July 19

Reggie the Con Man


(The 1st Paragraph)
In the paradox of crime, there are few scoundrels who could match the exploits of Reggie Hayes, who also used the names of Reginald Haven, Ricardo Hermosa, Father Harris, and dozens of other aliases.  Reggie's police record, principally in Chicago and Baltimore, is replete with scams that he perpetrated upon gullible people.  Generally, his favorite target was a matron who should have known better. 

(vocabulary)
paradox .... a situation that seems strange because it involves two ideas or qualities that are very different

scoundrel ... a bad or dishonest man, especially someone who cheats or deceives other people

alias ... used when giving someone's real name, especially an actor's or a criminal's name, together with another name they use:   'Friends' star Jennifer Aniston, alias Rachel Green

replete ... full of something

scams ... a clever but dishonest way to get money:

perpetrate ... to do something that is morally wrong or illegal 

gullible ... too ready to believe what other people tell you, so that you are easily tricked:


(The 2nd Paragraph)
Dressed as a priest ("Father Harris"), he was most convincing, however.  His method of operation was to "find" a wallet stuffed with hundred dollar bills outside a supermarket and then implore an unsuspecting woman to share his good fortune, since there was no identification in the wallet.  But first, to establish her credibility, his victim had to put up a sum of moeny as a testimonial to her good faith.  Mrs. Emma Schultz, age 72, tearfully told the police that she had withdrawn $14,000 from her bank and placed it in a shopping bag supplied by the helpful priest.  He told her to hold onto the bag while he went next door to a lawyer's office to make the sharing of their good fortune legal. 


I cannnot understand the yellow highlight place. 

He wanted her to have his money?  or He wanted to have her money? 

Whose identification was not in the wallet?  Father Harris or the Mrs. Emma Schultz?

If he wanted to give his moeny to her, why she should have withdrawn her own money for credibility?   



(vocabulary)
convincing ...making you believe that something is true or right:

implore ... to ask for something in an emotional way [= beg]

testimonial ... a formal written statement describing someone's character and abilities

(The 3rd Paragpaph)
After a seemingly interminable wait, Mrs. Schultz discovered to her chagrin that the heartless thief had skipped out the back way, leaving her "holding the bag" - a switched bag containing shrredded newspaper - while he made his getaway with her life savings.

(vocabulary)
interminable ... very long and boring [= endless]

chagrin ... annoyance and disappointment because something has not happened the way you hoped
to her chargrin ...   Much to her chagrin, I got the job.