, 1873-01-02
GENTEEL SWtNDLERS.
How a Pair Of Chicago Sharpcrs
Flecccl Some Of tho Solid
Men of Kansas City.
They Sell a Mine that Never Existed, and Seek
to Purchase Opera Houses, Hotels,
and Real Estate.

During tho prevalence OF tho Arizona dir
mona miro foror, two young mon Of elegant
appearance arrived in Khnaaa City. Ono OF
them stopped at tho City Wow House, aud wont
By tho naulo Of W. or NJ. q. Mathonsy. The
othor bocnnso guest at the broadway Hotol,
md was known tl,ero as Colonel N. q. Burt.
real ostato agent from ohicago, Mathonoy was
also understood to belong In this city. Aftor d
fow days, tho latter individual booamo aoqunint-
cd with Colonel Ooloman, highly respectable
citizon Of Kansas City, md 30 far gained hia
confidence as to hold private conversations with
him on business topics.
During ono of theBo interviews lo diaoloaed
to tho Colonel that ho was one Of the proprietora
Of Il recently discovered and immensely rich
gold lodo III Wyoming Territory. lIe
offered to dispose of Lis interest for
$2,500. The Colonel WAS forced to acknowledge
that this was uecidodly cheap, In Wow Of tho
representations Of nlathoney, but ho, postponed
making tho purchase until he could got some ro-
limbo information concerning tho character and
standing OF tho aellor. About this timo Colo
man wae introduced to Burt by Mathonoy.. Tho
salo Of the attora interest In tho lode WAS again
talked ovor, Mathonoy producing his titlo to
tho property, aud exhibiting romarka-
bly, rich specimen Of tho orc found
iii Ills mino Burt examined tho titlo doedB and
other papors with tho close scrutiny Of man
whoso lifo WAS spent in epcculating, and pro-
nounccl thom perfectly clear and satisfactory;
nnd also Expressed himaolf as highly pleased
with the specimen Of ore. Ho offered to take
Aiathoney'B intoreat alono, or purchase. it
tor proposition WAS accepted by ,Cole.-
man, md tho agreement was made without
delay. Coleman paid bIatheney 1900 caoh,
and borrowed q, 600 Of BURT to make the other
uerman Union Bank, and accepted Ills noto for
| $1,000 In return.
II was then agreed that Burt ahould go East
and purchase machinery for his share Of the
| mine. He loft Kansas City.-audao did Mathouey.
Coleman mado the necessary arrangements for q
| trip to Wyoming in company with Burt when ho
should return with the machinery, but four
months slid by and nothing. 'T5aa hohrd from him.
Tho mining machinery, which should hayo beon
WAS also nlyaterIoasly delayed at tho East, and
no tidnga OF it could bo learned from any sourco,
Colo1nan waited patiently. For somo unox-
planned reason, ho had tho utmost faith in the
honesty and integrity Of his partner, Burt, and
iactorily explain tho cauae Of his long absence.
His Wholesale Btocls OF patience gayo out, how
eVor, and ho was forced to he'concluHion that
for tls city without delay, and sought his worry
geutemanly and business.liko acquaintances,
Strange az 1t may appear, ho found them. They
were 1evclling in such luxurles as his money
could purchase. Ho demanded tho restitution
Of tho funds which ho had invested
in the minc. Mathonoy advised him tc
keep quiet, for . few days, and give
him ti1no to work on Burt, Ho folt certain
that ho could induce tho latter to purchase his
(Colenan's) interest III the 1nino. Coleman un-
Willingly consented to "keop quiet" and while
he waa in that pleasant condition the swintllers
left town. Since then nothing has boon beard
of them. Colonel Coleman returned to KansaH
City to find that tho noto for 81 900, which he
had given to Burt, waa deposited in bnnk, ant
] awaiting payment. Burt aud Mathonoy at
tempted various other awin,les IN KanHar
City. They offered to purchase tho Orert
Ilouae and Broadway Hotol if the propliotort
would construct 21 limo Of street carp past tht
doors. They also pretended to bo dosirouB q
purchasing certain valuable real ostate OH ont
Of the principal utrGetH. Ono young man VA
that he might accept tile agency OF one O
Alatheney's mines. Among those known tohav'
been duped, besides Colonel Coleman, wero Mr.
L. D. Alexander, and Mr.. lsobinaon, Of tho Lin
dell House. Tho former gentleman writes t
TnE Tribune, and relates his experience wit.
! the HlnrEer4.