Thanks! I still feel entertained by the possibility. Arianne On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 2:10 PM, Robert E Stewart <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I checked California newspapers up to 1870 (cdnc.ucr.edu) and find lots of > hits on "confidence man" but none for any abbreviation thereof: con man, > con job, &c. Bob Stewart, Carson City > > > In a message dated 9/26/2013 1:43:55 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, > [log in to unmask] writes: > > Are you familiar with the pseudonym for a writer in the 1860s for the > St.Louis Republican, Hans Patrick Le Connor? I wonder if the "Le Connor" > could be in the spirit of "Josh" and "Snook." Were there references to > con-men in those days? > > Am grateful for your contributions here. Thanks > > Arianne Laidlaw > Sacramento > -- Arianne Laidlaw A '58