The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-18

A CoNFIDEHdE CANE THAT DID NOT
sUocEED.-There was "a autter otexcite.
ment about town on Saturday over the
report that VIM. McMurray, q former
citizen Of Wheeling who had been in the
city for some days, had attempted to
swindle Mr.. c. P. Brown, the Market
street jeweler, out Of two gold watches.
Tho facts OF tho case are substantially as
follows: On Tuesday last McMurray
called on Mr.. Brown, whom he was we'll
acquainted with, and in tho course OF q
conversation that took place between
them stated that his present oc-
cupation was that Of clerk in an
insurance Office at Chicago. He ex-
pected a Mr.. Colvey, the General Agent
Of the company, in the city the next day,
and as Mr.. Colvey had Sigui6ed his IN
tention OF making him present OF a
gold watch, he would have him make the
purchase Of Mr.. Brown. BE asked to sec
some watches, and after looking at sew.
eral selected two, valued at 500 and
sos respectively, which be said he would
have Mr.. Colvey examine when he ar.
rived in the city. The next day he drop.
ped into the store again, and said that
Mr.. Colvey had arrived, but was un.
we'll, and would probably not leave
his hotel for 4 day or two. However,
when he did venture out, he would bring
him 10 the store TO see the watches. On
Friday evening McMurray again called
on Mr.. Brown, and suggested that, as Mr..
Colyey was not yet able to leave his ho'
tel, he would take the watches 10 him,
and return them the next day. when he
would have suitable inscription en-
grayed upon the one selected. Mr.. Brown
let him have the watches, and he left the
store. Shorty afterwards, however, the
isWeler began to think that probably he
had acted rather hastily in trusting a
man whom he had not seen for years
with two valuable gold watches, and con-
cluded, in order TO satisfy himself, TO
call a, the Grant House and ascertain ii
there was really a Mr.. Colyey stopping
there. he did so, and was informed that
there was no such person at the hotel.
He then notified the police Of his loss, and
set about making preparations to cut of
McMurray's departure from the city, II
he attempted to leave. McMurray got
the watches about s o'clock, and about 10
o'clock he was found by Officer 81,
Myers and Mr.. Henry shallcross, both
Of whom knew him, in the Opera
House Saloon. St Myers took him into
custody, and moment afterwards the
party met Mr.. Brown on Market street,
McAurray expressed great surprise at hia
arrest, and demanded an explanation
from Mr.. Brown. The latter remarked
that he had inquired at the Grant House
for McMurray'sfriend Colvey, and was in
formed that no such person was stopping
there. McMurray then said that he had
not told Mr.. Brown that Colyey was
stopping at the Grant House
but thu. Colyey was stopping in
North Wheeling, and that he me
Murray was stopping at the Grant
Mr.. Brown told him that he would take
the watches back, and Mr.. Colvcy could
come 10 the store and see them II he Sc
desired. McMurray promptly handed
the watches over, and was then released
from custody, Mr.. Brown deciding TO
take no further action in the matter
McMurray is said to have been travelling
with a minstrel troupe since he lei'
Wheeling.