Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-09-11
Citizens ~. illinois Fieeeed to ii,
hIl,1nnt Of E5O. 600.


During bur visit to Macon few days
ago we wefe made acquainted with the par
tictlars of the most ingenious and success
fulsystem of confidence operations that has
ever come under our observation.
1t appears that some time in the month
of March family rejoicing in the solid
patronymic of Stone came to Macon, with
the avowed intention of locating in that
thriving village The family consisted of
three brothers. Geo. w. Stone, VIM. Stone
and Frank Stone, the first named being a.
married man.. With them came fourth
individual who was known as Grub, who
played AN important part in the series of
brilliant financial operations which follow
ed. BY means of skilfully concocted stories
and lavish show of money the party con-
vinceds the people of Macon and vicinity
that they We're possessed of q considera-
BILE amount of wealth. They offered
to loan money to the citizens, and
did make several advances of funds,
for short periods, to various persons
BY following this plan for few weeks
they succeeded in totally disarming the
usually shrewd Maconites of all suspicion,
and then they began to work In earnest
They represented themselves as horse
buyers, and as being anxious to buy up
sale they would offer a price greater than
the actual worth of the animal provided
the owner would take in payment a small
amount in cash and the balance in a good
note, having short time to run. George
Stone generally gave notes payable to him
by Grub, and Uice UerSd. They always
happened to have a note about the proper
amount, and could always suit their victim
exactly as to the time when the note fell
due. Another one of the devices resorted
to by these villains was decidedly sharp.
A well-to-do farmer in the neighborhood,
named Clements, was in need of some
money, and at q public sale which occurred
in the spring he informed some of his
friends who were present that he would
like to borrow about 81, 500 for ninety days,
at the end of which time he expected. to
have his wheat crop in market. George
Stone. learning of the case, sent word to
Clements that he wouldbe able to loan him
the money in a few days. Clements very
gladly accepted the offer, and informed
Stone that if he bought anything at the
sale. and needed security, he should call
on him. Stone then bought stock to the
amount of about $500, and readily gave Sc
curity, Clements and Robert Tlmmons,
ESQ, signing the note with him. 1t is
needless to add that Clements never sue
ceededed in getting the 81, 500
One of the first things done by george
Stone, after he had established O reputa-
ton as a moneyed man, was to purchase of
Robert Timmons, fine brick house, in
Macon, for which he agreed to pay $4,000,
in two payments Mr.. Timmops also sold
him some articles of furniture, quantity
of fuel, ETC., amounting in all to about 5000.
SO great was the confidence felt by Mr..
| Timmons in the honesty of Stone, that he
declined to accept mortgage securing the
payments, and had it not been for the fact
that A. c. Harris Esq, who drew up the
papers, insisted on filling up the mortgage
the whole amount might have been lost
Some weeks ago Geo. Stone, and Grub
disappeared, leaving the house bought of
Timmons in the possession of Frank, and
the father and mother of the boys
who came over from Marrowbone
to help wind up the affair.
When it became noised abroad that the
horse-buyers. had decamped, and that
some of their household goods had been
taken away in the night, the most terrible
CONSERVATION prevailed. Mr.. Timmons
followed the fleeing scoundrels, and at st.
Paul, Mimi, succeeded in finding one of
the party, though he was not fortunate
enough to get the men who were the real
criminals. A compromise, however, was
effected as regards the amount due Mr..
Timmons, and arrangements have been
made to capture and bring to justice the
whole gang.
Itappears that before the Stones came to
Macon they had been operating along the
line of the Chicago Branch Illinois Central
Railroad, from Nation to Areola, and also
did some little business in the neighbor-
hood of Clinton. The history of their ex
ploits would fill good sized volume 1t
is estimated that the amount of their swim
ding operations in Illinois alone will not
fall far short of $50, 600 They evidently
belong to a well organized gang, and when
they are not able to buy stock for the
worthless notes of each other, they will
not scruple to get possession of it by
means no more honest than outright theft