Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-07-27
Bridgeport Bank DefrauGled by sharp
ers-AGf is mot Gold that GIitteF1--
SWimdle with California Quarlz.

For several weeks past two shrewd individu.
ais have been travelling through the principal
places ofNew Jersey and Connecticut, exhbi-
ting specimen lump" ofquartz, which they said
was dug by themselves from the gold mines Of
California. To all outward appearance the lump
contained pure gold, worth from $40 900 to so,-
900, and therefore was considered quite curiosi-
ty by those who saw it, enclosed in glass case,
with glarng labels, setting forth its weight, VAL
ne, &c. The rogues made several attempts to
perpetrate swindle in this city with their "treas
ure,' but failing of success, they wended their
way to Bridgeport, where the gold in question
was prominently exhibited in the show window
OF brokers' Office, aud attracted little attention
from the citizens as they passed and repassed.--
One of the parties, named George A Duncan,
finally managed to become acquainted with the
officers of the Bridgeport Bank, and succeeded in
obtaining loan for few hours. Subsequently
Duncan had an interview with others connected
with the same bank, and represented that himself
and partner desired to enter extensively into the
manufacture eofshoulderbraces. For this purpose,
the above individual said, they would desire an
additional capital of 81 200, and offered to depos-
it the "lump'' as security for the loan of the
amount for only few days. The agreement was
assented to by the leading officers of the bank,
and certificate check. was handed to Duncan,
payable at the Bank of New York, in Wall street.
with which the sharpers started for this city, In
.he express train. The following day, the gold
ing that all not gold that glttered AN ex-
animation was made, and to the establishment OF
the dupes, the interior of the massive lump was
found to be of lead.
The exterior was very ingenlously studded
with few dollars worth of gold quartz, end the
crevices were nicely covered with gold leaf so as
to defy detection without breaking up the lump
The instant the swindle was discovered, a tels.
graphic despatch was forwarded to the New York
Bank, to anticipate the payment of the certified
receipt of the despatch, when an exchange bro
kerr doing business in Broadway, called at the
Bank with the certified check, and upon present.
ing ii for payment, the teller Immediately caused
him to be arrested, until further action should DO
taken in the matter. The broker, having an op-
portunity afforded him, speedily satisfied all par
ties OF his innocence in the affair. He assert0
that he discounted the check for Duncan. In.
formation of the affair was given to officers De-
voc, Walling and Keefe, of the Chiefs office.
who started i'll pursuit of Duncan and his confed.
crates. They learned that when Duncan called
on the broker, he endorsed the check; and re-
terred, for evidence of his character, &C., to a
man at the Howard Hotel named john Chesley.
Accordingly this man arrested. Duncan
was, in the meantime, traced to the Girard House,
but he fed before the officers could lay their
grasp upon MIN. The wife and three children OF
Duncan had been deserted by him, and she had
Just packed up her baggage to leave the city for
her fathers home, in Waterbury, VT 1t is said
she was discarded BIZ her family, owing to her
marriage with Duncan. The officers Of the
Bank have arrived, and the case will
be further investigated.-Nelo York Times, 20h.