The Portland daily press., 1883-07-27
swINDLED OUT OF $1,000.
A Lewiston Man in the Hands of a Gang
OF sharpers.
tLewiston Journal)

(Lewiston Journal)
One Of tho most extensive and most snccess-
full confidence games ever attempted in this
Stats was perpetrated in Lewiston Tuesday.
The victim was Mr.. j. 81. Pettengiil, an old
and highly respected citizen of Lewiston, a
gentleman whose we'll known honesty and un-
suspecting disposition rendered him all the
more susceptible to the work of the sharpers
1t was shortly before noun that the gentleman
was on the eircus grounds, watching the pitch
ing of the tents.
He was about ready to leave for home when
a gentleman accosted him. Mr. Pettengin
concluded he was gentleman from his well
dressed appearance and affable address. The
man introduced the subject of land in the vi
cinity, inquired the price of real estate in this
region, remarked that hewas a traveller, and
inquired II any of the land in the vicinity was
in the market. Mr.. Pettengill entered into
the conversation. He said he had some land
OF his own and that there was quite lot of
land in Lewiston suburbs that could undoubt-
edly be bonght This was act number one in
the little play of the sharpers. The man went
on to remark that he had wealthy sister in
Portland who wanted to invest in real estate.
He WIS also interested in it himself with q lit
tie property Of bis own. He talked in short
like man OF means who could buy or sell real
estate for his own satisfaction
The conversation drifted early from real es-
tate to the immediate surroundings of the cir
GUS "By the way" remarked the real estate
buyer, there is peculiar looking horse out
here that want to show you" Mr.. Petten-
gill walked along to see the horse. When
they arrived to where the horse ought to have
been he was gone. "It doesn't matter. By
the way, allow me to introduce Mr.. Blank"
and the second one of the gang was introduced
SO affably as to dsarm even the most suspc-
ious. The second man was evidently ripe and
ready for the crime.
The subject of establishing an agency for
something that the Lewiston gentleman
cannot describe was introduced. IL was repre-
sented that ii he put thousand dollars into
abe scheme it was a dead sure thing that it
would turn out another thousand before two
weeks. The agency was explained in such a
way that Mr.. Pettingill was made to believe
that 1t was perfectly upright transaction and
with the inevitable conclusion that he was to
to realize hundred per cent in his investment
by August LIST. Mr.. Pettingill went to bank,
drew $1,000 and returned to the circus grounds.
He can't remember the details of the agency
nor tell clear story.
He says there was indstinctness and an in
indehniteness as to surroundings tn at leads him
and his friends to the firm belief that he was
drugged. He was invited into side show tent,
where they met another one OF the gang. Num-
ber 3 then walked along to table in the tent,
and they followed him. The rest of the story
seems mixture of agency and three card
monte. Mr.. Pettingil says he don't know how
they did it, but they got his $1,000 The
sharpers told their victim to keep perfectly
still, partially threatening aud partially prom
ising to return HIM $1,000 the first of August,
they got out of the way as soon as possible.
Mr.. Pettengill when he came to his senses,
sought an attorney and notified the police.
The city marshal looked after the men without
success Tuesday night at the circus, and went
to Bath, Wednesday, on the same search.