Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a beggar who pretends blindness or physical disability; thus grizzling n.

1906		O.C. Malvery Soul Market 35: In the same house [...] lived two ‘grizzlers’ — men who were supposed to be respectively blind and crippled. Ellen assured us it was all ‘my eye’.
1937		E. Raymond Marsh 151: ‘Then there’s grizzlin’—’ ‘What‘s that?’ ‘Why, bein’ blind and playin’ a vile-in.’.
1985		Reno Gaz. Jrnl (NV) 7 Aug. 25/5: Another grizzler [...] was eying us [...] I was prepared for him to hit us for our loose change.