Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1878-09-14
THE CONFIDENCE OPERATORS.
SHOWING THE QUEER-ARREST
OF TWO LAND AGENTS. THE
sUBSEQUENT FLIGHT.


For sometime past Dodge City has been
cursed with class Of confidence operators,
who have piled all the arts OF deceit in gull
ing the uusophisticated and unwary- A
batch OF these bold operators fled the town
during the summer, but their places were
occupied BY another class who resorted to
her means TO fleece the unsuspectiug stran-
ger The class who have lately BEEN car
| ryiag on their nefarious schemes in Dodge
suddenly came to grief Tuesday night.
Their manner had been to represent them
selves rs land agents. To pursue this pun
pose they were present upon the arrival OF
/ all railroad trains. By graceful and VIII
mag ways and tolsrably fair representations
they gained the confidence of the oredGlous
stranger Once in their tolls the poor dslu-
del victim was at their mercy The straw
that broke the cancels back WAS laid Tues.
day eFenins. The confidence men snccs ed
ed in rorins in one L. Markell, an il.itsrate
genliem N from some backwcoas, and in
ducing him to exchange gTeenbacss for.
what purported to be SO gold pieces. Upon
discovering the cheat, Markell caused the
arrest of one Harry Bel, The leader OF the
gang, and a bold and successful env that
sails,: under the sobriquet If Kid" The
warrant was placed IN the hands Of Sheriff
Masier.oo, who arres ed the Iuen and placed
then under charge of Depuy Duffy. DGhy
had been on service The night previous, and
feeling the reed OF rest turned the prisoners
over TO an incompetent guard. The guard
was not vigilani, and while induigirs in ma
;ure's sweet res'orer. the prisoners saw the
opportunity 20 escape Justice, and boldly Tit
ou'," takii he ) O'Clock morning train Ter
the west
The citizens of Dodge City naturally felt
Indignant. Wednesday morning when they
learned that The birds had flown, and were
t free to express feelings Of censure against
tue Sheriff for direleciion OF duty, in eth
F er not Il cling the prisoners in Jail or else
putting them under proper and sufficient
i guard until preliminary trial should be
5 had. Bell made the most solemn pro,esta-
+ lions against the charge o; guilt, and assur-
+; red the Sheriff that he would make no at
tempt at escape il not placed in jail.
The pieces lurporting TO be gold were
made of sorae base metal, plated, and did
a not resemble gold or the device of gold coin.
e = p -rson with ordinary intelligence would
5 mol have been gulled with such trick. 1t
matters not, the pieces were represented to
+ be gold, and a charge OF obtaining money
; under false pre;enses could have been sus-
c tanned.
The people Of Dodge City have horne
: with these outr= yes long enough. There has
been az under current oi sentiment working
= aud The climax had been reached when no
mild measures would have been used 10 nd
= the community of this in,o.esable nuisance.
: BY these operations it had become known
u abroad that "land agents" and "busins $;
: men" of Dodge City were robbins the inno-
/, cent s,raggler in the modern Nineveb. IL
re vas in this manner, by falsely representing
themselves "a Gland SCENTS" and cuisines
IN men" thai these robbers succeeded in gain
y ing the eoaliienee ii their victims. Nsri,
Gus swindling operations have occurred
lately, bu. the parties victimized rarely
"squealed," and hence the operators have
AZ gone on unmolesied.
We haven't much sympathy for the mar
IT. who PERMITS hims II to be duped by siTan
ger; but we presume i; is a misfortune no
ed TO know al the wiles and tricks in humal
ingenuity. Again, the unsophisticated and
v probably better knowing ones, tempt IN
4 hidden hand TO feather their own nests.
Bat these swindling operations we're orin.
"i ing The town into greater discredit, and tofe
:, eearance was ceasiny 10 be virtue. il
therefore necessary Tor the honor, credit sn
IDS character OF Dodge City that solemn pro
test be entered sglinst such prac'ice'-
ng hasten the conclusion by Stating that ei'
M eunstances have probably done tie bel
=, thing TO further the radiance OF these mef
in ard cannot regret the course of the hold col
md t6euce operator in biz fight west-if he vi
70. ol only stay away, and we believe he Will.
would be "wa-m" TO return.