootlice a box of matches and nine and six as soon as I got the focus of it I gasped where the choose did you get that I had it all along he said but I seen at the pub that you had the show to chew a lug so I thought we'd save it nine and six pincers ain't picked up every day then he leaned over on his left went down into the other pocket and came up with a piece of tobacco and half a sovereign my eyes bulged out where the blazers did you get that from I yelled that he said was the half quid you gave me last night half quids ain't to be thrown away these times and besides I had it down on stiffener and meant to pay him out and I reckon that if we wasn't sharp enough to take him down we hadn't any business to be supposed to be alive anyway I guessed we'd do it and so we did and got a bottle of whiskey into the bargain then he leaned back tied like against the lug and dredged his upper left hand waistcoat pocket and brought up a sovereign wrapped in a pound note then he waited for me to speak but I couldn't I got my mouth open but couldn't get it shut again I got that out of the mugs last night but I thought that we'd want it and might as well keep it quids ain't so easily picked up nowadays and besides we need stuff more than stiffener does and so and did he know you had the stuff I gasped oh yeah that's the fun of it that's what made him so excited he was in the parlor all the time I was playing but we might as well have a drink we did I wanted it Bill turned in by and by and looked like a sleeping innocent in the moonlight I sat up late and smoked and thought hard and watched Bill and turned in and thought till near daylight and then went to sleep in the nightmare about it I dreamed I chased stiffener 40 miles to buy his pub and that Bill turned out to be his nephew Bill divvied up alright and gave me half a crown over but I didn't travel with him long after that he was a decent young fellow as far as chaps go and a good mate as far as mates go but he was too far ahead for a peaceful easy going chap like me it would have worn me out in a year to cope up to him end of stiffener and gym thirdly Bill recording by son of the exiles