The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-15
INTO THE TOLLS At LAST.
Capture of Two Religious But
Cunning ROgues.
An Imaginary "Eldorado."

| During Saturday morning two men enteret
the store of Mr.. Jean Lasalle, corne
of Liberty and Poydras streets, ant
asked that gentleman if he wished to inves
| in lucrative speculation.
Mr.. Lasalle, having an eye to business, an
swered in the affirmative, when one offered
him twenty dollar gold piece. The gentle
man offered them twenty dollars in currency
for it, when one of the parties, one Manuel
Gonzales, spoke up and said: II am a good
Christian, and will only take eighteen dollars.
My father has just died and left me a fortune,
SO the other two dollars you can give to the
Church and have his spirit prayed for"
The men drew forth what they represented
to be $50 gold piece and showed it to La
sale, but told him to come along with them
to Claiborne street, that they had $4,000 in
gold they wished to sell, as it was too heavy
to carry. Mr.. Lasalle bit Immediately at the
proposition; thinking that he could strike a
good bargain and turn a, few honest dollars, he
proceeded with the men to their imaginary
'sEldorado"
They had not gone far when Officer Fran
cisco saw that Lasalle was being towed into
bad port by crafts that carried false colors
The officer informed Lasalle of the fact, and
told him to remain where he was until he got
assistance and he would arrest the men, but
as soon as Franciscos back was turned the
men started off at lightning speed.
The officer seeing this took up the pursuit,
and being fleet OF foot, overlook Gonzales at
the corner Of Gasquet and Claiborne streets,
and conducted him to the Central Station,
making a charge against him as dangerous
and suspicious character. The officer states
that Gonzales is a roper for thieves, and that
had it not been for his presence at the time,
Mr.. L,salle would have been minus several
thousand dollars.
The truth Of this may be relied upon, when
the following occurrence is read The son of
Mr.. Felix Burgess, keeping small store at
the corner of Common aud Claiborne streets,
the men, and states, that about
eighteen months ago they appeared at his
fathers store with the same story that they
had told Lasalle.
Upon this occasion they had four hundred
dollars in coin, which they offered Mr.. Burgess
for a like amount in gre enbacks. The bar
gain was made, and Mr.. B. counted out the
$500 in currency. The two men then told
him to keep the whole of the money, that they
would call in the evening and get it. Sure
enough they were true to their word, but OBJ
tanned the money in different manner to
what Mr.. Burgess had Imagined.
Mr.. b. took the gold and greenbacks and
placed them in chest standing in the little
back room. The men watched him and then
went away. In the evening they returned
and asked Mr.. B. if they could go into the
just in the rear of the room
where the money had been placed. One OF
the men went in and came out, when the
other went through the same sham, while his
pal kept Mr.. B. engaged in conversation.
This change of mode was kept up for some
line, when at length the two men told Mr..
Burgess that they would return in few mo-
nents and take their money. They depart
I'D, but were seen no more. AT night when
Mr.. Burgess went into his room to retire, the
dea suddenly flashed across his mind to look
or his money. But, 10 and behold the cof-
er was depleted, and the two fellows had sue
,eeded in their little game.
The manner in which they work when IN
bile TO get the money by any other means, is |
s follows One of them enters the store and |
fers genuine $40 gold piece for sale; after
laving effected that sale they offer larger |
mounts and then bring into play coins Of
Furious nature.
Manuel Gonzales was interviewed, but |
eigned to know nothing of the affair; he says
he man with him is named Joseph Henry,
mt that he does not know him, although |
hey have been identified by many persons as
eing pals in their nefairous working.