Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-26
fAE RETURN OF THE BUNKos."
Moving NOrthward After the Florida
Campaign How an Old Dodge was
Played and Failed.

Moving NOrthward After the Florida
Campaign - How an Old Dodge was
Played and Failed.
The bunkO swindlers are moving north
ward after their winters campaign In
Florida, where they are reported to have
been remarkably successful in quilting the
innocent and trustful tourist.
number of them are in Savan-
nah trying to turn their plausible
lodges to account. but so far as known
| thew have met with little success in gath
ering in the shekels here.
A MORNING NEWS reporter tell IN with
an Eastern gentleman last night who has
/ been spending the winter in Florida, and
/ is stopping in Savannah on his return to
his home in Massachusetts, and
| who related his experience with
one of the accommodating gentry few
days ago.
Il was standing" he said, ION the
/ square just south of BroughtOn street,
/ admiring the beautiful monument erected
| there, when plainly dressed yet gentle
/ manly stranger passed me and
stopped just on the other side of
the railing, and stood for some
minutes apparently admiring the hand
some memorial. / took him for mer-
chant. But have since learned that his
thoughts were not kindred with mine, so
far as they were connected with the mon
ument After few minutes he came
over to where / was standing and re-
/ marked that the structure was one Of
which the city might we'll be proud. We
talked for some time upon general topics,
and | learned that he had been
a representative of q Boston house doing
! business in Florida. Exhibiting famill-
arity with the city he proposed walk
out Bull street. which | very willingly
accepted. and in strOlling along towards
the park learned that he was formerly a
resident OF Lynn. Mass. and was well
acquainted with gentleman with whom
| was formerly engaged in business.
This. of course. established familiarity
/ between US, and IS the stranger, found,
was acquainted with number OF my
personal friends in Boston and other
Eastern cities, we were at once upon fa-
miliar terms. Upon reaching
the park nv acquaintance pro-
posed "A ride to BOnaventure. 1t
[ was rather late in the afternoon, and not
being able to accept the invitation we
walked as far as the Confederate mOnu-
ment and turned back TO the lower part
Of the city. Coming down Bull street
my companion met an acqualnt-
ance who, with another stranger,
was going in the direction from
which we had just come. He handed
him a telegram, saying he had
lust received it and would be at his hotel
i'm "A short time. | thought nothing Of the
occurrence, as l learned that the gentle
man represented large real estate agency
in Florida. My companion seemed alb
sorbed in thought, and finally pro
duced 4 telegram, saying that
he had just purchased large
tract Of land in the lower part OF the
State. The telegram stated that GER
tain piece OF property was held at his re-
quest, and ii he did not authorize its pur-
chase it would be sold to another party.
The stranger located the property,
stating that it adjOined tract
he had already purchased, and that
he had been given the refusal OF 1t until
he could return North and arrange the
details of transfer. He was anxious to
purchase the land, but would be COM
PEELED to deposit 500 with the agent to
effect its security until he could complete
the deal
about this time, . said the gentleman,
''my suspicious were aroused that the Eel
low was playing me a game. In few
minutes he offered to do me the kindness
Of bOrrowieg the 500 until he could reach
the North, to complete the purchase.
The bunko game by this time be-
gan to show itself and l
remarked to my plausible acquaintance
that if he remained in Savannah another
day he would operate under the suryeil-
lance of the police, and the best thing he
could do was to make himself scarce,
which he did. and the last | saw of him
he was moving towards the depot"