It’s interesting to speculate as to how many ways there are to turn a dishonest dollar. There must be as many variations to the old shell game as there are operators, and B.C. has known its share of these shady types.
Almost a century ago, Jacob Jacobsen (if that was his real name) earned his niche in provincial criminal lore when, under the alias John Hellsing, he worked a novel dodge on a Victoria realtor. His was, as a newspaper reported put it, a “smooth scheme,” and one not without its charm if something less than original.
But running afoul of the law in those pioneer days could be harsh, especially if one were sentenced to hard labour.
You’ll meet Mr. Jacobsen and other illuminaries in next week’s BC Chronicles.
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PHOTO: B.C jails had their own versions of the ball and chain brigade, shown here in an American state. —Wikipedia .
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