Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-07-28

LsWAsesn Han N che uanAs ~ sharp-

One Of the most extensive and most sue
cessfal confidence games ever attempted IN
this State was perpetrated in Lewiston, Tues
day. The victim was Mr. ]. Il. Pettensill.
an old and highly respected citizen Of Levin.
ton, gentleman whose well-knovn honestv
and unsuspecting disposition rendered him
all the more susceptible to the work of the
sharpers. 1t was shortly before noon that the
gentleman was on the circus grounds. watch
ing the pitching Of the tents.
he was about to leave for home when a
gentleman accosted him. Mr.. PettenRill
concluded he was gentleman from his we'll
dressed appearance and aGable manners.
Ibe man introduced the subject of land in
the vicinity, inquired the price of the real
estate in this region, remarked that he vas
traveller, and inquired if any of the land in
the vicinity vas in the market Mr.. Petteu-
gill entered into the conversation He said
he had some land of his own and that there
was quite lot land in Lewiston suburbs that
conld undoubtedly be bought. This was act
number one in the little play Of the sharpers.
The man went on tn remark that he had
wealthy sister in Portland who wanted TO in
vest in real estate. He was also interested
In 1t himself with little property of his
own He talked, in short, like . man of
his own satisfaction.
The conversation drifted earlv from real
estate to the immediate surroundings of the
circus. "By the way" remarked the real es.
tate buyer, there is q peculiar looking horse
out here that want to show vou." Mr.. Pet.
tengill walked along to see the horse When
they arrived where the horse ought to have
been he was gone. SIT doesn't matter. By
the way let me introduce MIR. Blank" and the
second one of the gang was introduced 80 af-
fably as to disarm even the most SUSPICIOUS.
The second man was evidently ripe and ready
for the crime. The subject of establishing an
agency tor something that the Lewiston gen.
tleman cannot describe was introduced 1t
was represented that if he put q thousand
dollars into the scheme it was q dead sure
thing and that 1t would turn out another
thousand before two weeks. The agency was
explained in such way that Mr.. Pettengill
was made to believe that it was a perfectly
upright transaction and with the inevitable
conclusion that he was to realize hundred
per cent. in his investment by August let
Mr.. Pettengill went to q bank, drew out
81, 900 and returned to the circus grounds
He can't remember the details of the agency.
nor tell clear story.
He says there was indistinctness and an
detniteness as to surroundings that leads him
and his friends to the belief that he was
drugged. He was invited into side show
tent, where they met another one of the gang
No. then walked along to table in the tent
and they followed him. The rest of the
story seems u mixture of agency and three
card monte. Mr.. Pettengill says he doesn't
know how they did it, but they got his $1,000.
The sharpers told their victim to keep per
fectly still, partially threatening and partial.
~ promising to return to him $1,000 the first
of August and they got out o: the way as
soon as possible. MIR. 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.