Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-26
ROBBING A CONFxDINGs GRANGER.
How stPIy Bill," q Chicago Thief,
Secured q Pot Of Money


from Glen City, Penn, says: "Elmer Snyder is
wealthy farmer who lives short distance out
side Of this village. He Is q widomer, and lives
alone with his servants in fine mansion close
to the highway. He is prominent figure in
political and social circles, and Is deacon in the
local Methodist church. About five years ago
his wife died The cause Of her death was at
tributed to the absence Of her only child, boy,
who ran away from home about Is years ago on
account OF some trifling troubles with his folks.
The farmer is one Of the largest landowners in
the district, and 1t was always believed that
he kept large sum of money In the
house About two weeks ago he presented
fashily dressed, handsome young man
to his friends and neighbors as his long,
lost son. simultaneously with the arrival Of
the young man ugly rumOrs began to be spread
about his past life in Chicago and other cities In
the west. 1t was generally known that young
Snyder had led a fast life, and for q time the
gaging manners and plausible talk Of the young
man made him many friends, and the old
farmer soon became proud Of his handsome boy.
In few days another rumor started to the effect
that he was not Snyder's son, but another per-
son who was trying to impose upon the farmer.
when questioned about his early farm life the
young man was always at fault. Whether these
rumOrs reached the ears of the old farmer or not
is unknown. The young man grew in the old
uIau FAVOR auu accompanied MIN everywhere.
Last Wednesday handsome and elegantly
dressed woman unaccOmpanied drove up to the
village inn and secured accommodations for q
few days, saying she was from Philadelphia, and
desired quiet room. While walking the street
she met the lately returned farmers son. They
suddenly became intimate, and until Thursday
night he was constantly in her society. He in
troduced her to few young ladies as Mrs. Dick
erson, OF Philadelphia, and said she was the
wife of friend Of his. On Friday morning the
servants in the Snyder household were surprised
at the non-appearance Of Mr.. Snyder at break
fast, and as he was an habitual early riser the
fact caused much comment After waiting I'M
til 10 o'clock they determined to call him.
Going to his room they found the door locked,
another unusual fact. They raped loudly, and
receiving no answer determined to break open
the door First they tried to find young Sny-
der, but could find no trace of him. Bursting
open the door, they found the old man lying at
full length upon the floor bound and gagged.
The ropes that bound him were wrapped around
his arms and legs with double twist.
while the gag was tightly wedged into his
mouth: Cutting the cords and lifting him to
his feet. they administered restoratives.
When he had sufficiently recovered the
old man said, "That young man was not my
pointing to safe which stood in the corner OF
the room The safe had been opened and the
contents were scattered about the floor. The
farmer went on to tell how he had sat up with
his supposed son until II o'clock. and had then
gone to bed. He was roughly awakened by hay
ing gag forced into his mouth, and before he
could help himself he was bound and gagged.
In the partial darkness he saw two figures.
After they had securely fastened him one OF
them went to the bureau and coolly lighted the
lamp As soon as the light was turned up the
farmer recognized the lace of the young man
whom he thought his son and the stylish woman
who had stopped at the tavern. They took the
safe key from his pocket, robbed the safe, put
ting the money in yalise which the woman
carried. After they had taken everything the
young man said: "Good bye, papa. l will
pay your respects to your son when l
get back to Chicago. He wants to
hear from YOU" The pair then left the room,
locking the door behind them. The old man is
completely broken down by the occurrence. The
police authorities were notified, and a search
was made for the missing couple. Not the
slightest trace could be found Of them. This
morning detective from Chicago arrived in the
village looking for two individuals whose de-
scription talles exactly with that of the farmers
bogus son and the t1ashily dressed woman who
put up at the tavern. Upon visiting Mr.. Snyder
the detective saw that the young man was not
his son, but an old Chicago thief and confidence
man, and known among his associates in crime
as Fly Bill, and who went under the alias of
John Peters, Harry Rutledge, &c. The woman,
he said, was q noted cOurtesan from Chicago,
who is wanted there for q number of crimes
The loss to the farmer is nearly $780, The
property consisted of $4,000 in greenbacks and
the balance was in government bonds. The
numbers of the bonds have been furnished to
the authorities, and q large reward will be
offered for the arrest of the thieves. A watch
but it is thought that the thieves are already out
of the country