The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-30
A CONFIDENCE OPERATION.

Curious Story of Fraud and Gullibility
Three Million Dollars In IA VRlise.
From the Buffalo Commercial AdOertiser, Tuesday.
Sitting in the Court House yesterday after
noon, listening to the testimony of the old man
Rudolph thinner, who, it is alleged, was very
seriously victimized by one Bob Guise, assisted
by one or more of his female friends, we no
longer wondered that confidence men and
Jeremy Diddlers" generally make good thing
ont OF their little games, and find plenty of
victims TO practise upon. But we were surprised
az the unheard-of verdancy and simplicity of
the old man; it seemed almost incredible that
any person in his senses could have been con-
tinually and Systematically swindled by a series
OF cocBand.bull stories such as those with
which, as il is alleged, the accused, Bob Guise
succeeded in fleeing thinner.
He (Guse) at one time, according to the tes-
timony, represented to the old man that he had
married the DAUGHTER of a man named Bede, in
Hamilton, who was very wealthy-so wealthy
in fact, that he could not compute his riches
Guise also produced note for 100000, signed
by John and Hannah Bede-his "Wie's" parents
and drawn in his (Guise's) favor, on the
strength Of which he obtained money from his
victim.
On another occasion .Guise told zimmer that
there were $24, 900 in the express Office for Mr.
Bede, and that he, being Mr.. Bede's agent, could
not get the money without paying $500.
Zlmmer gave him note tor 500, and came
to Buffalo with him, where they were to raise
the necessary amount on the note, get the
$24, 600 out OF the express office and divide it,
giving him (Zimmer) the biggest part of it, as
Mr.. Bede allowed him [Guise) to ''use the
money for his own purposes" Guise, leaving
the old man at the GeResee House, weHt down
town, ald shortly returned and said he mad
paid IN the money at the express Office, and
could get the $4,000, but that they had ad-
yised him not to take the money out of the
office. as there were Fenian soldiers around
and he would not be safe, etc. Mr.. Ilmmer
did not get any portion OF the $4,000
Persons employed in the United States and
American Express offices testIied that they had
I'M n Such a napkHOp
being received.
AT another time Guise represented to thinner
that Mr.. Bede was IN New York, and had three
million dollars in his valise; that they must go
to New York and see Mr.. Bede and that he
would divide the money between them. The
witness went on TO say:-"l furnished the
money TO go with; he said he had nothing to
90 with himseh, and that ! must get him
money to 90 with; Guise said the expense
would be S25 each from Rochester to New
York; / gave him $50; went to New
York: did not see Bede; he then went
off and left me at tue Astor House, and re-
turned again, and said that Mr.. Bede could not
be there right of, but would De there IN the
course of the evening; after that he weHt about
the streets from one place to another till some
time in the evening, but no Bede appeared; il
was bed time, and | went up stairs and went to
bed; he told me next morning that Bede had
been there after went TO bed, but did not want
to disturb me so late at night and did not want
TO call me; next morning he went round here
and there, and he left me, to see Nh. Bede; he
SAID, when he returned, tnat Bede could not
come to see me or spend any time with me, a.
he was going to take the next tram West to
come to Buffalo, and perhaps then TO Clarence
Guise said that he wanted 10 go on the same
train, but we were too late: had to wait till the
evening train: we started for home; did not le
Guise have any more money while we were gone
hadn't got any"
Zimmer, in answer to a question from one o
the counsel said that he relied upon the pro
misses and stories made and told him by Guise
''they seemed so reasonable!"
We have given enough 10 show our readers
the conhdne nature of thinner, and how easil,
he might be victimized by such as Guise, pro
yided the latter happened to be ''any such man.
The case was resumed this morning, aud seyera
additional witnesses examined. When our re
porter left, Mr.. Humphrey, counsel for tn
defense, was cross eX aiming Mr.. thinner. Tn
trial will probably occupy most of the da,
Tomorrow.